Patriots Draft Needs: Position review- Cornerback
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| Jean-Baptiste is an ideal fit for the Patriots press-man scheme. Photo credit: Dave Weaver |
Currently under contract:
Darrelle Revis (signed through 2015, technically)
Brandon Browner (signed through 2016)
Logan Ryan (signed through 2016)
Alfonzo Dennard (signed through 2015)
Kyle Arrington (signed through 2016)
Need: Short-term: Low, Long-term: Low
Positional overview:
There was a brief period of time when it looked like this was going to be one of the Pats biggest draft needs. Aqib Talib was gone, having jetted off to Denver for big money, and the Patriots were left with the group of #2 and #3 type corners that got shredded by Peyton Manning after Talib went down in the AFC championship game. Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington are all nice players when used right, but none of them have the talent to match up with #1 receivers at the NFL level. Whether it be by free agency or the draft, the Patriots would have to add a top cover corner at some point to replace Talib.
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| We got Revis. Don't act like you're not impressed, Broncos fans |
In less than a week, what looked like a weakness had been transformed into possibly the strongest position on the team. Acquiring Revis is an obvious game changer: Talib may have been good, but Revis is a future Hall of Famer who doesn't just match up with top receivers, but shuts them down. Pairing him with Browner, a big physical press-man corner who excelled while playing the Robin to Richard Sherman's Batman in Seattle, should give the Pats one of the top starting duos in the league. Both are big, physical players who excel in the physical press-man coverages preferred by Bill Belichick.
With those two added, the rest of the team's depth at the position falls very nicely into place. Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard are both smaller corners, but both have extensive starting experience and should benefit greatly from facing other team's lesser receivers. Arrington is best fit covering smaller, shifty guys in the slot (a weakness for Browner), while Dennard has flashed impressive ball skills that have helped him compensate for his small stature, even on the outside.
The wild card of the group is Ryan, who far exceeded expectations as a rookie. Ryan is the tweener of the group, as he doesn't necessarily stand out as a big corner, but isn't smurf-sized either. There's been whispers that Ryan could be tried at safety, as the Patriots like what he showed last year and want to get him on the field. I'd actually prefer that they keep him right where he is; third cornerback is essentially a starting position in the modern NFL, and Ryan certainly has the potential to be the team's third best corner this year (and perhaps a starter while Browner is suspended the first month of the season).
The picture gets a little murkier long-term, but corner is still unlikely to be a major need going forward. Revis is technically signed to a two year deal thanks to a phony, backloaded 2015 team option that will almost certainly be declined. Make no mistake, Revis is in a contract year, with the only question being whether his next big contract comes from the Patriots or elsewhere. Revis is notoriously a tough guy to strike a deal with in negotiations, but it sounds like the Patriots have every intention of keeping who they view as a special player around for the remainder of his prime. There's a chance Revis leaves after one year, but signing him to a long-term deal is plan A, B, and C at the position.
There's also the off chance that Browner only stays in New England for one year, as his deal contains no dead money after 2014, meaning the team can cut him with no cap consequences. However, Browner's $5.5 million cap hit for 2015 isn't too prohibitive for a #2 corner, and it would be surprising if he's not worth that money next year.
In short, the Patriots could draft someone to insure themselves against Browner and Revis potentially being one-year rentals, but I'd advise against it. The position is absolutely stocked now, and signing Revis for the long-haul clearly is the long-term plan. If they do look to draft someone, I've focused on players who are a fit for the press-man scheme the Pats like to use. Size, length and physicality are a few of the essential traits for that role.
Ideal fit: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska
If you emphasis size and length from your corners, than Jean-Baptiste should at least be on your radar. He has ideal measurables for a press-corner, with ideal size (a Browner-esque 6'3", 218), length (32 3/8" arms) and explosiveness (41.5" vertical leap, 10'8" broad jump). He certainly has the size to mix it up with big receivers, and displayed solid ball skills by breaking up 22 passes and intercepting 7 more in his 19 career starts at corner.
Despite the upside, Jean-Baptiste is still somewhat raw as a prospect, and as a result is expected to go in the late second/third round range. Like Browner, Baptiste is stiff in his hips for the position, and struggles when asked to mirror smaller, shiftier guys. His instincts aren't great for the position, and he's clearly a guy who would benefit from some NFL coaching.
However, looking at his background explains why he's so raw: he only recently transitioned to corner. Baptiste spent the early portion of his college career transferring from North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy to Fort Scott Community College to Nebraska, all as a wide receiver. He only made the switch to corner during the 2011 season, and didn't become a full-time starter until 2013. The late career switch from receiver to corner recalls the story of Richard Sherman, and like Sherman, Jean-Baptiste appears to be only scratching the surface of his potential.
I can't imagine the Pats taking Jean-Baptiste in the second round simply because of the talent that will be available at other, more pressing needs. However, could they be tempted if he's there late in the third? That would represent good value for a player with his considerable upside, and he'd fit in as the long-term successor to Browner (who will turn 30 before the season starts).
Other potential fits:
Dontae Johnson, NC State
At 6'2", 200 pounds, Johnson is another big defensive back who fits what the Pats are looking for at the position. He's not quite as big or long as Jean-Baptiste, but Johnson has plus size for an NFL corner, with good athleticism and body control and an explosive 38.5" vertical leap.
One thing that could make Johnson a particularly interesting prospect is his versatility. Johnson played safety, outside corner, nickel corner and special teams in college, and could conceivably play either safety or corner at the next level.
As a result, Johnson could be a sleeper candidate should the Patriots look to address their safety depth in the draft. Johnson is willing and able to throw his body around in run support, and he has the athleticism and size to run with tight ends. Playing at safety would also be the best way to take advantage of his instincts in zone coverage.
One thing troubling about Johnson is that he occasionally takes bad angles to the ball, something that should bring back bad memories of past draft failures at safety. That is certainly a concern and would have to be coached out of him, but Johnson doesn't appear to be as geometrically challenged as Brandon Meriweather or Patrick Chung. Furthermore, some of Johnson's bad angles can be attributed to the fact that most of his game tape at safety came from a midseason position switch after 2.5 seasons at corner.
Johnson's height is a major plus, but his lack of length will push him down draft boards. He could stand to add some muscle onto his frame, and his relatively short arms don't help him in coverage. As a result, he's expected to fall into the third/fourth round range. The third round may still be a little high for him, depending on who is still on the board, but his versatility could make him an attractive prospect in the fourth.
Jaylen Watkins, Florida
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| Watkins is a fluid athlete in coverage. Ryan Jones/Alligator |
Watkins is far from being just a workout warrior also, as his athleticism shows on tape. He's a natural athlete, with loose hips in coverage and excellent speed. While he doesn't have eye-popping size like Jean-Baptiste, Watkins does have solid size at 5'11", 194 (almost identical to Logan Ryan), and his 22 bench press reps demonstrate his plus strength for the position.
Furthermore, Watkins has a lot of versatility that will endear him to coaching staffs. Like Johnson, he played safety, outside corner, inside corner and all of the special teams units at Florida. He would at the very least step into a role as a "core" special teams player in New England, with the potential to develop into a role in the secondary in due time.
There's a lot to like about Watkins, but his upside isn't as high as many of his peers at the position. Thus, he's expected to be around in the third/fourth round range, where his natural ability in coverage could make him a steal for the right team.
Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame
A converted receiver, Jackson is a bit raw, but he has intriguing physical traits that could be worth taking a shot to develop. He has good size for the position at 6'0" and 195 pounds, and he has some explosive athleticism, demonstrated by excellent combine marks in the vertical leap (38"), broad jump (10'8") and 20 yard shuffle (4 seconds). In fact, he was a good enough athlete to compete for Notre Dame's track team in the hurdles during the 2012 winter season.
Jackson also has the ideal intangibles that will appeal to the Patriots, especially in the first draft PH (post Hernandez). He was a widely respected team captain on the Irish, lauded for his work ethic and character both on and off the field. That hard-working attitude also translated to special teams, where he got most of his playing time his first two seasons before fully making the switch to corner.
Having only played corner for three years (and realistically only "playing" the last two), he's understandably a bit raw at the position. His instincts and technique could both use some fine tuning, and he could stand to add a little muscle in the weight room. As a result, most projections have him lasting into Day 3 of the draft, where he could be a solid addition as an immediate special teams contributor and developmental project.
Potential reach: Marcus Roberson, Florida
Roberson has obvious athletic talent that could make him tempting to some on draft day. Considered one of the nations top recruits at the position as a prep, Roberson was good enough to start as a freshman in 2011. However, a combination of injuries and suspension made for a choppy next two years in Gainesville, and should give teams some pause when evaluating him as a prospect.
The positives are there. At 6'0", 191 with 31" arms, Roberson has a lanky, cornerback build to go with the natural quickness required of the position. He flashed playmaking potential as a Gator, and has additional value as a punt returner.
However, the holes in his game are concerning. His lack of strength (only 8 reps on the bench press at the combine) make him a poor fit for the Patriots press-man heavy scheme, and he gets bullied by big receivers despite his length because of it. It also manifests itself in his poor tackling, which will not do him any favors in Bill Belichick's eyes.
His lack of strength and slender build also make his injury struggles in college even more concerning. His freshman season ended prematurely in September thanks to a neck injury that required surgery. While he recovered from that to play all 13 games in 2012, he struggled to stay on the field this past season after injuring his PCL in the season's second game. He only managed seven appearances (four starts), counting the two games he had to leave with injury (he re-aggravated the PCL injury in his first game back). Additionally, he was suspended for the South Carolina game for an unspecified violation of team rules.
To recap: Roberson lacks the physicality to play the Patriots preferred scheme, was unable to stay healthy at the collegiate level, and underachieved as a highly-touted recruit. Despite this, his physical talent has him projected as a Day 2 pick. I'd stay away.
Potential sleeper: Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma
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| Colvin could be a bargain as a late round injury stash. J.P. Wilson/Icon SMI |
At 5'11" with 31" arms, Colvin has good height and length for his position. The combination of that length and his solid instincts results in plus ball skills, with Colvin being particularly adept at using those long levers to knock away balls just as the arrive at the receiver's hands. This skill was Aqib Talib's bread-and-butter, and it enables Colvin to match up with bigger receivers down the field.
He's also a tough, versatile player who plays much bigger than his listed playing weight of 177 pounds. Colvin played corner, safety and special teams at Oklahoma and displayed a willingness to throw his weight around in the running game while doing so. During that time, he also played well in both zone and man coverages, including the press-man style preferred by the Patriots. His work ethic made him a well-respected team leader in their program.
All of this sounds great, but Colvin's injury history was cause for concern even before his latest surgery. He missed time as a sophomore and as a senior with concussions, had offseason shoulder surgery in 2012, and missed time again as a senior with more shoulder issues and a case of turf toe. His slight frame doesn't exactly inspire confidence in his ability to stay on the field, particularly when he'll be going against bigger and stronger foes at the next level.
Still, whatever risks are inherent in drafting Colvin will be minimized by how far he falls in the draft. If he's there as expected in the sixth/seventh round range, why not take a shot on him? He'd essentially have a redshirt rookie year as he rehabs his knee before being thrown into the mix in 2015, giving the team an extra player at corner just in case things don't go according to plan at the position. If he can't stay healthy then, he's just another late round pick that didn't stick: dime a dozen. However, if he does play up to potential, you've added a Day 2 talent with a throwaway late round pick.
High risk, high reward: Walt Aikens, Liberty
A highly regarded prep prospect, Aikens chose Illinois over Louisville and Clemson, and impressed as a freshman while starting five games at safety. However, he was dismissed from Ron Zook's program following his arrest for stealing a laptop and other electronics from a dorm room, leading to his transfer to Liberty.
Aikens dominated the competition at Liberty, earning All Big South honors in all three of seasons there, and it's easy to see why. At 6'1", 205 with 32 1/4" arms, Aikens has an ideal build for the position, and he excelled playing in press-man coverage. He's strong enough to get a good initial jam on receivers, and has the athleticism to stick with them in coverage down the field. That size also helps him in the running game, where he is unafraid to throw his weight around, be it taking on blocks or ball carriers.
The Senior Bowl was a chance for Aikens to prove he wasn't merely the product of weak competition and he seized the opportunity, standing out amongst his more heralded peers. Despite that, Aikens was one of this year's biggest combine snubs, and proved so at his Pro Day when he ran a 4.49 40 yard dash (an impressive time considering his size).
However, Aikens remains under the radar as a prospect, partly due to his status as a "small school" guy and partly due to the character concerns that kept him from staying at a higher profile program. As a result, he's expected to be available on Day 3, possibly in the sixth/seventh round range. His character would have to check out for the Patriots to even consider him (it is noteworthy that he doesn't have any other offenses on his record), but this is a prospect with the talent to develop into a starting caliber player. If he keeps his nose clean, he'll be a steal for someone.
