Even the men who study the NFL Draft year after year and get paid to make tough decisions can’t figure it out sometimes.
For instance, this year’s 2020 NFL Draft features as deep a class a cornerback as one personnel executive can ever remember and a dearth at safety like never before.
“In all my years (and he’s been around since the late 90s) I’ve never seen so many good corners in one draft,” the personnel man said. “I counted 14, or 15, who could come in and play right away. That’s a lot.”
“Now, I don’t think you have what you would call a shutdown corner. I’m not too sure they even exist anymore. The days of Deion Sanders are gone. (Darrell) Revis might have been the last.”
But there aren’t any good safeties?
“Not one,” he said. “I don’t like any of them.”
LSU’s Grant Delpit is getting the most attention from draft people who don’t actually make picks. He’s not a favorite of our guy.
“He’s can’t cover, and he can’t tackle,’’ the personnel man said of Delpit. “Other than that, he’s not bad.’’
Here’s his list of the top 5 cornerbacks in the draft:
Class: Jr.
Height/Weight: 6-1, 205
40 Time: 4.48
Stats: 2019: 3 Ints; 9 PBUs
Quote: “He’s good, very good. But he’s not Deion Sanders, like some people are making him out to be. I wouldn’t take him at No. 3.”
Class: Jr.
Height/Weight: 6-1, 204
40 Time: 4.39
Stats: Career: 6 Ints, 22 PBUs
Quote: “I think he can be just as good as Okudah, maybe even better.”
Class: Sr.
Height/Weight: 6-0, 197
40 Time: 4.46
Stats: 2019: 1 Int, 14 PBUs
Quote: “Another very good player who should be a starter right away. Good size/speed combination.”
Class: Sr.
Height/Weight: 6-0, 195
40 Time: 4.56
Stats: 5 Ints, 22 PBUs
Quote: “What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with his physical play. He’ll be very good in a cover-2 type scheme.”
Class: Sr.
Height/Weight: 6-1, 202
40 Time: 4.53
Stats: Career: 5 Ints, 39 PBUs
Quote: “I like him more than most. Great instincts and ball skills. Would probably be better with a zone team.”
OVERRATED: Jeff Gladney, TCU
UNDERRATED: Troy Pride, Notre Dame
SMALL SCHOOL STAR: Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern