The reason that teams are concerned or excited about a prospect is because there has usually been some ground work and evidence to suggest one of those outcomes. That evidence is looking at former and current players’ successes and failures and comparing them to this year’s crop of franchise changers or busts.
So, by taking a look at which of this year’s top cornerbacks remind of current NFL players, we can possibly get a good indication and projection of their potential of NFL success.
Eric Berry, Tennessee – Darren Sharper
There is some debate on where Berry will play at the pro level, either strong or free safety. I think it depends on the team he plays with, but overall, I think he fills a Darren Sharper type role.
Berry has unbelievable instictiveness as a safety in both run and pass support and can both deliver a huge hit as well as make a spectacular play on the ball.
He has such elite level athletic ability to go with his very high football IQ, there is no way he leaves the Top Seven and in my opinion, he’s not that far behind Suh and McCoy as defensive prospects.
Earl Thomas, Texas – Jason Allen/Antrel Rolle
On film, there isn’t much to not like of Earl Thomas’s game. He doesn’t deliver huge hits, but he’s a sound tackler who is no liability in run support. He has great foot quickness and can turn and run as well as a cornerback.
However, the biggest concern I have with him is that he’s a ‘tweener prospect, meaning he’s in between a cornerback and a safety, but isn’t quick one or the other. Rolle, after playing cornerback for a while, moved to safety and thrived.
Jason Allen moved from safety to cornerback in the pros, and since then has bounced around the Dolphins depth chart without being a consistent starter even though he was a 1st rounder.
Taylor Mays, USC – Kerry Rhodes
One of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class, Mays is a frustrating prospect to analyze.
He has the size, speed, quickness, tackling ability, hands, everything you’d like in a strong safety. But he just lacks that instictiveness to make enough plays in both the run or pass game for him to be a Top 10 pick, even though he’s a Top 10 talent.
A team will likely take a chance on Mays late in round one, and if they can somehow help he vision on the field, he could play better than Rhodes, who is a Pro Bowl considerate every year.
Nate Allen, South Florida – Troy Polomalu
Some scouts either love or hate Allen. I evidenetly love Allen as a prospect, and he has a chance to be as productive as Polomalu in the pros.
He plays with great instincts and makes the perfect hit on the ball, very similarly to why Polomalu has been so productive.
Neither player has the perfect body or speed, but both get by on heady plays and smart tackling that made Polomalu among the best and why Allen could be up there soon.
Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech – OJ Atogwe
Burnett has starting potential, but he needs some work if he hopes to get to OJ Atogwe’s level as a player.
While Atogwe isn’t an elite safety, he is a solid, capable starter with good range, good size, and is a sound tackler. Burnett showed signs of 1st round potential in college, but never played with consistency and well enough tackling to be there all year long.
With the right coaching and time to develop, Burnett can be a solid starter in the pros, and could be a productive talent for many years.
Chad Jones, LSU – Dawan Landry
Like Allen, some love Jones as a prospect, some feel he’s only average. I think he’s somewhere in between, and Jones’s best chance to be a great player is playing with another great talent.
Jones is a very rangy safety prospect who moves well sideline to sideline and is a sound tackler for a center fielder. He can play a strong safety in some schemes, similar to how Landry has over his career.
Like Landry, if he gets a talent like, let’s say, Ed Reed, next to him, he can be productive. He can be a one man defensive backfield, but with talent around him, he can be an asset to a team.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
