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Top Cornerbacks In 2020 NFL Draft

1. Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah – Junior – 6-1, 205 – 4.48

Okudah has great length, size, speed and quickness at the cornerback position. The top defensive back in the class, Okudah earned first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big 10 recognition in 2019. He was also named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. Okudah has smooth hips and the agility to stick with routes in man coverage, with burst and the body control to anticipate, adjust and make plays on the ball. Per Pro Football Focus, Okudah allowed completions on just 45 of his 106 targets in coverage over his last two years at Ohio State. In addition to his skills in coverage, Okudah is a sure tackler with a long frame. Coming off of 29 total tackles, nine passes defended and three interceptions in 2019, Okudah is likely a Top 5 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

2. Florida CB C.J. Henderson – Junior – 6-1, 204 – 4.39

Henderson is a very fast, athletic cornerback with some of the best footwork in the class. In nine games as a freshman, Henderson had the most productive season of his college career with four interceptions, four passes defended and two defensive touchdowns. As a sophomore, Henderson flashed his ability to rush the passer with five tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles, while adding another two interceptions and five passes defended. Injuries hampered Henderson’s junior season but he’s shown the ability to play with plus technique and with patience in coverage, allowing him to make quick reactions on the pass. Best utilized in man coverage, Henderson projects as a first-round selection, who can step in and make an impact on a team’s secondary immediately.

3. LSU CB Kristian Fulton – Senior – 6-0, 197 – 4.46

The top-ranked cornerback in Louisiana coming out of high school, Fulton remained in-state and attended LSU, attempting to add to the Tigers’ claim as “DBU.” While his freshman year was shortened by injury, Fulton then missed all of 2017 with a suspension. After one interception and just 17 completions allowed on 41 targets in 2018, an ankle injury that required surgery ended his junior campaign. As a senior throughout LSU’s national championship run, Fulton totaled 38 tackles, one interception and a team-leading 14 passes defended. At his best when playing in press, Fulton has the ability to impact routes near the line of scrimmage with quick feet and the agility to mirror routes one-on-one.

4. Clemson CB A.J. Terrell – Junior – 6-1, 195 – 4.42

A press corner out of Clemson, Terrell became an immediate contributor as a freshman following a five-star ranking out of high school. He had an interception in his first season with the Tigers before adding three more in their National Championship season in 2018, his first season as a starter, and two more in 2019. Following third-team All-Conference honors as a junior, Terrell was named a first-team All-ACC cornerback last season. A mix of length and blazing speed, Terrell was exceedingly productive over three years in coverage but will need to be a more willing tackler in the NFL.

5. Utah CB Jaylon Johnson – Junior – 6-0, 193 – 4.5

Utah Cb Jaylon Johnson

Utah CB Jaylon Johnson – Photo courtesy of Utah

Johnson is an aggressive, cerebral player who is consistently looking for an opportunity to shoot in and make a play on the ball. A first-team All-PAC 12 player in both 2018 and 2019, Johnson racked up seven interceptions over his three seasons at Utah and earned second-team AP All-American honors as a senior behind a team-high 11 passes defended. With quick feet, the size to disrupt routes as they develop and the speed/reactions to both mirror a receivers release and recover after being beat, Johnson could see himself as a day one selection come draft day.

6. Alabama CB Trevon Diggs – Senior – 6-1, 205 – N/A

The former four-star recruit and younger brother of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs did it all for Alabama as a freshman, playing sparingly on both sides of the ball while also being utilized in the return game. Another receiver-turned-cornerback, Diggs became a full-time starter on defense in 2018, however an foot injury ended his junior campaign after just six games. A rare mix of agility with his long length and size, Diggs broke out in 2019 with three interceptions and eight passes defended, earning him third-team AP All-American and second-team All-SEC honors. Not overly skilled when it comes to shadowing routes in man coverage, Diggs uses his size to disrupt routes and his length to stick to receivers and make a play on the pass. His background as a receiver aids in his ability to take the ball away and while he can struggle at times when defending down the field, he has plus physical traits and high upside at the cornerback position.

7. Ohio State CB Damon Arnette – Senior – 6-0, 195 – 4.56

Good footwork, technique and hand usage allow Arnette to be disruptive at the release point and while he lacks elite size or speed, he plays well either in the slot or on the outside and can be a factor both in zone and man. An impact player early in his career at Ohio State, Arnette racked up five interceptions over his four seasons with the Buckeyes, including at least one interception in every season.

8. TCU CB Jeff Gladney – Senior – 5-10, 191 – 4.48

A versatile cornerback with the skills and anticipation to play in either zone or man coverage, Gladney’s production increased steadily over his time at TCU. While better in press coverage, Gladney’s small frame may pose a problem in the NFL when trying to leverage himself against bigger receivers and he will need to add size. His stop-and-start agility in tandem with his ability to close out on pass attempts with quickness frequently gives him a chance to play aggressive and make a play on the ball while his speed allows him to stick with receivers downfield. Per PFF, Gladney has forced the second-most contested targets over the past two years while forcing tight coverage on 79.5 percent of his targets 10 or more yards down the field, good for sixth-best in the nation over that time frame. As a senior, Gladney racked up 38 total tackles and his 14 passes defended tied him for the Big 12 lead.

9. Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene – Junior – 5-10, 198 – 4.48

The son of two track and field standouts, Igbinoghene plays fast and very physical, taking advantage of his elite athleticism. Igbinoghene joined the Tigers as a wide receiver, playing in all 14 games as a freshman before transitioning to cornerback prior to the 2018 season. He also worked extensively in the return game while at Auburn. With flashes of high upside, Igbinoghene is an unfinished prospect who relies largely on his athletic ability and physicality in coverage to make up for his lack of experience at the position. On a positive note, Igbinoghene will be just 21-years-old when he’s drafted. A sure and willing tackler, Igbinoghene totaled 42 tackles, one tackle for loss, seven pass breakups and one kickoff returned for a touchdown as a senior in 2019, with his lone interception coming in his junior season.

10. Virginia CB Bryce Hall – Senior – 6-1, 202 – N/A

Virginia Cb Bryce Hall

Virginia CB Bryce Hall – Photo courtesy of Virginia

Instantly stepping into playing time as a freshman, Hall had two interceptions and four passes defended in 12 games as a freshman. By 2018 Hall had established himself as a dominant presence on the outside, garnering first-team all-conference honors behind 62 total tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a league-leading 21 passes defended as a junior. After just six games as a senior, Hall’s year would come to an end with season-ending surgery on his ankle. Hall isn’t the fastest defensive back in the draft, but uses his size to smother opposing wide receivers and attack the pass in the air, playing balls downfield like a receiver despite a tendency to drop potential interceptions. Hall will be best used in zone where he can use his quick feet and length as weapons, while breaking with good burst to the ball through read-and-react situations.

Best Of The Rest

11. Miss. State CB Cameron Dantzler – Junior – 6-2, 188 – 4.64

Dantzler is athletic and lengthy despite the lack of elite speed and a lankier frame. He’s got solid anticipation and technique in coverage, but falls short when tackling in space or getting off of blocks from larger receivers due to his frame. He’s at his best when playing in zone coverage and effectively looks to disrupt the release as a receiver breaks out of their route. A well-rounded athlete, Dantzler hauled in seven interceptions over three seasons and could be an impact starter at the NFL level if he can add functional weight to increase his play strength. A slow 40-time will hurt his draft stock.

12. Notre Dame CB Troy Pride Jr. – Senior – 5-11, 193 – 4.40

A track athlete with exceptional speed, Pride excels in man coverage and defends well in off man and zone coverage but has shown inconsistency in both his play and when tracking the ball in coverage downfield, despite great tools. In his two years as a full-time starter in 2018 and 2019, Pride totaled 16 pass breakups and three interceptions.

13. Iowa CB Michael Ojemudia – Senior – 6-1, 200 – 4.45

Ojemudia immediately found action as a first-year player, playing consistently over his freshman and sophomore seasons before earning a full-time starting spot as a junior. He posted three interceptions in both 2018 and 2019 while also leading the team with nine pass breakups as a senior. While his measurables are good, he seems to lack anticipation in coverage and the ball skills to take the ball away or force an incompletion consistently, even when in close on receivers.

14. Louisiana Tech DB L’Jarius Sneed – Senior – 6-0, 192 – 4.37

Louisiana Tech Cb L'Jarius Sneed

Louisiana Tech CB L’Jarius Sneed – Photo courtesy of La. Tech

Sneed increased his playing time over three seasons at Louisiana Tech before becoming a full-time starter as a junior in 2018, racking up 59 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a defensive touchdown. As a senior he transitioned to safety where he hauled in another three interceptions and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2019. With top-notch speed and athleticism, in addition to experience at both corner and safety, Sneed provides versatility at the next level despite not being elite at either. He can likely make a move back to corner if used in press coverage where he can be physical around the line of scrimmage or in zone where he can read and react or come up in run support as opposed mirroring receivers in man.

15. Oklahoma State CB A.J. Green – Senior – 6-1, 202 – 4.62

Green is more athlete and size than technician at the position. With less-than-stellar speed and agility it limits his abilities to cover quicker receivers, but he’s able to use his strength to impact the routes of smaller pass-catchers. A second-team All-Big 12 player in 2018 and honorable mention All-Big 12 player in 2019, nabbing an interception in each season, Green would be at his most effective in zone defense at the next level where he can keep receivers in front of him.

16. Oklahoma CB Parnell Motley – Senior – 6-0, 180 – N/A

A three-year starter at Oklahoma, Motley was an honorable mention all-conference player in 2018 before being named second-team All-Big 12 as a senior. Motley was able to get his hands on 33 defended passes and six interceptions throughout his career, with five forced fumbles in just 2019. Although as a prospect, Motley may lack the size and recovery speed to match up with NFL talent.

17. Louisiana Tech CB Amik Robertson – Junior – 5-8, 187 – N/A

An undersized prospect, Robertson stayed home and went to Louisiana Tech and hit the ground running, starting in 13 games as a freshman, nabbing five interceptions en route to Freshman All-American and second-team all-conference honors. He’s undersized and lacks elite athleticism but had insane production in college due to his physicality, quickness and determined play. A second-team AP All-American in 2019, Robertson tied the national lead with 16 passes defended and finished his college career with 14 interceptions and 34 pass breakups. He’s always going to be limited by his size, which could pose as a disadvantage against bigger receivers and tight ends in the NFL, but his skill set could put him in position for a nickel cornerback role at the next level.

18. Tulsa CB Reggie Robinson II – Senior – 6-1, 205 – 4.44

Robinson stepped on the field quickly as a redshirt freshman and became a full-time starter as a sophomore before an injury shortened his junior season. But Robinson bounced back strong in his senior season, earning a first-team All-American Athletic Conference spot with a team-leading four interceptions and 13 passes defended. Robinson was productive in college and played with aggressiveness, best suited as a zone defender where he won’t be left on an island to match up one-on-one. He’s athletically gifted and physical both at the line and in coverage, almost to a fault at times, but will need to clean up his technique in coverage if he wants to stick in the NFL.

19. Penn State CB John Reid – Senior – 5-10, 187 – 4.49

Reid is a smaller corner but plays smart in zone coverage and extremely quick in press man coverage, with the ability to change directions and mirror routes effectively, but his physical limitations and lack of top-end speed may put him at a disadvantage against bigger or faster corners on the outside at the next level. A bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. In addition, Reid is 24-years-old, he had a knee injury in high school and another in 2017 and while his size also limits his ability to make a bigger impact in run support. His competitive mindset and hard play allowed him to be a four-year player at Penn State where he finished his senior season with 37 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and eight passes defended.

20. Nebraska CB Lamar Jackson – Senior – 6-2, 208 – 4.58

Jackson, not the quarterback, played in five game as a freshman at Nebraska before sliding into a full-time role as a sophomore. With plus size, Jackson is a long, physical corner who is almost exclusively limited to outside coverage but thrives on the line of scrimmage where he can use his size and strength to disrupt receivers as they begin their routes. Jackson’s strong, physical, a sure tackler and, despite being a project player without much versatility and a likely day three draft pick, could add depth to an NFL team that primarily runs press man coverage with their corners.

Click Page 3 For The Bucs’ Best Bets At CB

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