Senquez Golson NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Steelers' Rookie

STRENGTHS

An All-American in 2014 with 10 interceptions, Senquez Golson was all over the field for Ole Miss and stood up against top-tier SEC talent at wide receiver. He's a ball hawk with hands, instincts and the quickness to make a play on the ball. He sees the ball well and has fluid, twitchy movements to break on the route. He has explosive hips and can run through the ball to flip the field. Golson was a good enough baseball player to be drafted by the Boston Red Sox in Round 8 of the MLB draft in 2011 but gave up baseball to work on football.

WEAKNESSES

Golson lacks the size and deep speed to play on the outside in the NFL, limiting his value to teams that need an upgrade at slot cornerback. He was a zone-heavy cornerback in college and hasn't been asked to turn and run with receivers. When he was asked to play man coverage at the Senior Bowl, his impact faded. Golson will naturally struggle against height and doesn't position himself well underneath or inside the receiver to challenge the ball on the way down.

2014 STATISTICS

Tackles   Passes Defended      Interceptions
     43                8                             10

PRO COMPARISON: Tim Jennings, Chicago Bears

Golson is a smaller cornerback with big potential in the right scheme; his athleticism and size remind of Tim Jennings, but his potential is more like Brandon Flowers.

FINAL GRADE: 5.60/9.00 (Future Starter)