In Pass-Happy NFL, These Slot Cornerbacks Should Be a Hot Commodity on Draft Day

Ian WhartonApr 8, 2015

As the NFL continues to evolve schematically, coaches and coordinators look to push the envelope with innovation to create mismatches. Offenses have diversified to cause defenses to spread out. With more receivers on the field, defenses have found slot cornerbacks to be incredibly important.

The 2015 NFL draft features a unique opportunity for teams that don’t have a standout slot cornerback. Of CBS Sports’ top 21 cornerbacks, 10 look to fit the mold of a slot corner. There’s not a definitive guide for what a slot cornerback must possess, but there are ideal traits.

According to Pro Football Focus’ signature statistics on slot coverage performance, only two of the top 20 slot cornerbacks in 2014 were 6’0”. The rest were somewhere between 5’7” and 5’11”. Since height isn’t as important as technique and foot speed, slot cornerbacks can be found later in the draft.

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On the other hand, the niche role of the slot still requires significant talent. Every week can be a new challenge, since slot receivers vary in size and skill set. There are big, powerful slot receivers such as Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston. Their next opponent may feature ultra-quick athletes such as Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate and Tennessee Titans receiver Kendall Wright.

Name	Team	Targets	Yards	Passer Rating
Chris Harris Jr.	Denver Broncos	32	143	59.8
Brice McCain	Pittsburgh Steelers	35	235	70.5
Casey Hayward	Green Bay Packers	25	168	70.5
Jerraud Powers	Arizona Cardinals	75	548	72.5
Brandon Boykin	Philadelphia Eagles	64	449	78.2
Micah Hyde	Green Bay Packers	43	322	81.7
Josh Wilson	Atlanta Falcons	36	300	83.1
Bradley Roby	Denver Broncos	43	306	87.9
Orlando Scandrick	Dallas Cowboys	53	411	89.4
Buster Skrine	Cleveland Browns	47	294	95.5

Looking at the top 10 slot cornerbacks in 2014, there are some bare minimum traits that most of the list possess. The first trait is toughness. Since the slot cornerback takes the place of a linebacker, they line up closer to the ball than an outside corner.

Toughness really shows over the course of a game. The willingness to crash from the edge into the backfield to hit a running back must be applauded. Toughness in coverage is critical as well. When a slot cornerback gets beat and the defender comes back to make a crucial play later, that’s mental toughness.

Physically, slot cornerbacks must have fluid hips and light feet. Outside cornerbacks can get away with somewhat tight hips because there’s less space for the receiver to work with. Slot cornerbacks don’t have the sideline or the safety to the inside to help them.

Change-of-direction skills are extremely important. This requires intelligence to recognize routes quickly but also the instinct to close on the ball as the receiver breaks inside or out.

Based off my film work throughout this draft season, the 2015 draft has 10 solid candidates. We’re going to highlight five of the best and explain why each has the talent to fulfill this difficult role. Starting with the fifth best and working toward the most prepared, let’s jump in.

No. 5: Lorenzo Doss, Tulane

RICH SCHULTZ/Associated Press

Tulane cornerback Lorenzo Doss is only 5’10” and 182 pounds, but he is one of the strongest, most compact players in this draft judging by his play style. Doss embraces a physical mindset with great consistency. He logged 126 tackles in just three seasons, a testament to his willingness to tackle.

Doss also has excellent ball skills. He had seven interceptions in 2013 alone and 14 in his career. He can get a little too aggressive in coverage, which seemed to occur more in 2014 than 2013. If he can still be an impact playmaker while providing more reliability in coverage, Doss can become a very good slot cornerback.

No. 4: Quinten Rollins, Miami (Ohio)

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

A fast riser in the draft process, it’s amazing that Miami cornerback Quinten Rollins wasn’t even a scholarship football player a year ago. Rollins lacks the length to play outside despite his 5’11” stature. His 30 1/4” arms are a full stanine below the average arm length of 218 cornerbacks in the last 15 years of data, per Mock Draftable.

The spot that can hide Rollins’ length is the slot position. He showed incredible natural prowess for the position in his lone collegiate season. His seven interceptions and 72 total tackles helped show that he is always around the ball.

Rollins has a great feel for the game. It’s uncanny how natural he his, considering he played just one season. He’s a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect worthy of a mid-round investment.

No. 3: Senquez Golson, Ole Miss

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Senquez Golson from Ole Miss ranks as the third-best slot prospect in the draft. At just 5’8”, Golson is one of, if not, the smallest player expected to be picked in the 2015 draft. Even so, he is a baller who doesn’t allow size to slow his production.

Golson had a whopping 10 interceptions as a senior. His ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball is similar to Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes. Grimes is something of an exception with his size at 5'10", though, so that comparison might not be completely fair.

The big weakness of Golson’s game is his inability to be a decent run defender. He’s so small that he gets shoved right out of the play. Despite struggles against the run, Golson often has the ball in his hands. A smart team will deal with his run deficiencies.

No. 2: Steven Nelson, Oregon State

TROY WAYRYNEN/Associated Press

In two years as the top Oregon State cornerback, Steven Nelson faced top competition with very little help around him. The 5’10”, 197-pound cornerback was eerily reminiscent of former NFL cornerback Cortland Finnegan. Like Finnegan, Nelson wins with speed, quickness and mental aptitude.

Nelson embodies all of the ideal slot cornerback traits. His short-area burst and lateral movement skills should make his transition from boundary cornerback to the slot pretty easy. He’s not overly explosive with his lower body, but he is smooth and efficient with his backpedal and cuts.

In the right scheme, Nelson has the ability to be like San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers. Flowers is also considered small (5'9", 187 lbs), but he has elite footwork and awareness.

No. 1: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

One of the very top prospects entering the 2014 college football season, Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu enters the draft on the back of a rough senior campaign. He was often exposed in the red zone because of his size. He is tenacious, but the lack of bulk on his 5’9”, 192-pound frame held him back.

Fortunately for Ekpre-Olomu, he finds the ball wonderfully and sticks to receivers like glue. The slot is the perfect position for his skills. As long as he returns from a torn ACL without issue, expect him to be an impact player quickly.

Ekpre-Olomu could also transition to safety. His ball skills, tackling and physicality are that good that he could accomplish whatever is asked of him.

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