CB targets for this draft

[JawnyBlaze]

I think it's imperative we get a high potential CB somehow this year, whether it's in the draft or by FA.  I expect it to come from the draft.  In a perfect world I think we spend our 1st round pick on a stud DE and our 2nd round pick on a stud CB.  When looking at CB prospects I look for fluidity, instincts, willingness to make contact, speed and size.  One of my main peeves with DBs are unwillingness to make tackles or fight through blocks to make tackles.  If they play scared they're gonna get eaten up in the NFL for the most part.  CBs are harder to judge than other positions like DE or WR to me, so I'll probably be less convinced of my own opinion than the other threads like this I make.  Once again I'm just going off Mayock's list for now to tell me who to watch videos of.

Jalen Ramsey, Florida State:  Ramsey is a big CB, looks even bigger on the field than the 6'1 201 that he's listed.  Like any corner he got beat occasionally but it wasn't often.  He seems fluid enough, never really looked stiff.  His instincts look good.  Saw him make some Norman-esque anticipations and breaks on the ball.  Never saw him get straight burned, worse problem in coverage seems to be losing the ball in the air and not reacting in time but it didn't happen much.  He's plenty physical, saw him fight through blocks on screen passes to make tackles, never seemed to shy away from contact.  He looks fast enough but not gonna be the fastest guy, looks like more of a long strider which is to be expected at his size.  Overall I don't think he'll be available when we pick, but if he is he'd make a good 1st round pick.  https://youtu.be/nOhLAYYJbFA https://youtu.be/RS7GShQR7Yk

Vernon Hargreaves, Florida:  Harvreages was incredibly impressive in the two videos I watched.  Really good instincts, never got burned, only real gripe is that occasionally he wouldn't get his head around to locate the ball when it was arriving.  Very good tackler, never avoided contact.  Some defensive players, more often LBs than any other position, tackle like wrestlers.  Luke does it.  So does Hargreaves.  Great feet, very quick.  Good long speed too.  Prototypical size at 5'11 192.  I think he'll also be long gone before our pick, but I'd love to have him in the 1st.   https://youtu.be/72XSDuOfcsI https://youtu.be/U2tzI9O4vxs

Mackensie Alexander, Clemson:  Alexander's videos were a mixed bag.  On one hand, he has good speed and quick feet and often kept tight coverage.  On the other hand, he more often than others would get beat by moves and cuts.  If the WRs are just going long or not making sharp cuts he could stay with them, but if the WR runs an in route, does a double move, runs a hitch route, anything that's a quick change of direction they'd lose Alexander.  Quite a few times in the videos you'd see Alexander go out of the picture with the WR, then the QB throws the ball and the camera would zip over to the WR and Alexander is 4 or 5 feet away trying to catch up after a change of direction.  He seemed physical enough, but the National Championship game vs Alabama video was cut short cuz he got injured.  Dunno if the injury will be a concern.  Overall I'd give him a shot in the mid rounds, but not before the 3rd. https://youtu.be/E90WWewrbWk https://youtu.be/36QTqP0XExk https://youtu.be/9atBu-zwZ10

Eli Apple, Ohio State:  My biggest impression of Apple is that he's scared to death of contact.  When a run play came at him he always waited for the blocker to get to him and let himself be taken out of the play.  When the runner was coming at him and a blocker didn't get in his way, Apple would side step him like a matador and try to arm tackle the runner from the side.  There was one play in one of the two games with videos where he had the QB squared up to stop him short of a first, but the QB put the slightest little juke, like he literally changed direction by about 5 degrees, and Apple tried to arm tackle him and the QB got the first.  Softest CB I've seen in a while.  He usually kept pretty tight coverage and didn't get beat on moves or speed that I could see.  Quick feet, solid instincts.  Good size at 6'1 200.  Wouldn't want to spend an early pick, but in the 3rd or later I'd take a chance.  https://youtu.be/dpUKglnLsCM https://youtu.be/Q2vvRAPMQUI

Cyrus Jones, Alabama:  Didn't see much overly positive or negative.  He kept relatively tight coverage usually, didn't get beat on moves or speed.  He didn't shy away from contact, but he also didn't aggressively go after ball carriers.  He sometimes would not be aware the ball was coming to his man and end up interfering with the pass because he didn't turn back to locate the ball.  One thing of note is he seems to be a good punt returner.  vs Michigan State he had a very impressive punt return for touchdown but he also had a muff that he recovered.  A little short but not TOO short, at just under 5'10 196.  Another guy that would warrant a mid to late round pick, in my opinion.  https://youtu.be/vERc5qrWeM8 https://youtu.be/uTCLkT3Nk5k

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech:  Added him because I recognized the name as someone I had heard of, probably from someone on this board.  Kyle Fuller is his brother, if I remember correctly.  This Fuller seems very grabby in coverage, will have to get that in check or he's gonna get a lot of penalties in the NFL.  Solid coverage though, good feet.  Decent instincts, saw him diagnose a reverse run very quickly in one play vs Purdue and went the entire width of the field to almost make the tackle but the ball carrier was too quick for him.  Decent mid to late round prospect.  Good size at 6'0 197.  https://youtu.be/4GvZEe_ZkOw https://youtu.be/pqnw2YsxIuY

Order of preference:

1. Hargreaves
2. Ramsey
3. Jones
4. Apple
5. Fuller
6. Alexander

[MV%doe]

I'm a sucker for bloodlines.

I'm a huuuge fuller fan. Id even state he would have been the #1 CB by far in this draft if not for the injury. That means he could have drafted in the first five picks. I have no idea how's his rehab is going, but I'm more than willing to gamble if he's there at 30. Provided he's medically cleared by panther docs.

I haven't gotten to the point of ranking the group, but I'd put fuller on top right now. Hes a complete CB, that's not afraid of tackling.

[Swaggasaurus]

I don't think we spend a 1 on CB, maybe second round if Fuller or Alexander fell. I want Cryus Jones or DJ White in the mid rounds. Both are aggressive, sure tackling, and have good ball skills.

[MV%doe]

Welp, after fuller Hargreaves is the next best. Wow 

I don't believe Ramsey is a true outside CB, but for a few plays he could fool some. Hes his own spot. Hes meant to roam the middle of the field. A hybrid DB/LB , funny cause Charles woodsen just retired and he looks like Charles in the mid- years.

Apple is scaring me, got that nassib feel to him. I'm going form late 1st to mid 4th on him.

 

Jones, I'm also scared to death of bama DBs. Nick saben not teaching DBs proper nfl technique, is one of the great mysterys. Brilliant coach and he coaches to win college games, not for nfl teams.

Alexander havnt got a good read on him, to busy focused on DEs.

[JawnyBlaze]

3 hours ago, carolina-chuck2 said:

I don't really like Alexander and Apple that much. Both guys are afraid to tackle. A lot of hype around them. 

 

However, I wouldn't mind taking one of them at 30. Not a fan but it is a need and possibly BPA. 

Yea, I'm in the same boat.  That's one reason I have Jones above either of them, not afraid to lay a hit on someone.  I'm not as sold on Fuller as some here, but I've only watched one or two games' videos on draftbreakdown of him.  I could very well be missing something.  I'm not as enamored by this CB class as a whole as most seem to be.  I think Hargreaves will be very good and Ramsey is boom or bust, like Malcom Jenkins a while back.