The cornerbacks are coming, and with them as a lot depth in prime finish expertise as any position group heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Mirror-and-trail guys, seek-and-destroy guys, lanky lighthouse guys, Mystic Meg guys, press and off-ball guys, throwback monitor stars to modernised do-it-alls, field tacklers to boundary marshalls.

They subscribe to enjoying one in every of soccer’s most bodily and mentally gruelling jobs, specification to which chops and adjustments with regularity in keeping with the offensive developments and tendencies of right this moment’s NFL.

Can you learn releases, restrict bites and grabs, and spin, stutter, stop-and-start whereas conjoining to the hip of a receiver in press? Can you diagnose route depths and breaks whereas tempering ‘see ball get ball’ instincts by acing the timing and angle of your assault on the ball in zone? Can you go off assignments to your security in rotating post-snap coverages? Can you determine the nuances in design of a good finish lined up a yard both aspect of the hash? Can you discover the ball in a sport of Three-card Monte with pre-snap movement and counter-flow double reverses? Can you be nimble sufficient to hold receivers downfield and brawny sufficient to deal with downhill?

The class of 2023 has a little bit of all of it, and you wouldn’t wager in opposition to at least 5 moving into the first spherical. Let’s have a look at a few of the names in query…

The lead pack

General consensus would level in the direction of Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon and Joey Porter Jr topping the class, with some toing and froing between Gonzalez and Witherspoon as to who leads the means.

Christian Gonzalez – Oregon

Gonzalez is probably the best on the eye of all of them. The Oregon man is unflinching, unhurried and the smoothest trying of operators whether or not lined up outdoors or in the slot, the latter of which he spent a class-high 29 per cent of snaps final season regardless of being largely untouchable as a boundary-first contributor. He completed the 2022 marketing campaign with 4 interceptions and eight go break ups whereas switching comfortably between zone and press man as a prolific objector to splash performs downfield and instinctive route-jumper each off the line and coming downhill. He ticks the twist-and-tail field with flying colors by way of unrushed footwork in response to launch feints, fluid hips in swivel transition and lengthy gliding strides to reflect receivers with ease.

At instances there’s a sense he barely kicks out of second gear, Gonzalez hardly ever liable to overcommitting his hand use or sacrificing leverage mid-route and sometimes in a position to disrupt passing avenues in press man with rangy arms that permit him to cleanly wrap receivers and intrude on their catch zone. He would go as an antonym for ‘clunky’, by no means muddling his toes whereas hopping between outside-and-inside on the half-turn in retreat and fulfilling dropbacks with robotic fluency. One of his flash moments final season got here in his interception in opposition to Colorado, Gonzalez sinking in zone protection at the snap whereas sustaining side-on physique placement earlier than studying the quarterback’s eyes spectacularly to burst downhill and leap the wheel route for the choose. His protection capacity in the meantime confirmed up properly throughout a go breakup in opposition to UCLA, this time seeing him match the receiver’s outdoors launch seamlessly from a press alignment, refraining from grabbing in panic in tow and utilizing his velocity to make up floor earlier than studying the receiver’s eyes at the prime of the path to time his leap completely for the intervention. He is dominant on the perimeter: sideline is house, vertical is trip.

Among few query marks of him may be the imposition of his presence, with the slickness to his work maybe veiling the type of urgency and depth that protrudes for others in his class. To his credit score, his type limits the want for wrestling matches and any struggle of attrition, however there can be intrigue as to how he handles the violent arms of bodily receivers as soon as he steps into the NFL.

Devon Witherspoon – Illinois

And with that, there’s Witherspoon, who performs pesky as a continuing rash on his man with prodding arms and disruptive mid-route hand-to-hand fight. The Illinois defensive again had three interceptions and 14 go breakups final season whereas permitting simply 22 catches on 62 targets for 209 yards and an opponent passer ranking of 25.3. While Gonzalez could also be the best on the eye, Witherspoon may properly be the blue chip of the group.

Devon Witherspoon is extensively projected as the first cornerback off the board

He is your fashionable pest, hustling and harrying opponents with copy-cat footwork at the snap and sticky physique mirroring to suffocate in short-to-intermediate performs, navigating crossing routes with composure in site visitors and exploding downhill from a static cushion begin or whereas in dropback movement by the use of his excellent transitioning to explode performs in a click on. Witherspoon’s upper-body power permits him to jam and re-route receivers whereas additionally absorbing contact ought to they ever attempt to cost him in off-ball conditions, in addition to coupling together with his competitiveness in making him a bruising open-field tackler as he flies to the ball – the latter stress-free some concern over his slighter body at simply 5’11 ½” and 181lbs. He is scrappy and tenacious with quick space acceleration to blanket inside releases or soar off the edge as a blitzer. With his elite acceleration comes manufacturing from zone as he is ready to afford himself additional cushion with the data he can erase the area together with his velocity, as a lot paving the strategy to a standout interception in opposition to Northwestern as he learn the quarterback’s thoughts to desert his perimeter project and leap the incoming crosser from out of nowhere. Besides queries over his measurement, one space of enchancment could be cleaner engagement at the level of contact, the velocity and urgency with which he performs often throwing off his angle.

At this stage, you might be being choosy when on the lookout for faults. Witherspoon is your apex competitor, with the chop and rake arms to jostle in-phase and at the catch level together with the rattling impression at the level of contact as a tackler. He thrives up in a receiver’s grill but in addition cuts a menacing determine when granted a runway with which to plant-and-trigger in off-coverage. Detroit Lions, we’re trying at you at No 6 total.

Joey Porter Jr – Penn State

Where Witherspoon’s body may need generated uncertainty, the stature of Porter Jr has contrastingly fuelled buzz over his upside. The Penn State DB is arguably your prototypical fashionable cornerback at 6’2 ½”, 193lbs with 34” arms and a 4.46-second 40-yard sprint on his resume. He is your ready-made press man guru, lining up on receivers on 39 per cent of his snaps final season as a nightmare shadow together with his velocity and intrusive size. Porter is a well-rehearsed spin-and-go vertical route tracker from press alignments, drawing on his sturdy obstructive arms to blunt receiver efforts to achieve separation and stubbornly refusing to detach from his man’s hip. It is what makes him so invaluable to Cover 3-man techniques when defenses search to bait passes outdoors the numbers, Porter Jr hardly ever trying like relinquishing yardage in his third of the area. From a lateral standpoint his measurement will be dangerously misleading from an offensive perspective, for what he might lack in speedy burst in comparison with others in the class he greater than makes up for with the aggression, lengthy strides and wingspan to smother inside releases and blow up passing lanes on crossers. With aggression and the willingness to get handsy and re-route receivers in press comes a endurance when attempting to anticipate inside breaks and releases and whereas carrying receivers downfield earlier than timing his second to show and face the ball.

The hefty ceiling is the promote. Porter is dominant at the catch level together with his wiry muscular arms to out-fight receivers and as a shrewd processor of route ideas. In zone protection his athleticism and velocity permit him to chop off area shortly earlier than utilizing his attain to wrap ball-carriers. His work in area would additionally function underneath areas of improvement as he learns to reign in his aggression at instances in favour of taking smarter angles, significantly when coming downhill to tackle the run or dealing with as much as checkdowns and screens. When he does meet his goal he’s stringy with wriggle room. Porter registered seven go breakups and nil interceptions final season, although that ought to not deter groups too considerably. Solid movie in opposition to Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr over the final two seasons will assist his trigger.

The risers

Cam Smith – South Carolina

South Carolina’s Cam Smith has solely been trending in a single path all through this pre-Draft course of, a lot so he might fairly comfortably break into that aforementioned perceived prime three. He falls into the same class as Witherspoon almost about measurement at 180lbs and 6’1″, but his frame never proved problematic at the college level. He offers some of the most polished and consistent tape of the entire class, with experience in both press and off-coverage as well as serving as a blitz option off the edge. One moment that perhaps typifies him came against Arkansas, Smith charging in to leapfrog his way into the middle of a multi-player scrum with the play all-but dead (a little Jimmy Bullard vs Newcastle style for those familiar). He wants every assignment and to be involved at every opportunity. He made sure of as much against Charlotte, Smith sinking into what looks like Cover 3 to bait the soft spot before springing his trap and transitioning seamlessly from back-to-front to rocket in and jump the out-route for a stunning diving interception. Instincts, acceleration, ball skills. Smith almost produced a near-identical play against Vanderbilt, this time playing in cushion before exploding into life to attack a curl route and pummel the receiver in question for a pass break-up.

Cam Smith in action at the NFL Scouting Combine

Some of his work in off-coverage features among his best tape, Smith cleverly identifying route intentions when playing sticks defense to stand his ground before mirroring his nearest receiver’s break. His trigger out of the back-peddle contributes heavily towards his value as a cushion defender, but put him in press and he is equally accomplished at spinning at the snap and breathing all over receivers, who quickly find no play is ever over as Smith tussles with them throughout. How he utilises his body is another interesting trait, Smith at times maintaining a relatively low coverage stance that enables him to spring into vertical duels and at other times adopting a get-tall stance to impair the quarterback as he blitzes from deep. He is an extremely skilled contortionist when tracking the ball, a fiery tackler against the run when able to find the lane and loves the arm grapples over the middle of the field. You would like to see him face more tests as a vertical runner on deep shots, while there is also room for improvement in how he takes angles and shrugs off blockers in screen and outside zone running plays.

Deonte Banks – Maryland

Banks is a fun study. He forces quarterbacks to work that little bit harder, harassing receivers for the duration of routes from press alignments to challenge the catch radius to its maximum and narrow the passing window to its slimmest. His play speed is emphatic and long-lasting whether he is operating in-phase on vertical routes downfield, covering receivers on extended off-script plays or bursting downhill as a run defender or blitzer. Banks’ two interceptions and eight pass breakups fail to jump off the chart in comparison to the production of those around him, but his competence and command in press coverage was evident at Maryland. He is a nightmare to evade in match circumstances, welding himself to receivers and never letting go to the result of broken plays and offensive frustration. Opponents are only playing into his hands when they elect to engage in conflict mid-route, with Banks relishing the opportunity to rake, swipe and slap down arms, particularly at the catch point. He similarly welcomes the chance to initiate conflict to re-direct receivers (something he achieved against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr), and hardly budges when bigger bodies try their luck at bulldozing him in search of leverage at their break.

The straight line speed is there for him to breeze alongside receivers downfield, with Banks developing a knack for flipping his hips at the precise moment and sinking into pass-catchers to disrupt their catching motion. With this comes the multi-tasking to remain side-on in-phase in order to continue reading the quarterback’s eyes mid-pursuit, while he is also happy to play with his back to the passer and trust himself to read the receiver as he is preparing to high-point the ball. Such is his aggressive playing style that he will attempt to dislodge the ball at every opportunity as he explodes off his mark. Occasionally his feet will get stuck on inside releases and he will lose a yard or two against crossing routes a little too easily, but the short-area quickness tends to compensate in good time. Once he is on you, good luck losing him.

Does size matter?

Emmanuel Forbes – Mississippi State

Devon Witherspoon will tell you size does not matter, and so too would his college game film. Another advocate for that sentiment is Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes Jr, who has been faced with size questions as much as anybody after measuring up at 6’1” but just 166lbs. The recent history of cornerbacks weighing under 180lbs is modest, let alone 170lbs, but it is testament to the Forbes film that he remains so highly-regarded. The All-American recorded six interceptions and 11 pass breakups last season while allowing a passer rating of just 1.4 across 107 snaps in man coverage. Twitchy is one word for him, defiant another. He is prepared to take risks as a route-jumper and is ultra aggressive in penetrating passing lanes, his 32 ¼” arms and 4.35-second speed allowing him to crush space in an click.

Among the flash points are his exceptional ball skills, which paved the way to an NCAA record six pick-sixes in his college career. They showed up in a standout play against Arkansas with Forbes exhibiting intelligent body placement to stay side-on as he trailed his receiver downfield before rotating his hips at the ideal moment, fixing his eyes on the ball as he continued to back-peddle and leaping for the pick. It encapsulated a lot of his most valued traits in one, from the fluidity of his hips in motion to the maturity to play with controlled aggression and trust his hands at the top of routes. His short area quickness is matched by neat and balanced footwork that helps him react to sharp breaks, releases and secondary routes without losing ground, with the trust he has in his ability to high-point the ball and compete at the top of routes culminating in a composure when playing with his back to the passer. While the desired build may not be there, his anticipation and ability to diagnose concepts alone wins him plays at times. Again, despite his size there is no shortage of physicality in coming downhill to take on runners in the open field. The big question will be how he stands up to the fully-developed receivers at the pro level should they charge him in press or look to arm-wrestle mid-route.

Kelee Ringo – Georgia

The question might be a contrasting one for Georgia’s Kelee Ringo, who offers an NFL-ready frame as one of the most athletically-gifted cornerbacks on the board at 6’2” and 207lbs with 31 ¼” arms and a 4.36 40-yard dash on his scouting report. A question less of how he translates to the pros and more of how best to use and coach a player of his coveted size. Once upon a time Ringo had been considered the top cornerback in the class, his stock appearing to fall amid the ascent of others. Such is his size and the freaky tools that accompany it, though, there is still every chance he goes late in the first round. It is also why there is a temptation to line him up at safety, where teams will feel they can harness hybrid traits as an accomplished downhill tackler against the run and make use of his size against the more agile of tight ends scattered across the league.

Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis

Ringo’s bread and butter on the perimeter is drawing on his pursuit speed to carry receivers in-phase vertically downfield in man coverage, using his patience to refrain from overcommitting with his hands or panicking should he lose a yard on the release. Equally, it is his speed that allows him to cover crossing routes before seeking to cut off passing lanes, and his speed, combined with his toughness, from sideline-to-sideline that again fuels temptation to utilise him in the box against the world of outside zone run concepts, jet-sweeps and screen plays. In man coverage he is smart enough to decipher the conflict teams seek to create with scissor and rub routes and communicates efficiently in zone when it comes to delegating assignments post-snap. The main intrigue lies with how a defense best imposes his athleticism, particularly when route concepts become more intricate at the next level and shifty receivers catch him cold with the double moves, inside breaks and quick-hitters that can tend to muddle his footwork. While he is near-impossible to shake off downfield, he lacks the suffocation of others in the class when it comes to imitating sharp changes in direction and occasionally drops his eyes a little too soon in preparation for a pursuit. His transitioning could be smoother, his tackling cleaner and the faith in his instincts to attack passing lanes heightened, but he plays with enormous trust in his ability to win back yardage and shut down space with his speed. Ringo is one of the toughest and most interesting evaluations of the entire class.

The unsung

Michigan’s DJ Turner has a habit for making himself known on film as the most explosive athlete on the field for much of his time at college. He crushed pre-Draft testing with a 4.26-second 40-yard dash to lead all players at the Scouting Combine and no doubt make himself some more dollars, demonstrating the electric burst that shows up regularly on film. He is relentless, frenetic, high-octane; Turner refuses to budge or be bullied once he sticks himself to a receiver’s hip, staying in-phase downfield with ease without sacrificing leverage by engaging prematurely with his hands. It is incredibly rare for him to be left in the blocks at the snap, and when it comes to in-breaking routes or double moves he has clinical lateral adjustment to remain in tow. At 5’11” and 178lbs he’s on the smaller aspect, however the aesthetics of him flying to the ball or copying a receiver’s stop-start work in his favour.

The measurement fluctuation throughout the class continues with Julius Brents of Kansas State, who measures up at 6’3″ and 198lbs with 34″ arms as one other of the pro-ready frames outfitted to fulfil the downhill tackling necessities of the fashionable cornerback. He is one other to have impressed in pre-Draft testing after logging a 41.50″ vertical jump (second among corners), an 11’6″ broad leap (first amongst corners), a 6.63-second 3-Cone Drill (first amongst corners) and a 4.05-second 20-Yard Shuttle (first amongst corners). Brents had 4 interceptions and 4 go breakups final season, primarily enjoying in off-coverage the place he might depend on his anticipation earlier than darting to the ball or mirroring breaks and utilizing his rangy arms to interrupt passing lanes or smother receivers. His footwork in transition can often go away one thing to be desired in press in opposition to nimble receivers and when altering path, however his sheer measurement and attain give him a bonus each as a tackler in opposition to the run and when attempting to intrude on quick-hitters beneath. Dwarfing, bodily nook that may go the eye check of many schemes throughout the league. Do not be shocked to see him grow to be the most important riser of all in the class.

Utah’s Clark Phillips III is undersized at 5’9″ 184lbs with just 29 1/8″ arms, however had six interceptions and 6 go breakups to indicate for his work final season. Where the greater constructed corners in the class can wrestle in opposition to the fleet-footed receivers, it’s on this division the place he thrives as he is ready to showcase his lightning toes, which when coupled together with his instincts make him a dynamic playmaker. He brings expertise each outdoors and in the slot, the latter of which might grow to be extra of a everlasting position at the subsequent stage in mild of his measurement. He is a swift processor and by no means second guesses himself.

Like Phillips, TCU’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson usually defies his measurement (5’8″, 178lbs, 29″ arms) as a dogged competitor who allowed a passer ranking of simply 34.6 final season. He performs twitchy, on the entrance root and primed to pounce, blanketing deep passes downfield and cruising to pass-catchers or ball-carriers downhill. Of 24 targets on passes of 20+ yards final season, he allowed simply 5 catches. His three interceptions and 15 go breakups thought of, we may be speaking undisputed first-rounder have been he a tad taller. Wherever the ball is, Hodges-Tomlinson is normally in shut proximity.

Eli Ricks joins Brents in ticking the measurement field at 6’2″, 188lbs with 32 3/8″ arms, the Alabama man amongst the fascinating developmental initiatives as he enters the NFL with restricted expertise. He makes full use of his lengthy limbs to win one-on-one battles, be it prevailing in vertical contested catch conditions or jabbing his arms by way of and round receivers to interrupt up passes. While he’s one other that may be undone by shiftier stop-start receivers, he glides impressively from inside to out to trace receivers in condense-to-expand formations. As may be anticipated in a Nick Saban protection he performs with self-discipline to keep away from getting grabby in press protection, enjoying tight to receivers and trusting his ball abilities.

One man that might fall sooner than projected is Kentucky’s Carrington Valentine, whose method is uncooked however whose competitiveness and play-angry aggression to impression passing avenues and tackle any tight finish or receiver body is simple. Valentine is available in at 6’0″ and 193lbs having recorded 46 tackles, one interception and 9 go breakups final season. He is a fierce tackler with snappy quick space burst and a style for catch level battle.

Grab your self a cornerback. There are few of them.