They can be either the most electric players or the most boring players on a defense and still be considered elite. Some cornerbacks make interception after interception throughout a season while other cornerbacks simply stick to their man like glue forcing the quarterback to find other options downfield. Like all defensive backs, cornerbacks must have great speed and agility to stay with their man as well as possess the athleticism to break up a pass and the ball skills to close in on an errant throw. Cornerbacks play both man and zone in various schemes and are primarily involved in coverage. However, cornerbacks must have the tackling technique and the physicality to stop any outside runs or bring down a receiver who gets the ball.
1. Patrick Peterson (LSU)
This guy is a physical freak. Patrick Peterson is 6'0" and 219 lbs but still clocks in at 4.34 in his 40 yard dash. His tremendous speed and agility have allowed him to excel as both a cornerback and a punt returner on the college level and will translate to covering both speedy receivers like DeSean Jackson and physical receivers like Calvin Johnson. Peterson has the awareness and explosion to stay with his receiver in man coverage and also possesses the instincts and intuition to be effective in a zone heavy scheme. He is an especially physical cornerback using his hands violently to disrupt timing routes in press coverage though he does struggle to shed blocks in terms of run support. Peterson's most remarkable attributes are his body control and his ball skills. These are displayed on regular basis during his punt returns but also when he makes fantastic interceptions. This talent forces quarterbacks to be wary when throwing in his direction. But Peterson's athleticism has made him cocky to a certain degree. He tends to play routes very aggressively and can get fooled by play action or burned by double moves. Despite this lack of concentration, Peterson's physical tools make him one of the best cornerback prospects of all time.
2. Prince Amukamara (Nebraska)
Though he cannot make the spectacular plays that have put Patrick Peterson on highlight reels in draft rooms across the nation, Prince Amukamara is still considered an elite cornerback. He has great size at 6'0" and 206 lbs which will allow him to more effectively cover larger NFL receivers like Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. He has a modest 40 time of 4.43, and though he does have better agility than straight line speed, he still does not possess the elite fluidity of other cornerbacks like Charles Woodson or Darnelle Revis. Amukamara is a larger cornerback that uses his strength to outmuscle receivers while possessing sound tackling technique to come up in run support. However, what separates Amukamara from other cornerbacks is his intelligence on the field. He reads the offense well and is rarely caught out of position when the ball is snapped. Additionally, he is able to diagnose plays quickly without being too aggressive and leaving his man wide open. This makes Amukamara an especially attractive option for any team come draft day.
3. Aaron Williams (Texas)
After Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara, there is a sizable drop in cornerback talent but this does not mean that the rest are bad prospects. Actually some of the other cornerbacks like Aaron Williams are very good prospects but don't possess the elite athleticism or football IQ that the top two cornerbacks do. Williams is 6'0" and 204 lbs making him another large cornerback in this year's draft. Because his straight line speed is rather lacking, he has to play with sound positioning and works to quickly recognize routes. Williams has quick feet to help him mirror agile receivers and possesses the ball skills to get in between larger receivers and the ball to make interceptions. While he tackles consistently, Williams does not have the physicality to shed blocks in run support and can be over aggressive in pursuit. He also plays coverage very aggressively, leaving him susceptible to play action. But overall, Williams possesses the size and skills to be a solid cornerback at the next level.
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