Top 10 Cornerbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft

Cornerbacks represent one of the deeper groups in this year’s draft. There are at least 6-7 players that could be first round picks especially as teams desperately seek shutdown corners to cope with the propensity to pass in the league these days.

This group is full of playmakers and I’m looking for good combinations of size, speed and ball skills. For this article, we’ll assume Minkah Fitzpatrick is best suited to the safety position. Kameron Kelly and Kyzir White are also more likely to be safeties in the NFL but I don’t think they would have made my top 10 here anyway.

Here, I’ll outline my top 10 (pre-combine) regardless of team fit/scheme.

Josh Jackson – Iowa – Junior – 6ft-1 – 192lb

There’s very little between Jackson and my #2 (Denzel Ward, see below). Jackson just pips Ward due to height and I just have the slightest of inklings that he’s going to be a better pro. Cornerbacks can often take time to develop in the pros but Jackson gives me the impression he could start day 1 for the team that drafts him. He has the desired size & speed combination and his mixes great technique with playmaking ability. Jackson can play off man or press and has turned his above average ball skills into great interception production in college. Jackson doesn’t look like he’ll get beaten over the top and has great recovery skills. Like most corners these days, Jackson needs work on his tackling but he should improve in this area and he certainly won’t shy away from contact. Jackson is a former receiver, hence the ball skills, but he continues to transition to corner and should only improve. Jackson also offers returner potential. Jackson should be picked in the top 15 in this year’s draft.

Denzel Ward – Ohio State – Junior – 5ft-10 – 191lb

Ok, so Ward is shorter than you’d like but smaller corners can flourish in the NFL and Ward should hold his own on the outside even against the bigger receivers. Ward has elite quickness and superb footwork. Ward promises to be one of the quicker players in this year’s draft and that kind of speed will make him a very sought after prospect. Despite his size limitations, Ward is tough and physical, he plays with a relentless motor and he exhibits controlled aggression. Ward is yet another great DB from Ohio State and he’ll benefit from the success of recent draft picks Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley, Eli Apple & Vonn Bell. Ward is able to limit big plays and he rarely gets beaten deep, his tackling does need work but players like Ward should not need to be relied on in run support too often. Ward should succeed in the NFL and he’ll be a week 1 starter I’m sure. Like Jackson, Ward should be taken in the top 15 of this year’s draft.

Isaiah Oliver – Colorado – Junior – 6ft-1 – 190lb

As with my 1 & 2, my 3 & 4 positions were very close. Again, I’ve gone with height to make the choice as Oliver pips Jaire Alexander (see below). Oliver has the size & speed combination that appeals and he is smart with great technique. Oliver is able to mirror receivers and close quickly when he does get initially beaten. Even though Oliver is a former receiver he doesn’t have the ball skills to match and interceptions are rare. Oliver is smart but his instincts appear only average, he can get a little grabby when beaten and the penalties will worry NFL teams. Oliver is very coachable and although he may not be a day 1 starter he has the potential, and athletic ability, to become a very good corner in the NFL. Oliver should be chosen in the 20-30 range in round 1 of this year’s draft and ideally by a team that has time to develop him before he is forced in to a starting role.

Jaire Alexander – Louisville – Junior – 5ft-11 – 192lb

Alexander exudes confidence and he really appears to enjoy playing the game. Alexander has great ball skills and limits the big plays using intelligence and coverage ability. Alexander is a capable tackler and can be used to blitz and/or offer run support. Alexander offers scheme versatility in that he can play man, zone or nickel. Alexander is a play maker who has a nose for the ball but he’s not an elite athlete. Alexander had some injuries (knee/hand) in 2017 and these will have to be check by NFL teams looking to draft him. I think Alexander could work his way in to a starting role at some point in his first year, he may well struggle against the big, elite receivers early on but he’ll find a way to adjust and he’ll definitely find a role on a team even if it is just as a punt returner. Alexander should be chosen late in the first round or very early in the second round.

Carlton Davis – Auburn – Junior – 6ft-1 – 203lb

Davis has outstanding size and long arms to be disruptive in the passing game. Davis is also strong and aggressive ad excels as a press corner. Playing for LSU, Davis has had experience of covering some of the best receivers in college and he has generally matched up well. Davis is a confident player and shows great timing to break up passes. Davis’ confidence can sometimes be his downfall and he can gamble and miss and he has given up some coverage penalties. Davis won’t fit a team that has their corners mostly playing off man which could limit his worth. Davis needs to work on his consistency and his tackling. With improved instincts, Davis would be NFL ready but it shouldn’t take him long to progress. I think Davis could be a great NFL player but he’ll need to go to the right team and make refinements to his game. Davis should be chosen in the 2nd round of the upcoming draft.

Mike Hughes – UCF – Junior – 5ft-11 – 185lb

Hughes is a player that has moved up draft boards recently and I can see why, I’m not sure I’m that high on him though as his lack of height and, more importantly, lack of experience would make me wary of his stock. Saying that, the talent is undoubted despite Hughes only being a one year starter in college. Despite his height/weight, Hughes is tough and plays bigger than his size. Hughes is physical and aggressive and he is a capable press corner. Hughes has good speed and short area quickness that is critical for corners in the NFL. Hughes also has good recovery speed and closing burst. Hughes has great play making potential especially and he times and tracks really well. Hughes offers additional worth as a really good returner. Due to his inexperience, Hughes needs a lot of work on his technique so he doesn’t project as a day 1 starter. Hughes’ tackling is also below average and will need to improve. I have seen Hughes mocked as a top 10 pick but, for me, he’s more in the late first, early second range.

Tarvarus McFadden – Florida State – Junior – 6ft-1 – 201lb

McFadden is a really difficult player to evaluate, if he entered the draft last year he may have been a top 3 corner and he certainly has great potential but, after a stellar 2016, McFadden didn’t have a fantastic 2017 season. McFadden had 8 interceptions in 2016 but none in 2017. McFadden does however still offer great size and he is a physical corner. McFadden is one of the better tackling corners and he is quick to offer run support. McFadden has great speed, agility and acceleration. McFadden offers scheme versatility and could even develop as a safety in the right scheme. McFadden can be beaten over the top and can give up big plays, he can also miff on double moves and he may struggle against elite speed in the NFL. The combine will be really important to McFadden to highlight his speed and his ball skills and, with a return to 2016 form, he could be a really good player in the NFL. As it stands, I think McFadden is a lock for being picked in the 2nd round but he could go in the first if the combine provides positive results.

M.J. Stewart – North Carolina – Senior – 6ft – 205lb

Stewart is my favorite corner that is currently not considered a possibility for the first round. Stewart has great size, he’s tough and physical. Stewart has the versatility to be able to play off man or press and he could as easily be a nickel corner, outside corner or safety in the NFL. Stewart possesses decent tackling ability and he has a good closing burst to offer support in the run game. Stewart is smart and instinctive and he has gained good experience as a 2 year starter. Stewart does have some physical detractions in that he’s not the quickest and his long speed is particularly questionable. Stewart doesn’t twist and turn too well due to slightly tight hips and his general technique needs some work. Stewart isn’t a playmaker and interceptions have been few and far between. Stewart’s size and smarts will get him a look with an NFL team and he should be taken in the 3rd round of this year’s draft.

Holton Hill – Texas – Junior – 6ft-3 – 205lb

Hill nearly didn’t make this list. Reportedly, he has had 3 failed drug tests whilst at Texas and a suspension, as recently as November, will have NFL teams running scared. If this translates at all in to the NFL, Hill’s career could be short lived but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt here. The talent and physical attributes are not in question. Hill’s size is ideal to match up against modern receivers and he is aggressive and strong. Hill is a good tackler and makes big hits on occasion, he could play safety in the NFL. Hill is also athletic and has excellent ball skills although he sometimes has problems locating the ball. Despite his off-field issues, Hill appears to be aware and intelligent and he has great instincts. Hill does, however, commit some unnecessary penalties at times. Hill’s technique needs work but his ideal size will appeal to many NFL teams as something they could work with. The drugs issues will not Hill’s draft position so, at the moment, I’m projecting him as 3rd or 4th round pick.

Donte Jackson – LSU – Junior – 5ft-11 – 175lb

Jackson is plain and simply rapid, he is the fastest player in this draft class (I’ll probably be proved wrong at the combine). Jackson isn’t just quick, he has athleticism and is a great playmaker. Naturally Jackson has great agility, acceleration and closing burst. Jackson exhibits loose, fluid hips to allow him to make adjustments quickly. Jackson is a cover corner who should match up well with the burners in the NFL. Jackson is another defensive back from LSU who should find success in the NFL (2017 saw both Tredavious White and Jamal Adams from LSU taken in the 1st round). Obviously Jackson’s size will restrict how defensive coordinators can use him in the NFL and he’s unlikely to be able to add more bulk/muscle to increase his strength/power. Jackson appears to lack instincts and often just relies on his speed. Jackson offers little as a tackler or in run support. Jackson has the feel of a boom or bust type but his speed in undoubted and that will be coveted. I have seen Jackson mocked in the late 1st round but, more probably, he’s a 2nd rounder at best with a floor of round 4.

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