Weaknesses:
Summary: In every NFL draft, there are some excellent college players who are coming off an injury. Unfortunately, Colvin is one of those prospects this year. He played well for Oklahoma the past few seasons, but wrecked his ACL at the Senior Bowl while covering a receiver in the one-one-ones. The injury will almost certainly force Colvin on the PUP list to start his rookie year. He may end missing all of his first season depending on how his rehab goes and how other injuries impact the 53-man roster next fall.
Colvin made his presence felt with a solid debut for Oklahoma in 2011. The sophomore notched 84 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss and six passes broken up. He was improved in 2012 and turned in an excellent year. Colvin recorded four interceptions, 11 passes broken up, 61 tackles and two sacks. He stood out against Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma State.
The 2012 season caused teams to avoid him in 2013 as they attacked cornerback Zach Sanchez on the other side of the field. Colvin totaled 55 tackles with five tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and three passes broken up in 2013. The senior stepped up with a big game against Texas Tech. He had excellent coverage all day and grabbed an interception to take points away from the Red Raiders. Colvin also caused an interception against Notre Dame with a deflected pass. To finish his career, he had a solid outing against Alabama.
Colvin has nice man-coverage ability with the quickness and flexibility to turn and run with receivers downfield. He also does a nice job of playing the ball. Colvin will need to add some strength to his frame to handle big NFL receivers. Until he does that, he may end up being relegated to nickel-corner duties. Colvin has the coverage ability to play in a man or zone scheme – once he is healthy.
Sources have said that Colvin is being projected to the third day. For the NFL, Colvin could be a nice value pick as he likely would have gone on Day 2 if not for the injury. A few years from now Colvin could develop into a starter and the injury will have proven to help a team get a steal on Day 3.
Player Comparison: Asante Samuel. Samuel has had a good pro career after being a fourth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2003. Samuel (5-10, 185) is not the biggest or most physical corner, but he can make plays on the ball that change games. Colvin is close to the same size and weight as Samuel while also having some man-coverage ability. In the 2014 NFL Draft, Colvin is expected to be a third-day pick, so he will get selected in the same range that Samuel did.
NFL Matches: Jacksonville, Cleveland, Detroit, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Denver, Tampa Bay, Houston, New England, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, San Diego, Washington
You can never have enough cornerbacks in the NFL, so Colvin could get selected by virtually anybody if he’s there on the third day. All teams need to have depth at cornerback, and with Colvin coming off his injury, he could be groomed slowly. Even teams with a good set of corners could consider taking Colvin with a view toward 2015 and beyond.
There are a ton of teams that have a need at cornerback. The Jaguars have very little at the position and will need to add some players for the future. Cleveland could use another corner to pair with Joe Haden and Buster Skrine. The Lions have had a weakness at corner for years.
The Saints could use some youth at cornerback. Indianapolis needs a corner to pair with Vontae Davis. Denver has a huge need at corner with Champ Bailey nearing the end of a great career and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie entering free agency. The Bucs and Texans both need a nickel corner.
The Patriots could lose Aqib Talib in free agency and would need more depth if that happens. The Redskins could use more long-term corners to go with David Amerson. The 49ers also could develop Colvin for the future, and they’ve shown an inclination to draft players coming off an injury.
The Bengals have a big need at corner with two old veterans along with Leon Hall coming off another serious injury. The Eagles and the Chargers need to get some starting cornerbacks this offseason as well, so Colvin could be a third-day option for them.
RELATED LINKS:
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s
2014 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2014 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
