2011 NFL Draft: Power Ranking the Top 5 Cornerbacks in the Draft
In the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Commissioner Roger Goodell called the names of seven very talented defensive backs, including five cornerbacks.
While this year's draft class is one of the weakest safety classes in recent years, once again, the cornerback position is chock full of talent.
Unlike last year, in which the last two corners taken may have, at the time, seemed like reaches (Devin McCourty and Patrick Robinson), this year's cornerbacks are all pure first-round potential guys.
And to respond to what you're thinking about my last statement, yes I understand how terrific of a year McCourty had with the New England Patriots, but there were very few experts and analysts who believed that he was nothing more than a reach and a special teams specialist.
This year's talent is nothing more than extraordinary. Chances are that all five of these cornerbacks go in the first round, and some of them will have teams trading up to grab them out of desperation.
A stud cornerback is one of the hardest positions to fill on the roster, but once you find one, it is well worth the risk as you can see with the Jets' Darrelle Revis and McCourty.
Without much further adieu, I give you my top five cornerback power rankings of the 2011 NFL draft.
No. 5: Brandon Harris, University of Miami
1 of 5
I would love to put Harris higher up on this list. As a Ravens fan, it's hard not to love every great prospect that comes out of "The U" when you've seen the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Willis McGahee prosper in the NFL.
But unfortunately, the only the thing that will really hinder Harris' ability to excel in the NFL is his height. At 5'9", he is by far the shortest of the cornerbacks on this list. However, he shows almost no character flaws and is one of the hardest working young men among any prospects in the draft.
Harris shows top-end speed, running a 4.45 40 at the NFL combine. He shows above average ball skills but only snagged one interception. Though most elite cornerbacks have a lower interception total because the ball doesn't come their way, Harris had eight pass deflections last season, which could show a questionable use of hands.
If he was 6'1", Harris skyrockets up the draft, but unfortunately, he's not likely to keep growing this late in life.
Projected Draft Position: Late First Round
No. 4: Aaron Williams, University of Texas
2 of 5
The best safety prospect in the NFL draft could be a cornerback. That's right. The best safety prospect in this year's draft class may very well be a cornerback.
The Houston Chronicle's Jeffrey Martin wonders if Aaron Martin may be better off in the NFL with a position switch.
Remember a few years back when Malcom Jenkins was taken as a cornerback out of Ohio State? Jenkins faltered his rookie year as the Saints' top corner. One year later, he's a second-team All-Pro free safety.
This year, Williams out of Texas has the opportunity to do that same thing. Any team taking Williams will likely go the same route. They'll try him out at cornerback, and though he has all the intangibles to be a No. 1 cover-corner in the draft, it's always good to have a backup plan.
Williams has excellent height and amazing speed. At 6'1", he ran a 4.44 40 at his pro day, just a hair faster than Miami's Brandon Harris with an extra four inches on his frame.
Williams at the time of the draft is still plenty far behind the draft's top three prospects but has the potential to be the best of the bunch.
Projected Draft Position: Late First Round
No. 3: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
3 of 5
Whether a team drafts Amukamara or No. 2 on my list, they'll be plenty happy. Prince may end up being the No. 1 cornerback from this class. In fact, everyone on this list has that same potential. But the thing that jumps out at me when reviewing his 2010 stats are his interceptions.
I understand that when you have a stud cornerback, quarterbacks will seldom throw the ball you way. But the alarming stat line that I'm seeing is his 12 pass deflections. While that is thoroughly impressive, he has zero interceptions to go along with it.
Amukamara has terrific size at 6'0" and blazing speed (4.43-40), but if I'm drafting a top-notch cornerback, my preference is someone that has the potential to be a real ball hawk. If the ball is coming their way, I don't want someone that's going to just swat down the pigskin. It needs to be someone that can make the game-changing play.
Prince is going high no matter what, but don't be surprised if he ends up being the third cornerback off the board.
Projected Draft Position: Top 12
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
No. 2: Jimmy Smith, University of Colorado
4 of 5
Mark my words. Jimmy Smith will be a great NFL cornerback. Except for No. 1 on my list, there is no one on this draft list that has been more impressive when it comes to game film. Not only is Smith fast on the field, he recorded an "Oh-no-he-didn't" 40 time at the NFL combine: a blazing 4.38.
Smith has earned high praise on many of his NFL team visits. The Baltimore Ravens even said that he could be the next Chris McAlister. While every NFL team understands that he had his troubles off the field, McAlister went to multiple pro bowls and was one of the premier shutdown corners in the league for 10 years.
Smith has elite size at 6'2", 210lbs. but only recorded three interceptions in his career at Colorado. Although, because of his size and his terrific ability to meet the ball at its highest point in the air, he has the potential to exponentially increase his pass-catching skills.
Because of several positive drug tests and other off-the-field issues, Smith will likely drop to the bottom half of the draft. But in the right locker room, this draft stud could flourish in to the NFL's next elite corner.
Projected Draft Position: 18-32
No. 1: Patrick Peterson, LSU
5 of 5
Wish I could give you all a surprise here, but there's no fooling around when it comes to a talent of this magnitude.
Peterson is not only the consensus No.1 cornerback in the draft among analysts, but according to ESPN's NFL draft expert Mel Kiper, he's the No. 1 prospect in the draft at any position. I believe him.
Peterson has a freakish body type. His 6'1", 220lbs. frame means he could be a safety or a cornerback. But his 4.34-40 time at the combine screams cornerback. The kid can lay a hit, too. Watch any LSU game from last season and you'll see at least one bone-crushing hit laid by Peterson.
If his cover-corner skills weren't enough, Peterson is also one of the best return specialists in the draft and can immediately impact a team in that role.
No other cornerback in this draft has Peterson's ability to locate a ball in the air, and if he's going up in the air, there's little chance a receiver is coming down with it. While it's difficult to peg a sure-thing cornerback prospect coming out of college, it could be argued that Peterson is the best to enter the NFL since Charles Woodson. He worked out pretty well, right?
Projected Draft Position: Top 5
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
