Happy draft season Steelers fans! With the recent news of the Michael Pittman Jr. signing, it no longer appears that wide receiver is the top need in this draft. Although I still expect they will draft one, possibly pretty high. So today I want to take a look at the top corners that will be available in the early rounds.
Mansoor Delane, 6’0” 187lbs, LSU
Strengths
-Fluid hips; can turn on a dime and run with receivers
-Versatile and has had success in both zone and man coverage schemes
-Aggressive in run support and will not shy away from contact
-Disciplined with very good technique. Zero penalties while at LSU
-Reads routes like he knows the offensive playbook
Weaknesses
-Can be too aggressive at times
-Lean frame. With the way he hits will he hold up in the NFL?
-Big receivers can use size and strength to gain an advantage
-Good speed but not elite
Projection: First round pick. Delane has experience in both zone and man schemes; however he excelled at LSU in man coverage. He is aggressive- sometimes overly so- but is a playmaker with good ball skills. Opposing QBs stopped throwing at him towards the end of his college career. Delane is not afraid to be physical and is a complete player, however he could stand to put on some lean muscle to ensure he holds up over the course of a long NFL season.
Avieon Terrell, 5’11” 186lbs, Clemson
Strengths
-Good balance and control to make plays on the ball
-Fluid hips with great speed
-Great acceleration to top speed
-Competitive and feisty, sticks to receivers and rips at ball upon tackling
-Comes from a football family; brother A.J. plays in NFL
Weaknesses
-Size is a concern against bigger bodied receivers
-Can be too grabby at times
-Needs to refine tackling technique and less arm tackling
Projection: First round pick. Avieon Terrell plays much bigger than he is. He’s very scrappy, and he knows how to use his speed as a weapon in all aspects of the game. Despite his size, he’s a willing tackler in the run game, has good closing speed, and will not shy away from any receiver he’s responsible for. He plays the ball like a receiver; as if the quarterback intended to throw it to him. Terrell’s size may concern some teams, but he should be a day 1 contributor for whoever drafts him.
Brandon Cisse, 6’0” 189lbs, South Carolina
Strengths
-Natural athlete with multi-sport background
-Great explosion and long speed
-Physical jamming ability almost reminiscent of an O-lineman “punch”
-Quick to identify run plays and attack
-Elite acceleration and recovery speed
Weaknesses
-Not a field-general, technique needs refinement
-Will get very grabby with nuanced route runners
-His mental game does not match what he brings physically
-Some injury history
Projection: Cisse is one of my favorite players in this draft. He has elite athleticism and with the right coaching could be a phenom in the league. All of his issues with technique are fixable; the question is his mentality. Is it just a matter of refinement for him, or does he lack confidence? In my opinion the interviews are going to be more important than his Pro Day numbers. He should be a late first or early second round pick but he has massive upside.
Jermod McCoy, 6’1” 188lbs, Tennessee
Strengths
-Displays advanced skills for his age and already appears pro-ready
-Great timing and instincts to make plays on the ball
-Battles receivers for catches
-Great technique in press coverage; uses hands well but knows limits
Weaknesses
-Missed last season recovering from torn ACL
-Run support is good not great
-Does not have elite speed
-Tackling needs work
Projection: McCoy could very well have been the first corner off the board in April had he been able to play this past season. His instincts and technique are like those of a seasoned vet. However he missed the season due to a torn ACL he suffered in offseason training. McCoy’s long speed had already been in question, and with the injury evaluators will need to determine how well he can compete against NFL receivers. He has a good locker room presence and is the kind of kid you root for. If McCoy is able to live up to his potential and overcome the injury completely, he should develop into a high-end CB1.
Colton Hood, 6’0” 193lbs, Tennessee
Strengths
-Excellent at press coverage and jams very well
-Quick feet in backpedal
-Great straight-line speed
-Very physical at line of scrimmage and catch point
-Looks to not only cause turnovers but put points on the board
-Recognizes and blows up underneath routes in a hurry
-Has return ability
Weaknesses
-Can be too physical resulting in flags
-Limited starting experience is a concern
-Although physical, needs to work on tackling technique and wrapping up
-Will grab on verticals instead of relying on speed to recover
Projection: Hood was supposed to play alongside Jermod McCoy at Tennessee; however he was thrust into CB1 duty after McCoy’s injury sidelined him for the year. Given the opportunity he was able to shine and quickly rose up draft boards. Hood is super physical and not afraid to mix it up with any wide receiver. He only has 1 full year of starting experience so there are questions about his ability to hold up a full season. He also needs some refinement in his technique due to this lack of experience. He should be a late first or early second-round pick.
D’Angelo Ponds, 5’9” 182lbs, Indiana
Strengths
-Legitimate track speed; showcased great vertical (43.5”) at NFL Combine
-Plays angry and extremely tenacious
-Defensive MVP in both bowl games
-Can read the quarterback’s eyes very well resulting in interceptions
-Special teams demon with return ability and two blocked punts in college
Weaknesses
-Height is a concern against big receivers
-May be regulated to slot duties and does not have reps at this position
-Willingness to gamble can result in missed coverages
Projection: Earlier I mentioned that Brandon Cisse was one of my favorite players. D’Angelo Ponds is my favorite defensive player; he’s just fun to watch. He’s the Chihuahua that you cannot convince he’s not a full-grown Rottweiler. He plays nasty and is not intimidated by anyone. Ponds made his presence known early in the Peach Bowl, picking off Dante Moore (yes- “I would have been a very high first round pick” Dante Moore) on Oregon’s opening play. He has Jalen Ramsey confidence but just happens to be 4 inches shorter. Ponds may have to play in the slot at the next level and he’s never played there which is a concern. But will he be intimidated if asked to play there? I highly doubt that.
Other CBs to consider: Keith Abney II, Chris Johnson, Treydan Stukes, Keionte Scott
