By Pat Kirwan | NFL.com
Senior Analyst
Pat Kirwan's take: Last year, three corners were taken in the first round (Darrelle Revis, Leon Hall, and Aaron Ross) and they were all on the field as starters for most of the season and had 11 interceptions between them.
This year there could be as many as six corners taken in the first round, a sign of how important teams view the position. "The game is changing," a personnel director said to me this week, "and our third corner is playing more than one of our starting linebackers." It doesn't matter if your team is a 3-4 or 4-3 package, the back end is always the same. Teams are sending three wide receivers and a vertical-threat tight end into the game and the opponent's third corner is on the field. It's time to look at the NFL as a league that requires 96 starting corners. There are a lot more teams playing cover-2 packages than man-to-man schemes, and the skill sets of the corners vary. But in the end, the guys with man coverage skills are a premium in the search of corner talent.
Small-college talent is not only holding up against the men from big schools this year, but as the evaluation process winds down, players from Troy and Tennessee State are the leading candidates to go early in the draft. Speed, the ability to turn and jump are critical factors to playing the position. Pay close attention to the 40 times, short shuttle and vertical jump scores of these prospects.
1. Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Height: 5-10 Weight: 190
College stats: 36 starts, 173 tackles, 25 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.11 short shuttle, 38 ½-inch vertical
McKelvin helped himself by participating in the Senior Bowl practices even though he missed the game. I sat down with him and he has a lot of confidence in his ability and isn't afraid to state his opinion as the top corner in the draft. He put his skills on the line against major college wide receivers and moved to the top of the class. He can flip his hips to mirror routes, and go up for a ball with a tall receiver. As a pure corner some like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as much, but McKelvin's return skills (8 touchdowns on punt/kick returns) breaks the tie. Draft projection: Round 1.
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
Height: 6-1 Weight: 184
College stats: 44 starts, 158 tackles, 36 passes defended, 10 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.33 40-yard dash, 4.14 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
The cousin of Antonio Cromartie of the Chargers, Rodgers-Cromartie also helped himself at the Senior Bowl, especially after playing inferior competition in college and has a bunch of game tapes that are tough to evaluate. He has man cover skills and great size for the position. In a league full of wide receivers that look like NBA athletes, Rodgers-Cromartie is just what NFL teams are looking for these days. He will fit better in a Packer man to man scheme than a Cover 2 defense that asks him to be a run support player. Draft projection: Round 1.
3. Antoine Cason, Arizona
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
College stats: 46 starts, 253 tackles, 37 passes defended, 15 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.52 40-yard dash, 4.08 short shuttle, 36-inch vertical
This may be a bit high of a ranking for Cason, but I know two teams that would take him before one of the above corners. He plays faster than his 40 time. He has been a playmaker and a good ball hawk. He may not be the best run support corner and he may struggle against pure speed outside, but he has good ball skills and will jump routes. Draft projection: Round 1.
4. Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
College stats: 40 starts, 133 tackles, 41 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.40 short shuttle, 34-inch vertical
Jenkins came into the winter as the top corner prospect but the game tapes exposed his poor tackling. If a team is playing man coverage or wants to incorporate more man into their scheme, Jenkins is an excellent candidate. He may struggle early against great route runners and three-man patterns that cause him to key and diagnose. His concentration can be challenged according to a few college coaches I spoke with that played against him. He will get picked on as a rookie and he needs to improve his game while getting challenged. Draft projection: Round 1.
5. Aqib Talib, Kansas
Height: 6-0 Weight: 202
College stats: 32 starts, 162 tackles, 48 passes defended, 13 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.42 40-yard dash, 4.25 short shuttle, 38-inch vertical
Talib has failed a few drug tests but according to a few personnel directors he's still got a first round grade. Talib has solid football intelligence, can read route progressions, jump a route and is dangerous with the ball after he interceptions. Not a great press corner, but reminds me of Ty Law when he squats in the flat and teases quarterbacks into throwing to the wrong receiver. Draft projection: Round 1.
6. Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-8 Weight: 189
College stats: 28 starts, 158 tackles, 40 passes defended, 10 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.54 40-yard dash, 4.08 short shuttle, 30-inch vertical
Flowers plays better than he times or measures. He is a solid tackler and has a ton of confidence in his coverage skills. When I sat down to talk to him, I liked him but I had to wonder if he will not get exposed in man coverage. It's tough to be on the short side, and he's not a great leaper who left school a year early. I could see him as a slot nickel corner with good blitz skills. A month ago, I thought he was an early third-round corner, but he is back in the late first- to second-round area. Draft projection: Rounds 1-2.
7. Justin King, Penn State
Height: 5-11 Weight: 192
College stats: 29 starts, 90 tackles, 26 passes defended, 3 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.31 40-yard dash, 4.31 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
King is an underclassman who thinks he had nothing else to learn in college and was ready for the NFL. He is fast with a burst to close but he puts himself in positions that he has to close from too far away. I like him in the slot but don't feel he's ready to be outside against the top "X" receivers. He's also going to find out that closing on an NFL receiver with a pro arm delivering the ball is a lot different. There is some concern about his coach ability. Draft projection: Round 2.
8. Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
Height: 6-0 Weight: 199
College stats: 36 starts, 166 tackles, 25 passes defended, 8 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.57 40-yard dash
Smith is a very good fit for a cover two scheme. He has the size to take on a lead blocker and turn the running game back to the linebackers. Some teams believe he's headed to safety in the pros, but I think his lack of long speed doesn't set up well for half-field coverage. A team such as Tampa Bay would leave him on the corner. Draft projection: Rounds 2-3.
9. Terrell Thomas, USC
Height: 6-0 Weight: 202
College stats: 26 starts, 119 tackles, 22 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.46 40-yard dash, 4.24 short shuttle, 36-inch vertical
Thomas ran faster at the combine than anticipated. He is well-trained in pro corner techniques and has gone up against many top receivers. He can press cover, has the long arms to knock a ball out, and is more than a willing tackler. Thomas has the size to be considered at safety. Draft projection: Round 3.
10. Antwaun Molden, Eastern Kentucky
Height: 6-0 Weight: 198
Vital numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash, 4.11 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
Molden ran well at the combine and has size. He caught the interest of a number of teams and is moving up draft boards. It wasn't too long ago that he was a late-round pick, but his name comes up too often in my conversations to believe he's still down in Rounds 6 or 7. He is raw and needs time to refine his skills, but there's a lot to work with when a team takes him. Draft projection: Round 4.
11. Charles Godfrey, Iowa
Height: 5-11 Weight: 206
College stats: 28 starts, 173 tackles, 14 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.40 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
You don't usually see corners with slower short shuttle times than their 40 times. It can be an indication of a player with straight line speed, but struggles to change direction. Godfrey will be tempting to teams looking for height/weight/speed ratio, but his game tapes show a player who is raw in corner techniques from back peddling to flipping his hips to turn and run. He has limited corner experience and may be better a year from now. Draft projection: Round 4.
12. Tracy Porter, Indiana
Height: 5-10 Weight: 188
College stats: 43 starts, 212 tackles, 30 passes defended, 16 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.37 40-yard dash, 4.07 short shuttle, 34-inch vertical
I got a chance to watch Porter practice at the Senior Bowl and talk with him after the practices. He knows NFL teams are concerned about his tackling skills. He tried to show teams he's a willing tackler and did come up and throw his body around against the run. In the end, he's a cover corner that should not be in too much cover two. I could see him playing the outside receiver in the nickel package. Draft projection: Round 4.
13. Chevis Jackson, LSU
Height: 6-0 Weight: 192
College stats: 39 starts, 142 tackles, 38 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.52 40-yard dash, 4.15 short shuttle, 40-inch vertical
Jackson is a steady zone corner with lots of experience, and a guy who gets more out of his speed because of good fundamentals. He will not get beat from a lack of concentration or sloppy footwork. He may be as good as he's going to be but that may be good enough to stick in the league for years. Draft projection: Round 4.
14. Patrick Lee, Auburn
Height: 6-0 Weight: 200
College stats: 21 starts, 103 tackles, 21 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.41 40-yard dash, 4.31 short shuttle, 35-inch vertical
Lee is another big corner who ran well. He really is a one year starter and needs time to develop. Good route runners and savy release type receivers could get him in trouble early in his career. Teams will pick on him when he's on the field and his opportunity to shine may be on special teams. Draft projection: Round 4.
Senior Analyst
Pat Kirwan's take: Last year, three corners were taken in the first round (Darrelle Revis, Leon Hall, and Aaron Ross) and they were all on the field as starters for most of the season and had 11 interceptions between them.
This year there could be as many as six corners taken in the first round, a sign of how important teams view the position. "The game is changing," a personnel director said to me this week, "and our third corner is playing more than one of our starting linebackers." It doesn't matter if your team is a 3-4 or 4-3 package, the back end is always the same. Teams are sending three wide receivers and a vertical-threat tight end into the game and the opponent's third corner is on the field. It's time to look at the NFL as a league that requires 96 starting corners. There are a lot more teams playing cover-2 packages than man-to-man schemes, and the skill sets of the corners vary. But in the end, the guys with man coverage skills are a premium in the search of corner talent.
Small-college talent is not only holding up against the men from big schools this year, but as the evaluation process winds down, players from Troy and Tennessee State are the leading candidates to go early in the draft. Speed, the ability to turn and jump are critical factors to playing the position. Pay close attention to the 40 times, short shuttle and vertical jump scores of these prospects.
1. Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Height: 5-10 Weight: 190
College stats: 36 starts, 173 tackles, 25 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.11 short shuttle, 38 ½-inch vertical
McKelvin helped himself by participating in the Senior Bowl practices even though he missed the game. I sat down with him and he has a lot of confidence in his ability and isn't afraid to state his opinion as the top corner in the draft. He put his skills on the line against major college wide receivers and moved to the top of the class. He can flip his hips to mirror routes, and go up for a ball with a tall receiver. As a pure corner some like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as much, but McKelvin's return skills (8 touchdowns on punt/kick returns) breaks the tie. Draft projection: Round 1.
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
Height: 6-1 Weight: 184
College stats: 44 starts, 158 tackles, 36 passes defended, 10 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.33 40-yard dash, 4.14 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
The cousin of Antonio Cromartie of the Chargers, Rodgers-Cromartie also helped himself at the Senior Bowl, especially after playing inferior competition in college and has a bunch of game tapes that are tough to evaluate. He has man cover skills and great size for the position. In a league full of wide receivers that look like NBA athletes, Rodgers-Cromartie is just what NFL teams are looking for these days. He will fit better in a Packer man to man scheme than a Cover 2 defense that asks him to be a run support player. Draft projection: Round 1.
3. Antoine Cason, Arizona
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
College stats: 46 starts, 253 tackles, 37 passes defended, 15 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.52 40-yard dash, 4.08 short shuttle, 36-inch vertical
This may be a bit high of a ranking for Cason, but I know two teams that would take him before one of the above corners. He plays faster than his 40 time. He has been a playmaker and a good ball hawk. He may not be the best run support corner and he may struggle against pure speed outside, but he has good ball skills and will jump routes. Draft projection: Round 1.
4. Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
College stats: 40 starts, 133 tackles, 41 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.40 short shuttle, 34-inch vertical
Jenkins came into the winter as the top corner prospect but the game tapes exposed his poor tackling. If a team is playing man coverage or wants to incorporate more man into their scheme, Jenkins is an excellent candidate. He may struggle early against great route runners and three-man patterns that cause him to key and diagnose. His concentration can be challenged according to a few college coaches I spoke with that played against him. He will get picked on as a rookie and he needs to improve his game while getting challenged. Draft projection: Round 1.
5. Aqib Talib, Kansas
Height: 6-0 Weight: 202
College stats: 32 starts, 162 tackles, 48 passes defended, 13 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.42 40-yard dash, 4.25 short shuttle, 38-inch vertical
Talib has failed a few drug tests but according to a few personnel directors he's still got a first round grade. Talib has solid football intelligence, can read route progressions, jump a route and is dangerous with the ball after he interceptions. Not a great press corner, but reminds me of Ty Law when he squats in the flat and teases quarterbacks into throwing to the wrong receiver. Draft projection: Round 1.
6. Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Height: 5-8 Weight: 189
College stats: 28 starts, 158 tackles, 40 passes defended, 10 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.54 40-yard dash, 4.08 short shuttle, 30-inch vertical
Flowers plays better than he times or measures. He is a solid tackler and has a ton of confidence in his coverage skills. When I sat down to talk to him, I liked him but I had to wonder if he will not get exposed in man coverage. It's tough to be on the short side, and he's not a great leaper who left school a year early. I could see him as a slot nickel corner with good blitz skills. A month ago, I thought he was an early third-round corner, but he is back in the late first- to second-round area. Draft projection: Rounds 1-2.
7. Justin King, Penn State
Height: 5-11 Weight: 192
College stats: 29 starts, 90 tackles, 26 passes defended, 3 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.31 40-yard dash, 4.31 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
King is an underclassman who thinks he had nothing else to learn in college and was ready for the NFL. He is fast with a burst to close but he puts himself in positions that he has to close from too far away. I like him in the slot but don't feel he's ready to be outside against the top "X" receivers. He's also going to find out that closing on an NFL receiver with a pro arm delivering the ball is a lot different. There is some concern about his coach ability. Draft projection: Round 2.
8. Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
Height: 6-0 Weight: 199
College stats: 36 starts, 166 tackles, 25 passes defended, 8 interceptions
Vital numbers: 4.57 40-yard dash
Smith is a very good fit for a cover two scheme. He has the size to take on a lead blocker and turn the running game back to the linebackers. Some teams believe he's headed to safety in the pros, but I think his lack of long speed doesn't set up well for half-field coverage. A team such as Tampa Bay would leave him on the corner. Draft projection: Rounds 2-3.
9. Terrell Thomas, USC
Height: 6-0 Weight: 202
College stats: 26 starts, 119 tackles, 22 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.46 40-yard dash, 4.24 short shuttle, 36-inch vertical
Thomas ran faster at the combine than anticipated. He is well-trained in pro corner techniques and has gone up against many top receivers. He can press cover, has the long arms to knock a ball out, and is more than a willing tackler. Thomas has the size to be considered at safety. Draft projection: Round 3.
10. Antwaun Molden, Eastern Kentucky
Height: 6-0 Weight: 198
Vital numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash, 4.11 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
Molden ran well at the combine and has size. He caught the interest of a number of teams and is moving up draft boards. It wasn't too long ago that he was a late-round pick, but his name comes up too often in my conversations to believe he's still down in Rounds 6 or 7. He is raw and needs time to refine his skills, but there's a lot to work with when a team takes him. Draft projection: Round 4.
11. Charles Godfrey, Iowa
Height: 5-11 Weight: 206
College stats: 28 starts, 173 tackles, 14 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.40 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical
You don't usually see corners with slower short shuttle times than their 40 times. It can be an indication of a player with straight line speed, but struggles to change direction. Godfrey will be tempting to teams looking for height/weight/speed ratio, but his game tapes show a player who is raw in corner techniques from back peddling to flipping his hips to turn and run. He has limited corner experience and may be better a year from now. Draft projection: Round 4.
12. Tracy Porter, Indiana
Height: 5-10 Weight: 188
College stats: 43 starts, 212 tackles, 30 passes defended, 16 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.37 40-yard dash, 4.07 short shuttle, 34-inch vertical
I got a chance to watch Porter practice at the Senior Bowl and talk with him after the practices. He knows NFL teams are concerned about his tackling skills. He tried to show teams he's a willing tackler and did come up and throw his body around against the run. In the end, he's a cover corner that should not be in too much cover two. I could see him playing the outside receiver in the nickel package. Draft projection: Round 4.
13. Chevis Jackson, LSU
Height: 6-0 Weight: 192
College stats: 39 starts, 142 tackles, 38 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.52 40-yard dash, 4.15 short shuttle, 40-inch vertical
Jackson is a steady zone corner with lots of experience, and a guy who gets more out of his speed because of good fundamentals. He will not get beat from a lack of concentration or sloppy footwork. He may be as good as he's going to be but that may be good enough to stick in the league for years. Draft projection: Round 4.
14. Patrick Lee, Auburn
Height: 6-0 Weight: 200
College stats: 21 starts, 103 tackles, 21 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.41 40-yard dash, 4.31 short shuttle, 35-inch vertical
Lee is another big corner who ran well. He really is a one year starter and needs time to develop. Good route runners and savy release type receivers could get him in trouble early in his career. Teams will pick on him when he's on the field and his opportunity to shine may be on special teams. Draft projection: Round 4.