Patriots Draft 2012: Why They Should Draft Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama

Of all the glaring weaknesses the Patriots showed this year, their defensive backfield was the most evident. Ras-I Dowling suffered an injury early, Devin McCourty regressed from a Pro Bowl player to a eyesore and although Kyle Arrington led the NFL in interceptions, he seriously lacked in coverage ability at times.

Now comes the NFL draft right around the corner. The Patriots have two late-first-round selections at 27 and 31. One pick needs to be used to address the lack of pass-rushing and the other needs to be Janoris Jenkins.

Starting his collegiate career at Florida, Jenkins quickly showed he had the talent to become a top corner in the nation by becoming just the second true freshman in school history to start on opening day.

From June 2009 to January 2011, Janoris found himself in trouble with the law on three separate occasions—ultimately leading to his dismissal from Florida.

After receiving a grant from North Alabama, Janoris would enter Division II college to end his collegiate career. While at North Alabama, he did a remarkable job of staying out of trouble and restoring as much of his battered image as he could.

Whether he realized he was undraftable at Florida, or he had actually decided to better his ways, Janoris still proved that his off-the-field issues can be a thing of the past.

If there is one place where a troubled, yet remarkable talent could succeed, it would be in Foxboro playing under coach Bill Belichick.

Janoris may lack in size at 5'10" and 192 pounds, but he has every skill that NFL scouts look for in a defensive back. He is extremely athletic and has an unmatched competitive attitude.

His quick feet and loose hips led him to be very productive against the elite college receivers in his three years at Florida. A versatile skill set helps him produce at a high level in man, zone, press and off coverages.

In addition to his skills in the defensive backfield, scouting reports also indicate that Jenkins has the ability to play on both sides of special teams and may also be able to move to safety—a concern for the Patriots after seeing Patrick Chung injury-ridden and having trouble replacing him.

Picking Jenkins may be a risk due to the character and off-the-field issues, but passing up the talent of a top 10 pick would be a mistake. Take the chance and draft this standout cornerback.