Cornerbacks
The were 37 CBs selected in the 2022 draft, as follows:
Round 1 - 4
Round 2 - 5
Round 3 - 3
Round 4 - 8
Round 5 - 4
Round 6 - 5
Round 7 - 8
The 2022 CB draft class was incredibly deep with a ton of starter-talent available. While the heavily loaded Round 4 would suggest some middling talent, I see many starters within this fold.
The 2023 CB draft class looks to be quite promising as well. I'm not sure its waters will run as deep and long as what we saw from the 2022 brood, but Day 1 and 2 should be very good if not great.
1) Kelee Ringo | 6'2 | 205 | CB | Georgia
2021 - 34 tackles, 2 INTs
9/3 - Oregon - Ringo flashed very good speed and overall cover skills. He allowed next to nothing, gave Bo Nix no options in throwing his way with any consistency.
2) Cam Smith | 6'0 | 185 | CB | South Carolina
2021 - 41 tackles, 3 INTs
9/10 - Arkansas - Smith was unfortunately knocked out of the game early. Up to that point, he was strong in coverage, showed some moxie in his play style. SC was clearly picked on as a result of him not being out there.
9/17 - Georgia - DNP
3) Clark Phillips | 5'10 | 184 | CB | Utah
2021 - 61 tackles, 2 INTs
9/3 - Florida - Phillips had a very good game. While Florida moved the ball through the air at times, the yards were surrendered by others. Phillips held down his pass coverage assignments all night.
4) Joey Porter Jr. | 6'2 | 195 | CB | Penn State
2021 - 51 tackles, 1 INT
9/1 - Purdue - Porter allowed more receptions than a potential Round-1 prospect should, especially when going against the FA-graded WR in Charlie Jones. To be clear, Jones made a name for himself and will now be on several teams' radars. That said, Porter flashed very good play speed and overall quickness. He got a bit loose in defense on a few slant routes, but when working downfield he was great. He also asserted himself as a tackler, lowering his shoulder and making contact.
9/17 - Auburn - Porter had a great game. When Auburn found success throwing then ball, it wasn't at the hands of Porter. He consistently locked his man up, taking him out of contention. Auburn QBs wisely threw away from him.
5) DJ Turner | 6'0 | 181 | CB | Michigan
2021 - 33 tackles, 2 INTs
9/1 - Colorado State - Turner wasn't challenged much by the way of attempts or opposing talent, but he asserted himself well and held down his responsibilities real well.
9/24 - Maryland - Turner had a great game. He played very tight coverage, consistently made his man work to get any separation. No WR did anything notable against him.
6) Nehemiah Pritchett | 6'1 | 180 | CB | Auburn
2021 - 27 tackles, 1 INT
9/17 - Penn State - Pritchett played a fantastic game. According to my notes, he gave up just one completion, and it was a perfectly thrown short pass against tight coverage. Penn State QBs wisely threw away from this craft CB, as he had his man locked up on every snap, regardless of who it was.
9/24 - Missouri - Pritchett had a great game, provided sticky coverage throughout this contest. He gave up very little.
7) Christian Gonzalez | 6'2 | 200 | CB | Oregon
2021 - 53 tackles, 0 INTs
9/17 - BYU - Gonzalez played an excellent game. He posted 2 tackles, 2 PBUs. He was very sticky in coverage, showed his ability to stay hip to hip with his man while playing the ball. He played with confidence, had a feisty side to him.
8) Bralyn Lux | 5'11 | 175 | CB | Fresno State
2021 - 24 tackles, 0 INTs
9/17 - USC - Lux drew the unenviable task of manning up against Jordan Addison on most snaps. While the future 1st-rounder did catch 6 balls for 69 yards and 1 TD, not all of it was on Lux. When 1:1, Lux locked him up several times, showed fluid hips coupled with the long speed to stay with the speedy WR. Lux played with levelled moxie, never gave a big cushion in threat of getting beat deep.
9) Eli Ricks | 6'2 | 195 | CB | Alabama
2021 - 11 tackles, 1 INT
9/10 - Texas - Limited snaps.
10) Brian Branch | 6'0 | 193 | CB | Alabama
2021 - 55 tackles, 0 INTs
9/10 - Texas - Branch wasn't bad today, but he wasn't good either. He gave up too many receptions, was exploited by Worthy's deep speed.
11) Malachi Moore | 6'0 | 190 | CB/SAF | Alabama
2021 - 16 tackles, 1 INT
9/10 - Texas - Limited snaps.
12) Cory Trice | 6'2 | 215 | CB | Purdue
2021 - 41 tackles, 2 INTs
9/1 - Penn State - Trice had an outstanding game. Regardless of who he was lined up across from, he provided very tight, on the hip coverage. His foot quickness, play speed and ball awareness was great. Washington and Tinsley form a very good WR duo, and Trice was more than up to the task.
9/17 - Syracuse - Trice had a great game. According to my notes, he allowed just one reception for 11 yards, which didn't happen until the 4th quarter. Even as such, he had tied coverage against a perfectly thrown come back route. Shrader looked Trice's way throughout the game, only to progress pass him as Trice had his man on lock.
13) Mekhi Garner | 6'2 | 215 | CB | LSU
2021 - 31 tackles, 0 INTs
9/4 - Florida State - Garner had a couple slip ups, but was otherwise very solid in coverage. He had 6 tackles, 2 PBUs.
9/17 - Mississippi State - Garner had an excellent game, eliminated his man all game.
14) Emmanuel Forbes | 6'2 | 180 | CB | Mississippi State
2021 - 59 tackles, 3 INTs
9/3 - Memphis - Forbes had a bit of an up and down night. While he was good in coverage on some plays, he got beat pretty badly a couple times, one for a TD. He also looked frail as a tackler.
9/10 - Arizona - Forbes was a bit loose in coverage a few times, but altogether had a decent night, posting 2 PBUs.
9/17 - LSU - Forbes had a great game, routinely shut his man down throughout the game.
15) Jay Shaw | 5'11 | 190 | CB | Wisconsin
2021 - 27 tackles, 3 INTs
9/10 - Washington State - Shaw had an excellent game. Despite fumbling the ball after his INT, he was near perfect. Ward wisely steered clear of him throughout the game, as Shaw had his man locked up.
9/24 - Ohio State - Shaw had a rough night. He drew several tough assignments throughout this game. While tight in coverage at times, he looked lost at times and did give up some receptions that hurt.
16) Jaylon Jones | 6'2 | 195 | CB | Texas A&M
2021 - 35 tackles, 2 INTs
9/10 - Appalachian State - DNP
9/17 - Miami - Jones got beat a couple times, but he showed far more good than bad. He paced his team with 9 tackles, was quik to close in on the ball regardless of who secured the catch. He played with levelled intensity and pop.
17) Tony Grimes | 6'1 | 197 | CB | North Carolina
2021 - 47 tackles, 0 INTs
18) Sheridan Jones | 6'0 | 185 | CB | Clemson
2021 - 20 tackles, 1 INT
19) Garrett Williams | 5'10| 186 | CB | Syracuse
2021 - 52 tackles, 0 INTs
9/3 - Louisville - Williams did have 9 tackles, and came away with an INT in the end zone. However, I was disappointed with his play overall. He got beat a few times, giving up way too much cushion. His INT was a gimme, as the ball was poorly thrown right into his deep zone. He got bullied in the open field at times, as his lack of size and play strength was exploited.
9/17 - Purdue - Williams had a bit of a rough night. He drew a 1:1 assignment vs. Charlie Jones, and gave up multiple receptions to the speedy WR. While Williams provided good coverage at times, he certainly lost the war.
9/23 - Virginia - Williams had a nice bounce back game. He generally played tight in coverage, keeping everything in front of him. Armstrong had zero success going deep on Williams.
20) Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson | 5'9 | 177 | CB | TCU
2021 - 41 tackles, 2 INTs
9/1 - Colorado - Hodges-Tomlinson was solid overall, showing his ability to read plays and stay on the hip of WRs. However, his lack of size allowed him to get stacked up by the WR on one play in particular, showing that he's better on underneath routes vs. longer balls where the sideline and length becomes a factor.
21) Tiawan Mullen | 5'10 | 175 | CB | Indiana
2021 - 19 tackles, 0 INTs
9/3 - Illinois - Mullen wasn't tested much, as he held down his pass coverage responsibilities well. To find passing success DeVito picked on others.
22) Kris Abrams-Draine | 6'0 | 185 | CB | Missouri
2021 - 37 tackles, 3 INTs
9/1 - LA Tech - Abrams-Draine had a decent, but not great night. While he generally provided solid coverage, he allowed a string of balls to be caught, simply allowing too much cushion between he and the WR. While not taken deep, it was the underneath passes where he was exposed.
9/24 - Auburn - Abrams-Draine had a fair game today. He wasn't really challenged much, but showed good coverage as needed.
23) Kyu Blu Kelly | 6'1 | 186 | CB | Stanford
2021 - 58 tackles, 2 INTs
9/10 - USC - Kelly didn't look too bad, but he clearly was no match for Addison, struggled to contain the great WR.
24) Tyrique Stevenson | 6'0 | 214 | CB | Miami
2021 - 43 tackles, 1 INT
9/17 - Texas A&M - Aside from his muffed punt on special teams, Stevenson had a solid night. He generally stuck to his assignments well, not leaving much for opportunities.
25) Riley Moss | 6'1 | 194 | CB | Iowa
2321 - 39 tackles, 4 INTs
9/3 - South Dakota State - Moss had a very solid game, held down his coverage duties well. While not challenged much, and drawing great help from his teammates, he did his job.
26) Noah Daniels | 6'0 | 195 | CB | TCU
2021 - 6 tackles, 0 INTs
9/1 - Colorado - When in, Daniels was solid and dependable in coverage. He wasn't challenged much in terms of passing attempts or opposing talent, however.
27) Jakorian Bennett | 5'11 | 195 | CB | Maryland
2021 - 24 tackles, 3 INTs
9/17 - SMU - Bennet struggled today, had a tough time against Rice, who had 11 catches for 193 yards. Not all of this was on Bennett, but he wasn't sharp.
9/24 - Michigan - Bennet gave up some ground at times, but he also flashed some good coverage ability overall.
28) Darrell Luter | 6'0 | 186 | CB | South Alabama
2021 - 20 tackles, 4 INTs
29) Cam Hart | 6'2 | 205 | CB | Notre Dame
2021 - 41 tackles, 2 INTs
9/3 - Ohio State - This was a bad game for Hart, as he was picked on often, gave up a lot of receptions and yardage.
30) D'Jordan Strong | 5'11 | 175 | CB | Coastal Carolina
2021 - 25 tackles, 0 INTs