2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Cornerback

4/27/22: Gardner is a tall cornerback who has good length to battle outside receivers in the NFL. To go along with his size, sources say Gardner is fast and has ball skills but is a little raw. Gardner had a good workout at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, including a fast 40, but the perception of his performance in the meetings was love/hate. Some teams really liked Gardner’s interview, but others thought it was very poor. Gardner has great upside and the potential to be an elite No. 1 corner similar to Jalen Ramsey. Through the workouts and interviews, Gardner has become the consensus top cornerback prospect and a top-five pick.

Gardner was a productive and steady cover corner over the past three seasons. In 2019, he collected 31 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended. Gardner totaled 28 stops, three interceptions and nine passes broken up in 2020. In 2021, Gardner collected 40 stops, three interceptions and four passes batted.

4/27/22: Stingley played well in very brief action for LSU before going out with a foot injury. He is a highly talented corner, but he will enter the NFL having not played much football over the past two years. Some team sources say they love Stingley’s upside, but he’s inconsistent and carries some boom-or-bust risk considering how little he played in 2020 and 2021. Team sources say that Stingley has the skill set to be one of the best corners in the NFL, but they wonder if he can put it all together. Stingley did not work out at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, and team sources said they were underwhelmed with his interview. However, he bounced back with an impressive pro day, according to team evaluators.

7/17/21: Stingley totaled 27 tackles, a forced fumble and five passes broken up in 2020. He really struggled against Alabama and DeVonta Smith, but Stingley was banged up all year.

Even though LSU had a returning corner who was highly touted in Kristian Fulton, Stingley took over as the Tigers’ No. 1 corner during his freshman season. Stingley was phenomenal, shutting down receivers and making big plays for the LSU defense. He showed excellent instincts, size, ball skills, and cover ability. His six interceptions and 15 passes broken up in 2019 were superb production, but it really incredible considering he was a freshman. Stingley has the ability to end up being a top cornerback prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft.

4/27/22: McDuffie played well in 2021, blanketing receivers and not allowing big plays. He showed added special teams value in 2021 by serving as a punt returner. McDuffie recorded 35 tackles and six passes broken up on the year. Team sources say McDuffie is a smooth corner with speed and cover skills. Some team evaluators like McDuffie more than Derek Stingley and Ahmad Gardner.

7/17/21: Washington has been a factory for defensive back talent in recent years, and McDuffie could continue that trend for the 2022 NFL Draft. He broke out in 2019 as a freshman, recording 45 tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception and two passes defended. Over th mini 2020 season, he totaled 14 tackles and a pick. McDuffie is a smooth corner with speed and cover skills.

4/27/22: Hill helped himself with teams at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine by blazing a fast 40. His interviews with teams, however, did not go well, and teams are concerned about his mental makeup.

Hill flashed some nice ability over the past few seasons for the Wolverines. His best trait for the NFL is his ability to line up and cover slot receivers. Hill’s quickness, flexibility and fluid athleticism allow him to line up at the line of scrimmage or pick receivers up in off-man coverage. The tape of Hill as a safety is not as impressive compared to when he played nickel corner.

In 2021, Hill recorded 69 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up. In 2019, he had 36 tackles, an interception and three passes defended. Hill was even better in the shortened 2020 season, recording 45 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up.

4/27/22: Booth collected 37 tackles, three interceptions and three passes broken up in 2021. He has a good skill set and is a talented cover corner, but some team sources have questions about his mental makeup. Booth’s draft stock has been hurt by undergoing double hernia surgery in the spring of 2022. He might go late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and should not go lower than the second round.

7/17/21: Booth has some buzz in the scouting community after a 2020 season that saw him produce 27 tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up. Now that has Derion Kendrick has left the program for Georgia, Booth should be the Tigers No. 1 corner in 2021. If he plays well, he has first-round potential. His skill set looks like that of a potential second-day pick, provided he stays consistent.

4/27/22: Gordon recorded 45 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes broken up in 2021. He played well against good competition. Some sources feel Gordon could be a big nickel in the NFL. He is a smooth cover corner who has good discipline and fundamentals to go along with a quality skill set. Teams like his well-rounded skill set and coverage ability.

7/17/21: Gordon has been a solid corner for the Huskies over the past few seasons. He flashed in 2019 with 32 tackles and four breakups. Gordon has the solid frame and strength of an outside corner for the NFL. He has zero picks thus far in college, so improving his ball production would help him to rise.

4/27/22: Elam played really well to open the 2021 season, including an impressive performance against Alabama. After missing a few games with an injury, Elam returned to the field and played well for the Gators. Team sources like Elam’s cover skills, but they have some concerns about his speed for matching up with NFL receivers. In 2021, Elam totaled 27 tackles, three passes broken up and an interception. Team sources think Elam could be a late first-round or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He really helped himself by running faster than expected at the combine, but teams hate that Elam is a weak tackler and very finesse despite having excellent size.

7/17/21: Elam played well in 2020, recording 39 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He was fantastic as a freshman, flashing serious ball skills even though he had a part-time role. Elam has good height and length with quickness. He could stand to fill out his frame, but considering he is only a true junior, he has plenty of time to do it. With his skill set and upside, he could explode.

4/27/22: McCreary is a good player, but he lacks size for the NFL. He could be a perfect fit as a nickel corner who also plays some on the outside. With his quickness, instincts and agility, McCreary is reliable to run the route and prevent separation. Team sources are concerned about how McCreary will survive on the outside at the next level because his arms are alarmingly short, but he is a talented corner who blankets receivers. McCreary recorded 49 tackles, 14 passes defended and two interceptions in 2021.

Some team sources see McCreary as a second-rounder, although others have him possibly going off the board late in Round 1, and another had him as a top-20 pick. Thus, McCreary has a wide range of where he could come off the board during the 2022 NFL Draft.

7/17/21: McCreary was excellent in 2020, recording three interceptions, six passes defended, one forced fumble and 45 tackles. While he isn’t the biggest of corners, McCreary has excellent coverage skills to run the route and prevent separation. He is fast, athletic and instinctive. In 2019, he collected 36 tackles, an interception and 11 passes broken up.

4/27/22: Emerson is a tall cornerback with good length and the size to handle big pro receivers. He recorded 49 tackles and three passes defended in 2021 after making 72 stops with 11 breakups in 2020. Emerson did not record an interception in either season, with his lone collegiate interception coming in 2019 when he notched 31 tackles. The lack of ball skills and production are disappointing, but Emerson has a lot going for him according to team sources.

At 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Emerson has shown the skills to be a press-man corner, and he is not stiff at opening his hips to turn and run. Emerson could end up being a candidate for a Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft.

4/27/22: In 2021, Woolen had 25 tackles, an interception and five passes broken up. Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy posted early on that Woolen could be a second- or third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After reaching out to some area scouts who cover Texas, two of them said they had him on Day 3 and one said they had him on Day 2.

“[Woolen] is a fourth- or fifth-rounder to me,” said one area scout. “He’s 6-foot-3, but real raw. He’d have to have a good week at Senior Bowl to go on Day 2 in my opinion.”

Woolen is a freak athlete with size and speed, but he has some background and medical concerns that need to be addressed to help him go on Day 2. Still, he has risen, helped by his decent week at the Senior Bowl and an excellent combine.

4/27/22: Evans played well for the Tigers in 2021, collecting 28 tackles, an interception, two forced fumbles and six passes broken up. He could be a solid second-day pick who becomes a quality starter in the NFL. Evans was decent, but did not stand out, at the Senior Bowl.

7/17/21: Zaven Collins wasn’t the only Tulsa defender who jumped out in 2020, as Evans had a big season with 29 tackles and three passes broken up while showing blanket coverage. Evans also collected eight breakups over his previous seasons, and he could help himself by producing some interceptions as a senior. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Evans has good size, speed and athleticism. He transferred to Missouri for the 2021 season. Team sources say Evans is long and athletic, but lacks strength and finishing ability. He should look to add more functional strength for the NFL.

4/27/22: Taylor totaled 60 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and six passes defended in 2021. He has quality size and plays tough. Some limitations in speed and athleticism cause some team staff to question whether Taylor should move to safety in the NFL.

7/17/21: Taylor put together an excellent 2020 season for the Volunteers, recording 29 tackles, an interception and four passes defended. He has an excellent combination of size and speed.

Even though he came to the Volunteers as a wide receiver, Taylor worked his way onto the field as a freshman after switching to cornerback. He flashed some coverage ability and a good skill set there. Surprisingly, his starting role was reduced as a sophomore, but he broke out in 2020 and really impressed NFL advance scouts.

4/27/22: Armour-Davis won the starting cornerback spot opposite Josh Jobe in 2021 as the replacement for Patrick Surtain. Armour-Davis was a solid cover corner over the course of the year, showing some size, ball skills, athleticism and quickness. He has room for further development though. Armour-Davis collected three interceptions, four passes broken up and 30 tackles in 2021, but he was also injured to close out the season. Armour-Davis helped himself by working out well at the combine.

4/27/22: Castro-Fields had a lot of buzz with evaluators entering the 2021 season, but his play dropped off and he had a rough year. Specifically, Castro-Fields needs to improve at not biting on double moves and improve his eye discipline. He has a good skill set, so he could help himself in pre-draft workouts. Castro-Fields had a solid week at the Senior Bowl, and he showed off his impressive skill set of size and speed at the combine. Some teams flunked Castro-Fields medically.

7/17/21: Castro-Fields has good size and speed to run well in pre-draft workouts so he could be a riser during the process leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft. His best season came in 2019 when he had 52 tackles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up. In 2020 he only played in three games before going out for the season with an injury. Showing health and durability will important for him as a senior.

4/27/22: It took some time for Goodrich to break onto the field given the loaded secondary at Clemson, but he played well as a senior with 41 tackles, one interception and eight passes defended. He then participated in the Senior Bowl. Goodrich has quality size to go with some quickness and athleticism, but is more of a mid-round talent who could be a backup and special teams contributor.

4/27/22: Bryant played well for Cincinnati in 2021, recording 44 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended. He could be a mid-round sleeper. Bryant put together a decent week at the Senior Bowl. He has speed limitations for the NFL.

7/17/21: Bryant made some clutch interceptions for the Bearcats during 2020. To go along with four picks, he had 35 tackles and seven passes defended. He turned in a solid 2019 season with 54 tackles, one interception and eight passes broken up. Bryant is a big corner who has some speed concerns.

4/27/22: Mathis was a solid cover corner for Pittsburgh in 2021. He was a gritty defender, showing a willingness to tackle, and he provided some big plays for the Panthers. Mathis earned himself an invitation to the Senior Bowl with his solid season, and in Mobile, he showed he is a fit as a potential nickel corner. Mathis missed the 2020 season with an injury.

4/27/22: Watson has excellent size and length to be an outside corner in the NFL. In 2021, he recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defended. Watson was a 1-year wonder, but he still earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

4/27/22: Kendrick had some underwhelming moments in coverage against Clemson in the season opener, but played better later in the year, including a good performance versus Alabama in the National Championship. He collected 41 tackles, three breakups and four interceptions in 2021. He had a decent week at the Senior Bowl, but off-the-field issues are hurting him with teams.

7/17/21: Kendrick transferred to Georgia after getting in some trouble. Team sources say he comes with serious off-the-field concerns.

For the most part, Kendrick played well for Clemson in 2020. He showed solid coverage skills for most of the year, but to end the season, Ohio State wideout Chris Olave put together a huge game against him. Kendrick totaled 18 tackles, six passes broken up and an interception in 2020. He needs to play better against top competition as a senior.

Kendrick played offense for Clemson before he was moved to corner out of emergency in 2019. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Kendrick had a very good season for the Tigers there and locked down the starting spot across from A.J. Terrell. Kendrick notched 30 tackles, five passes broken up and two interceptions on the year. On offense in 2018, he recorded 15 receptions for 210 yards and five carries for 41 yards.

4/27/22: Prior to a late-season injury, Jobe was Alabama’s most talented corner in 2021, but he needs to become more consistent in his technique for the NFL. He has a good skill set, but his lack of consistency was shown in busted coverage too often. As a result, some teams graded him as a mid-round backup.

7/17/21: Jobe was solid for Alabama in 2020, but he also wasn’t especially dominant. He was wise return to the Crimson Tide in 2021. With Patrick Surtain II in the NFL, Jobe could be the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 corner, and if he does well taking on No. 1 receivers, he could rise into being a sure-fire first-round pick. Like Surtain, Jobe was a rare freshman defensive back to see the field under Nick Saban. Jobe has good size with upside to rise as a senior.

4/27/22: Jones was one of the most dangerous ball hawks in college football in 2021, putting up some fabulous ball production. He notched five interceptions, 13 passes broken up and 47 tackles on the year. Over his career, he totaled 32 passes broken up and 10 interceptions. While Jones (5-8, 185) plays the ball well, his size limitations make him a slot candidate only in the NFL. Teams are mostly interested in Jones because of his return skills as he projects to be a dangerous punt and kick returner in the NFL.

4/27/22: Taylor-Britt was a solid college cornerback, but he faces some limitations for the NFL. Taylor-Britt looks stiff and grabs too much. As a pro, he will have to work on using his feet rather than grabbing, as that habit will lead to a lot of penalties. Taylor-Britt has the look of a backup zone corner who might have mid- to late-round potential for the 2022 NFL Draft. He did not stand out at the Senior Bowl, but was faster than expected at the combine.

7/17/21: Taylor-Britt is a thickly built corner who flashed some big-play ability for the Cornhuskers during the past two seasons. Teams have speed concerns with Taylor-Britt, but he might be a solid backup and special teams contributor. Showing the ability to run with fast receivers and prevent separation could help Taylor-Britt to rise as a senior.

4/27/22: Waller was a ballhawk in 2021, recording four interceptions, five passes defended and 45 tackles. It wasn’t the first season in which he showed serious ball skills, as he had three interceptions, 10 passes broken up and 46 tackles in 2019.

There is some debate about Waller, who is a bit of a love/hate prospect with team evaluators. The ones who love him see a corner with excellent ball skills, some length, and quickness. The sources who don’t like him see a corner who is too thin, needs to get stronger, and gets pushed and boxed out at the catch point. Waller had a disastrous combine because he was extremely underweight and slow for a cornerback.

4/27/22: Junior was a standout corner at Ouachita, and that play earned him a Senior Bowl invitation. He has quality size, and he held his own in Mobile.

4/27/22: McCollum is a tall cornerback with excellent length. In 2021, he had 50 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defended. An injury cost him time in 2020, but McCollum had three interceptions each season in 2017-2019. He wasn’t terrible at Senior Bowl, but moving to safety might be the best fit for him in the NFL. For that role, he will need to add some strength to tackle.

4/27/22: In 2021, Williams had 63 tackles, nine passes broken up and an interception. He will have to compete as a slot corner in the NFL. Williams could start out as a backup and special teams contributor.

7/17/21: Williams is an undersized defender who will have to compete as a slot corner in the NFL. Even though he lacks size, Williams showed his willingness to tackle in 2019 when he racked up 73 stops. He also had two interceptions and five passes defended that season.

4/27/22: Thompson totaled 34 tackles, two passes defended and an interception in 2021. He did not stand out at the Senior Bowl.

7/17/21: Thompson has yet to produce a big statistical season, but he flashed at times for Texas during the past four years. He has enough size with some speed and coverage ability. As a senior, Thompson needs to show more ball skills as he has only one interception and five breakups from 2017-2020.

4/27/22: Smith collected 65 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three passes defended in 2021. He has good size, but he faces some limitations in speed and athleticism. Smith could be a candidate to move to safety in the NFL.

7/17/21: Smith is a tall corner who runs pretty well. He needs to use 2021 to show he isn’t and is smooth out of breaks to prevent separation. Smith recorded 64 tackles, an interception and six passes defended in 2020. In 2019, he had 48 tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception and eight passes defended.

4/27/22: Williams had a quality season for Fayetteville State and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He did not stand out in Mobile, but he was not abused either.

7/17/21: Williams played well enough in 2018 and 2019 to earn a spot on NFL teams’ preseason watch list for the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2019, he recorded 32 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defended. Williams is tall and has some quickness. He could help himself by impressing at an all-star game.

4/27/22: Johnson recorded 35 tackles, five passes broken up and two interceptions in 2021. He was a quality college corner, but he faces some limitations for the NFL.

7/17/21: Johnson was solid for Duke in 2020, but he really impressed during the previous two seasons. In 2019, he totaled 48 tackles, two interceptions, seven breakups and a forced fumble. In 2018, he had 59 stops, an interception and three passes defended. If Johnson covers well as a senior, he could be a riser. Adding more strength to his frame would help him.

4/27/22: Jamison notched 49 tackles, one interception and one breakup in 2021. He is a backup slot cornerback candidate.

7/17/21: Jamison was impressive in 2019 when he recorded 35 tackles, three interceptions, three passes broken up and a forced fumble. He was not as productive in terms of turnovers in 2020, but he was still a solid player, recording 31 tackles and six breakups in the shortened season. Jamison is a slot corner candidate for the NFL.

4/27/22: Green was not impressive for Missouri in 2021. He is a big corner with speed and athletic limitations for the NFL.

7/17/21: Playing for Tulsa, Green is a big corner who is physical and has some tools to work with. He was impressive against Oklahoma State to open the 2020 season. Green was not as consistent in other games, but he is sleeper who could rise as a senior.

4/27/22: Young recorded 60 tackles, a pass broken up and an interception in 2021.

7/17/21: Young had a solid debut for Rutgers in 2018, recording 65 tackles and 10 passes broken up. He was respectable in 2019 and 2020, but his ball production dropped. He has one interception over his college career, so showing more ball skills in 2021 would help him. Showing the speed to run with fast wideouts is another area in which he could stand to improve.

4/27/22: Brown played well overall for Arkansas in 2021, recording 54 tackles, five interceptions and six passes broken up. He faces some limitations for the NFL, however.

7/17/21: Brown has quality size and physicality, but he needs to improve his ball skills in 2021. Playing well against Alabama and Ole Miss would help Brown.

4/27/22: Jones totaled 41 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions and six passes defended in 2021. Jones could be a late-round or undrafted free agent who competes to be a nickel corner.

7/17/21: Jones is a slot corner candidate for the NFL who put together a couple of impressive seasons for the Sun Devils. In 2019, he recorded 46 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes broken up. He also played well in 2017 while with USC making, 40 stops, four interceptions and seven breakups for the Trojans. He attended junior college in 2018 before transferring to Arizona State. Jones needs to gain weight in his upper and lower body for the NFL.

4/27/22: In 2021, Fields totaled 45 tackles and 10 passes broken up.

7/17/21: Fields is a gritty corner who has competed well for Texas Tech over the past four seasons. He had 50 tackles as a freshman, 54 stops and three interceptions as a sophomore, and broke up 11 passes during both the 2018 and 2020 seasons. Fields is sleeper who could rise, but he needs to show the ability to run with speed receivers in his fifth season with the Red Raiders.

4/27/22: Webb recorded 30 tackles, a forced fumble and six passes broken up in 2021.

7/17/21: Webb made a favorable impression on NFL advance scouts to receive a nice projection heading into the 2021 season. Webb played well in 2019, 29 tackles, three interceptions and 12 passes broken up. Webb has a good skill set with size and speed. Going to an all-star game and impressing against better competition would help him.

4/27/22: Jones dealt with injury in 2021. He missed action, played against New Mexico, struggled against Arkansas, and then went out for the season.

7/17/21: Jones played well overall in 2020, recording 39 tackles, an interception and five passes defended. Over the previous three seasons, he broke up 23 passes, but only had three interceptions over those years. Jones will enter the NFL with a lot of SEC experience.

Jones is a tall and thin corner who might need to add strength in the upper and lower body for the NFL. He has excellent length and runs well enough to have starting potential. As a senior, Jones need to show fluid athleticism, and it would help him if he improved his ball production.

4/27/22: Lucas collected 34 tackles and six passes defended in 2021.

7/17/21: Lucas has been a solid player for the Sun Devils across the past four seasons, but he has some size and speed limitations for the NFL. Lucas totaled 53 tackles with four breakups and one interception in 2019. In 2018, he collected 62 tackles with five breakups, two sacks and three interceptions. As a redshirt freshman, Lucas had 59 tackles with eight passes broken up and two interceptions. Lucas could stand to get stronger and fill out his frame for the NFL.

4/27/22: Williams recorded 41 tackles and 11 passes broken up in 2021. He is very undersized and will have to compete to be a backup slot corner and special teams contributor.

7/17/21: Williams is a small slot-corner type who had an excellent 2020 campaign for the Hoosiers. After little production during the previous two years, Williams totaled four interceptions, five passes broken up, one sack and 30 tackles over the eight games of 2020. It would help Williams to gain some weight and fill out his frame for the NFL.