2024 NFL Draft: 4 Best Defensive Backs on the Board
We're only a couple of days away from the 2024 NFL Draft, which will kick off on Thursday at 8 PM Eastern Time in Detroit. In yesterday's column we took a look at the top pass rushers, but today we're going to focus on defensive backs.
As we mentioned yesterday, offensive players get a ton of pub, but defensive players are often the most valuable pieces for NFL teams during the draft. So, with that in mind, let's dive into the 4 best defensive backs on the 2024 NFL Draft board.
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Arnold has all of the tools to be a bona fide star in the NFL. The 6-foot, 190 pounder has 4.5 speed and is comfortable playing both man and zone. Unlike most DBs, Arnold has no problem coming up to defend the run and he's an excellent tackler.
During his tenure at Alabama, Arnold hauled in 6 interceptions and became a favorite of Nick Saban's wife, Ms. Terry. The 21-year-old also racked up 108 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss during his 2 years in Tuscaloosa.
So, where will "Arnie" end up? Some folks have him going to Denver with the No. 12 overall pick. If that rings true, Arnold may be worth a bet to go Under 15.5 in the draft (-105 at DraftKings).
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Arnold faced better competition in the SEC, but Mitchell may end up going higher than him on Thursday evening. The 6-foot, 195 pounder ran the 40 in 4.33, which put him in the elite category as far as pure speed is concerned.
Mitchell is a natural cover corner, who has no trouble being one-on-one in any type of coverage. He's not quite the tackler that Arnold is, but he's still above average in that area.
Mitchell had 6 interceptions during his time at Toledo, which is impressive because QBs tried their best to never throw in his direction. Some mock drafts have Mitchell ending up in Jacksonville at No. 17.
Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Though Iowa's offense was horrific to watch the last couple of years, their defense was legendary. DeJean was a big reason why the Hawkeyes were able to compete against teams that could actually complete a forward pass. The 21-year-old has good size (6-foot, 203 lbs) and his overall game has no glaring weaknesses.
Dejean ran an impressive 4.5 40 and his tackling and run defense are both off the charts. The 2023 Consensus All-American picked off 7 passes and took 3 of them back for touchdowns during his tenure in Iowa City.
Most draft experts have DeJean getting drafted in the No. 21 spot to Miami or to Philly with pick No. 22. Either of those teams would be lucky to have this kid on board!
Nate Wiggins, Clemson
From a pure speed standpoint, Wiggins is the best corner in the draft. He ran an insanely fast 4.28 40 and his length (6'1") is a little bit better than other options on the draft board.
The only concern with Wiggins is that he only got 3 interceptions during his 3 years at Clemson. Keep in mind though, that most opponents simply chose to throw in the opposite direction of Wiggins.
Wiggins can be an elite cover man in the NFL, but his tackling and run defense are only average. It wouldn't surprise me if the Chiefs take a flyer on Wiggins with the last pick of the first round.
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