NFL Draft Preview: Cornerbacks

"Shut-down" corners have slowly started to become a thing of the past. Al Harris got dominated by Plaxico Burress in the NFC Championship game, and Champ Bailey was killed by rookie James Jones IN Denver. Even young talents like Antonio Cromartie and Marcus Trufant who boast gaudy interception numbers, cannot be labeled "shut-down" corners the way a guy like Deion Sanders or Aeneas Williams were in their primes. However, the New York Giants showed that a good defense can beat a great offense and getting the right players for your defense is crucial. In fact, while the Giants certailny do not have a "shut-down" corner, R.W. McQuarters had a playoff-high 3 interceptions this last post-season and he simply made big plays when his team needed them. With new contact rules helping receivers get clean releases, corners cannot hope to shut-down players, but rather contain them. Also, getting a player on the outside who can make players when the quarterback makes a mistake remains a crucial element to playing stellar defense in the NFL. The 2008 class has no top 5 prospect, but has great depth and talent from top to bottom. As many as five, even six corners could come off the board in the first round.

1.) Leodis McKelvin 5-11 190 Troy
McKelvin's stock has been steadily rising since the beginning of the 2007 season and after an impressive post-season, the former Troy Trojan sits atop a talented group of first round corners. His footwork makes him fluid in and out of cuts when mirroring receivers. However, he played a majority off-man coverage and will have to get better at pressing at the line of scrimmage. As a result, he may not be an ideal fit for schemes particularly cover-2 because his run support ability is somewhat limited. With a 4.38 40 time at the combine, McKelvin showed he could stay with faster receivers at the next level. Additionally, he possesses the hips to stay with receivers on double-moves and will rarely give up big plays. McKelvin was a dynamic player in the Sun Belt Conference as a returner with 8 return touchdowns in his career, including 3 as a senior. Oddly enough though, his ball-skills are not outstanding and he fights the ball at times. When he is able to make the catch, his return skills make him explosive and he could be a game-changer. While he may not be right for all teams, he has top 15 talent and could actually go to New England at #7 if they choose to stay there. It would be tough to envision him slipping past New Orleans or Buffalo at #10 and #11.

2.) Mike Jenkins 5-10 197 South Florida
Jenkins was widely considered the best corner prospect in the draft during his senior season. While his stock has fluctuated on some boards since then, I simply cannot justify him any lower than 2. Jenkins has a great frame and can be physical with receivers at the line. In coverage, Jenkins can do everything you want, opening his hips quickly and changing direction with explosion to break on routes. While he may not have elite ball skills, he has the athleticism to make tough catches in traffic and fight receivers for jump balls. His technique and footwork can be inconsistent, but he has elite speed and explosion to close on balls if he is out of position. Jenkins could also line up at safety, something he has done at South Florida and some scouts actually believe his true position may be free safety. Jenkins has really improved over his four years in Tampa, particularly in run support. Jenkins may have the best instinct of the corners at the top of the board. He could hold up in a cover 3 or man scheme, and has the body to get stronger and even play in a cover 2 scheme. Jenkins offers great versatility, although DRC's tremendous work-outs may push Jenkins down teams draft boards. He could go as high as #10 to New Orleans, or as low as #30 to Green Bay. In terms of talent, he belongs in the mid first round, possibly to Arizona at #16.

3.) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 6-1 188 Tennessee State
The cousin of Charger Antonio Cromartie, "DRC" has been racing up draft boards following arguably the most impressive off-season of any prospect. Even though he went to Tennessee State, he cannot be considered a sleeper anymore and has been rated as the best corner in the draft by some scouts. From an athletic stand-point, that assessment may not be off-base. DRC showed outstanding fluidity in coverage at the Senior Bowl despite his lanky frame, and that was against top-competition. Then he tested as one of the top athletes at the combine turning in low 4.3 40 times and a corner best 38.5 inch vertical leap and 6.74 3-cone time. He has the best ball skills of the top 3 corners, showing his soft hands with a pick in the Senior Bowl game. Further more, he had 18 pass break-ups and 8 picks his last two seasons as a Tiger. Playing at 188 pounds may have been enough in Division II, but he will have to get bigger and stronger so he will not be bullied by receivers at the next level who can go 220. Like Jenkins, DRC could be considered a safety by some teams, but showed the kind of potential at the Senior Bowl to hold up against top-level talent. Rodgers-Cromartie could be a top 15 pick, and could go ahead Mike Jenkins. Whoever is left between Jenkins and DRC, expect Arizona to make sure he does not fall any further.

4.) Aqib Talib 6-1 201 Kansas
Talib's stock has been all over the place since declaring early out of Kansas. He's been ranked anywhere in the top 10 by scouts and has even been #1 on some draft boards. Talib is everything you could ask for from a cornerback, with a long frame and outstanding instincts for the ball. He even spent some time at wide receiver at Kansas and can be dynamic with the ball in his hands. Talib has the strength and tenacity to accept the challenge of bigger, more physical receivers and his tremendous confidence gives him a short memory after getting beat. However, that can get him into trouble. Talib takes too many risks and as a result has a tendency to get beat by inferior receivers. His lack of top-flight recovery speed also makes his ill-timed gambles hurt even more. At Kansas, he was allowed to simply use his physical attributes to make big plays, something he did regularly. However, his feet or sloppy at times and he does not fill hard in the run game. Talib also does not show great explosiveness breaking on the ball, although he when he does get there in time, he almost always makes the play. Talib's stock has fallen somewhat since his outstanding performance in the Orange Bowl, but he has top 20 talent and teams like Tampa Bay and Washington will have considerable interest in this big-play corner in the first round.

5.) Brandon Flowers 5-10 189 Virginia Tech
Flowers has the same confidence and swagger of a player like Talib, but has significantly better discipline and technique. Flowers is solidly built, although a little short. He has fluid hips and shows explosion in and out of breaks. He may not have been playing receiver in VTech (like Talib did at Kansas) however Flowers does a great job of getting his hands on the football. He posted 18 pass break-ups in 2006 and had 5 picks in 2007. He ran a disappointing 40 time at the combine (4.58) but he plays considerably faster than he times and has enough discipline that he rarely gets beat deep. He does take some gambles and will get beat on double moves at times, but his instincts are excellent and he will also come up with momentum shifters. Flowers offers the most physicality of any player in the top 5 here and can really come up and fill hard in the run game. Flowers, had he timed better, would be a legitimate top 20 player and even with his lack of timed speed remains a top 40 player with a borderline first round grade. He would be a great fit in Green Bay with that physical man-to-man style of defense, but do not be surprised if a team like Dallas, San Diego or Jacksonville have serious interest in Flowers in the late first round.

6.) Tracy Porter 5-11 188 Indiana
Tracy Porter is a prospect on the rise and could still be undervalued. Porter possesses great speed and athleticism with smooth hips and tremendous agility in his backpedal. He will not get beaten very often, but if he is caught out of position, he has the recovery speed and burst to get back and make a play on the ball. Once he is in position to make the play, bet on him making it. Porter has excellent hands with 16 career interceptions, and when he has the ball look out because he can take it to the house anytime he touches it. Porter was a playmaker for Indiana in the secondary and in special teams, returning a punt for a touchdown as well. The biggest weakness in his game is his strength and tenacity. He does not do a great job of jamming receivers at the line and gives a large cushion, which can lead to easy catches in front. He also will not fill particularly hard in the run game. Even still, Porter has top 50 talent and will come off the board in the middle of the second round.

7.) Justin King 5-11 192 Penn State
King blew scouts away with a 4.31 at the combine, and his athleticism has him moving up draft boards, even into the first round in some cases. However, King and Porter share similar characteristics. King has great speed and quick feet. He has a burst, and is able to recover when out of position. However, King's hips can be stiff at times, something which could limit him on the next level in man coverage. He will fill in run support and has adequate tackling skills, but does not have outstanding strength and will likely have trouble wrapping up guys like Brandon Jacobs and Fred Taylor. That also means he will have to great stronger to match up with the TO's of the NFL in order to avoid being overpowered and walled off in coverage. His lack of strength will also be a problem fighting for the ball when it is in the air. He does not show the kind of tenacity and want for the ball, which can be a problem considering he does not have the strength to simply impose his will. Additionally, despite playing some receiver in Happy Valley, King does not have stellar ball skills and will not make nearly as many plays as he probably should. King's workouts are somewhat misleading, as his play was up and down at Penn State. King has enough upside to warrant second round consideration, perhaps by a team like Tenneesee, or Seattle in the 50's.

8.) Antoine Cason 6-0 190 Arizona
Cason looks like he would be an ideal NFL cornerback. He is tall and lean with long arms. However, his athleticism is somewhat limited compared to those ahead of him. He does not possess great hip fluidity and does not display a great burst in and out of cuts. Cason has adequate speed, but will struggle to mirror receivers and could get beat if asked to simply turn and run. He has good instincts and will come up hard to help in the run game. However, he does not display outstanding physicality, particularly for someone with his size. He will have to get stronger and perhaps develop the kind of nasty demeanor that makes a player like Al Harris or Champ Baily so good. Right now, Cason looks best suited for a zone heavy scheme, although will have to develop better press technique to play in a cover-2 system. Cason was widely considered the top returning corner in the country after the declarations for the 2007 draft were made. At this point, his stock remains widely varied among scouts. Some people believe he is a first round player, others think third round. It would seem difficult to believe he would fall out of the second round particularly with so many teams looking to add depth at corner.

9.) Patrick Lee 6-0 200 Auburn
Lee brings a particularly intriguing value at this point on the list. He is a tough, physical player who has the strength to re-route receivers and will not get overpowered. However, Lee also has quick feet and good speed to recover. He has some stiffness in his hips and probably belongs in a zone scheme, particularly a cover-2. Lee also tackles well, but right now lacks ideal instincts reading run and pass. That solidifies his potential as a cover-2 player. Lee was not a starter until his senior season, but with his size and strength, he was considerable upside as an NFL player.Addionally, the former Auburn Tiger has a unique luxury: he played on every special teams unit at Auburn and will likely be a gunner in the NFL right away while he has time to mature and get better as a cover corner. With some time, Lee could develop into one of the steals in this draft. He could go as early as the late second round, but will likely be one of the first picks in the third.

10.) Charles Godfrey 5-11 204 Iowa
Godfrey brings versatility and potential at this point in the draft. He moved from safety to corner in 2006 and has the size and strength to play either position at the next level. The former Iowa Hawkeye ran in the 4.4's at the combine, showcasing tremendous athleticism. He also has solid burst in and out of his cuts, although his footwork needs some polishing. Godfrey plays a tough, passionate game and will relish big hits in run support. Overall technique must improve if he wants to play corner in the NFL and his hips are still a little stiff for man schemes. Godfrey also brings special teams potential and was Iowa's 2005 Special Teams Player of the Year. His instincts at the corner position must also improve, but that should come with more experience at the position. Godfrey could play any defensive back spot in the NFL depending on what team decides to draft him. With his physical brand of football and special teams impact likely to be immediate, Godfrey looks like a early to mid third round prospect.

Other Players to watch: Chevis Jackson LSU, Terrell Thomas USC, Tyvon Branch Connecticut, Trae Willians South Florida, Jack Williams Kansas State