NFL Draft 2020 – Jeff Okudah Tops Strong Cornerback Class

NFL Draft 2020 – Cornerbacks – Grade: B+

Positional Overview:
This year’s cornerback class is a high-quality group which is both deep and top heavy. There are a few blue chips expected to go in the 1st round, with many through the top 50-100 overall selections. Four juniors head our top six rankings, though the senior group is a very solid with nice development. Jeffrey Okudah of Ohio State and CJ Henderson of Florida head the top of the class. Those two prospects will probably be selected in the top 5-15 overall picks. Okudah has the skill set and versatility to start early and probable top 5 selection. He is another in a long line of Buckeye corners to enter the NFL recently with a few highly successful early in their careers. Henderson is a well-developed cover man with an early starting grade. He will probably be selected in the top 10-15 choices. Trevon Diggs and Kristian Fulton are well developed after being tested in the SEC and are NFL ready for any scheme. Juniors, A.J. Terrell and Jaylon Johnson are coming off strong final performances and should go in the top or early 2nd round. Jeff Gladney and Damon Arnette are highly regarded corners who have risen as fast as any defensive players in this class. Gladney is a probable mid-2nd day pick. This is a deep group that will supply many NFL starters well into the 3rd day of the process. There could be at least 10 prospects selected in the top 100 choices. There will probably be 15 prospects selected in the top 150 picks. There should be a run on corners from the mid-1st round through the early 3rd day. This class has very good depth and will provide a number of middle round steals like Darnay Holmes, Harrison Hand and Troy Pride. This position has annually provided the most overall selections and could rank high once again. This group could supply as many as 35 total prospects and another 40 high priority FA. Two unheralded defenders, Amik Robertson and Kindle Vildor are highly regarded and coming off strong final performances and each carries a potential starting grade. This deep crop of corners will supply a huge group of big corners with some versatility to also slide to safety in the nickel and dime sub packages.

Frank Coyle has published Draft Insiders’ Digest for 29 years –NFL Draft Yearbook 2020 – Available now – www.draftinsiders.com Publication and Web Site

NFL Teams in need:
1. Vikings 5. Falcons
2. Ravens 6. Dolphins
3. Lions 7. Chiefs
4. Jets 8. Steelers

NFL Premier Player
Patrick Peterson/Stephon Gilmore

Blue Chip – Jeffrey Okudah
Blue Chip – CJ Henderson
Red Chip – Trevon Diggs
Rising – A.J. Terrell
Falling – Bryce Hall
Underrated – Darnay Holmes
Overrated – Michael Ojemudia
Sleeper – Kindle Vildor
Boom/Bust – Cameron Dantzler
Biggest Upside -Trevon Diggs
Hidden Gem – Harrison Hand
Long Term Gem – Troy Pride
Over drafted – Damon Arnette

Positional Traits
Best Athlete – Jeffrey Okudah
Best Man Cover – CJ Henderson
Best Zone Cover – Jeffrey Okudah
Best Run support – Trevon Diggs
Best Tackler – Jaylon Johnson
Best Nickel – Amik Robertson
Hands – Darnay Holmes
Best Intangibles – Troy Pride
Ball Instincts – Jeff Gladney

Top Cornerbacks
1 * Jeffrey Okudah – Ohio State
2 * CJ Henderson – Florida
3 Trevon Diggs – Alabama
4 * Jaylon Johnson – Utah
5 Kristian Fulton – LSU
6 * A.J. Terrell – Clemson
7 Jeff Gladney – TCU
8 Bryce Hall – Virginia
9 Damon Arnette – Ohio State
10 * Darnay Holmes – UCLA
11 Harrison Hand – Temple
12 Cameron Dantzler – Mississippi State
13 Troy Pride – Notre Dame
14 * Amik Robertson – Louisiana Tech
15 Kindle Vildor – Georgia Southern
16 Michael Ojemudia – Iowa
17 Reggie Robinson – Tulsa
18 * Noah Igbinoghene – Auburn
19 * Josiah Scott – Michigan State
20 Lavert Hill – Michigan

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a long-time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Biletnikoff, Thorpe, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi etc for the past 25 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.