There is still a lot of time for the Panthers’ roster to take shape before the draft – but with limited cap space remaining, it would be hard to imagine them adding more than one or two more major pieces; the remaining signings will likely be looking to add depth. One position they might target in this regard is cornerback, while the current trio of Bradberry, Jackson and Cockrell might be decent, there is a lack of experience and talent on the roster – not to mention that Bradberry and Cockrell are free agents in 2020. However, should they not look to free agency, inside corner is also an area they might target in the draft, especially in the middle rounds, so what does the 2019 draft class have to offer in this regard?
Before we jump into my draft board, I’d invite you to have a listen to our companion podcast to our Scout Camp series, The Great British Drafting Show, an offseason mini-series detailing each position and how the Panthers might be able to get better – this week, we dove into the cornerback position.
The Usual Housework
As always, these evaluations are based on publicly available tape – it should be said that without access to all-22 tape for college players it is always going to be harder to evaluate cornerbacks than many other positions. This is made no easier by the simplicity of many college defenses and that, in man coverage at least, it is only really possible to evaluate the limits of a player when they face receivers of a standard similar to those they will face in the NFL – a rare occurrence for most college corners and something that some have never done to this point.
In terms of what I look for in cornerbacks, a huge amount of emphasis has to be placed on the athletic traits, not just the speed but also the ability to maintain balance through their backpedal and the fluidity of movement they exhibit in space. Ideally, players should show the footwork to stay in front of receivers in press while having the backpedal to allow them to drop from off-coverage. They then need to be able to flip their hips in order to react to lateral cuts while maintaining their balance to make it easier for them to break back to the ball. Ball skills and tackling are important, but on their own add limited value without the movement skills already described.
As always, these evaluations don’t take off-field or medical concerns into account.
Up Next: My Cornerback Big Board
