2017 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs

2017 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

2017 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

NFL Combine Draft Rumor Mill



This is the 2017 NFL Combine Stock Report for the defensive backs. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
Chidobe Awuzie would’ve earned a stock-up grade regardless of his testing numbers, unless they were awful. That’s because he was one of the top cornerbacks in the drills for the first group. Of course, his numbers were great. He ran a 4.43, posted an 11-0 broad jump and leapt 34.5 inches vertically. His 3-cone time of 6.81 was solid as well. Awuzie had a very strong combine and could be chosen in the second round.

Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
I’d say Gareon Conley was the overall winner for the first group of defensive backs. He kicked things off with a 4.44 40, and he then went on to post a 10-9 broad jump, a 37-inch vertical and a 6.68 3-cone, which was one of the best times among the players at his position. Conley also thrived in the drills. He was seen as a second-round possibility, but he could now be pushing to be a Thursday night choice.



Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
Rasul Douglas’ testing numbers can’t be described as awful; he ran a 4.59, but he’s a 6-2, 209-pound cornerback. His 10-0 broad jump and 33.5-inch vertical weren’t poor either. However, Douglas struggled in the drills. He looked awkward and stiff, so I have trouble envisioning him being chosen prior to Day 3.

Shaquill Griffin, CB, Central Florida
Shaquill Griffin posted one of the top 40 times for all of the defensive backs Monday, running an electric 4.38. His other numbers were just as outstanding; he had an 11-0 broad jump and a 38.5-inch vertical. His 3-cone time (6.87) was fine as well. More importantly, Griffin looked very smooth in the drills. He definitely helped himself at the combine.



Adoree Jackson, CB, USC
Adoree Jackson certainly had a solid showing in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.42 40 (4.39 unofficially), and he leapt 36 inches vertically and 10-2 horizontally. Those numbers won’t blow anyone away, but they were solid. The reason Jackson is getting an up arrow is because of how great he was in the drills. Of all the defensive backs in the first group, Jackson looked the best in those on-field drills. He did well to cement his first-round status.

Lorenzo Jerome, S, St. Francis-PA
Lorenzo Jerome is a solid player on tape, but his testing numbers could hurt him. He ran at a glacial pace in both the 40 and 3-cone, recording a 4.70 and 7.63, respectively. Both numbers were awful. Hopefully Jerome can improve on both at his pro day.



Josh Jones, S, N.C. State
Josh Jones was another top winner from the first group of defensive backs. He ran a 4.41 40 and posted an 11-0 in the broad jump and 37.5 inches in the vertical. Keep in mind that Jones is a 220-pound safety! Jones was excellent in the drills as well, so he may have worked his way into second-day consideration.

Kevin King, CB, Washington
There aren’t many 6-foot-3 cornerbacks on this planet who can run a 4.43 40, but Kevin King is certainly one of them. King had an awesome performance in Indianapolis. On top of his great 40, he also leapt 39.5 inches vertically and posted a blazing-fast 6.56 3-cone time.



Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
Obi Melifonwu is a freak of nature. There’s no other way to describe him. He measured in at 6-4, 224, so keep that in mind when you see his numbers: 4.40 40; 11-9 broad jump; 44-inch vertical. Pretty good, right? The funny thing is that Melifonwu was upset with his vertical leap. Melifonwu is more than just a ridiculous athlete, however. He’s actually a very good football player, so it wasn’t a surprise that he thrived in the drills.

Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
Fabian Moreau was overshadowed by the players running right before and after him, but teams undoubtedly took notice. Moreau sprinted a 4.35 40, a terrific number considering he’s 6-0, 206. His leaping numbers were also excellent, as he posted a 38-inch vertical and an 11-4 broad jump. Moreau, who was the top player at the East-West Shrine Game, continued his torrid draft preseason.

Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
Jaylen Myrick doesn’t have great tape, but he definitely put himself on the radar by what he did at the combine. He ran the fastest 40 of any player not named John Ross, sprinting a 4.28. He also posted a 10-4 broad jump and a 37.5-inch vertical. Front offices will certainly be reviewing his tapes in the coming weeks.

Montae Nicholson, S, Michigan State
I mentioned Josh Jones earlier as a big safety who posted some terrific numbers in the testing drills. Montae Nicholson is another one, as he sprinted a 4.42 40 despite being 6-2, 212 pounds. Nicholson also leapt well, hitting a 10-5 broad jump and a 35-inch vertical. Nicholson could garner some third-round consideration.

Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida
There were so many blazing 40 times among the second group of defensive backs. Jalen Tabor did not have one, however. His 40 was very disappointing, as he posted a 4.62. His jumps (10-0 broad, 31 vertical) were also disappointing, as was his performance in the on-field drills. Combine this with his off-the-field issues, and Tabor could now widely be considered a second- or even a third-round prospect.

Marcus Williams, S, Utah
Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker are obviously the top two safeties in this class, and Jabrill Peppers is probably No. 3. Marcus Williams, however, could challenge Peppers for that spot. His 40 (4.56) wasn’t as fast as Peppers’, but his other numbers (43.5-inch vertical, 10-9 broad, 6.85 3-cone) were all excellent. Williams was at his best in the drills, where he looked incredibly fluid. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Williams creep into the first round.



Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
Quincy Wilson didn’t struggle as mightily as his teammate, Jalen Tabor, but he was also disappointing in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.54, which isn’t horrible considering his size (6-1, 211). However, his 9-10 broad jump and 32-inch vertical indicated that he has little explosion, and he was just fine in the drills. He didn’t stand out, and that’s something he needed to do in this ridiculous draft class.

Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
There was some talk about Ahkello Witherspoon being a second-round prospect, and this was prior to the combine. Witherspoon did nothing to hurt his draft stock in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.45 with a 1.55 10-yard split, which is quite excellent for a 6-3, 198-pound cornerback. He also tested well elsewhere, notching a 10-7 broad jump and a 40.5-inch vertical. Witherspoon looked extremely fluid in the drills as well, which isn’t a surprise because he has great footwork as a result of being a former soccer player.

Back to the 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Combine Page.





2017 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

2017 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

NFL Combine Draft Rumor Mill







NFL Picks - Dec. 13


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11


NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9


2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4