2010 NFL Draft: Sorting Out The Top Cornerbacks

Joe Haden had a bad combine.

Like many suspected, the Florida corner isn't a full 5'11" and is close to the 5'10" barrier that many teams consider a "clean" cornerback.

Haden also didn't flash elite speed, running a 4.56.

Either one of those things on its own isn't a red flag. Both of them together is an issue. Teams drafting in the top 10 want a cornerback who is at least 5'10" but would prefer six foot. Teams also want to see a top 10 corner run in the 4.4s.

Haden did neither.

Still, Haden is the top corner of the 2010 NFL Draft. The only thing this combine means is that teams in the top 10 will need to see a lot out of him in a Pro Day or private workout setting. It also means teams outside of the top 10 will be reluctant to move up and grab him, waiting instead for some of the other prospects in this deep class.

Haden's strengths have never been physical. He is what he is because of solid mechanics and tremendous cover skills.

After Haden, the field is deep and cluttered. As many as 15 cornerbacks could do in the first two rounds. Remarkably, many of the less hyped prospects helped themselves at the combine and made the situation even more confusing for NFL teams.

Two months ago, Brandon Ghee (CB Wake Forest) was a borderline first round prospect. Going into the combine, many had dropped him into the third round, if not lower.

He responded by showing up at a legitimate 5'11" with added muscle and running a 4.45.

Now? The media is heralding Brandon Ghee as a "under the radar" prospect who could "sneak" into the middle of the second.

Following a great combine, here is the top of the current cornerback field:

Joe Haden (Florida)—Again, still the top corner and one of the top cornerbacks in recent memory. From a sheer prospect standpoint, one has to go back to Pacman Jones in 2005 to find a better prospect. (Note: Revis was drafted 14th by the Jets but was seen by many as a reach.)

Devin McCourty (Rutgers)—As a pure corner, McCourty is probably not a first round prospect. However, he offers immediate value as a top notch special teamer and subpackage performer with definite growth potential. McCourty has replaced Patrick Robinson as the athlete with upside who breaks into the first.

Kyle Wilson (Boise State)— Another corner who is right at that 5'10" mark, Wilson needed to do a lot at the combine to answer critics. Wilson had pulled a hamstring and didn't go through many drills. He did however put up 25 reps in the bench press—more than any cornerback. He has speed and could vault into the upper first with a 4.4 or lower. Like Haden, a good all-around corner.

Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest)—The combine is about 10% of a team's total draft process and 8% of that is the interview process. Still, when Ghee ran a 4.45, he turned some heads. The best part about his game is his physicality. He could go in the first to zone coverage teams.

Amari Spievey (Iowa)—While the bigger names get most of the glory from the media, Spievey is starting to get love from NFL teams. His 4.47 40-yard-dash helped but he is a fringe first rounder if he can improve his technique before his pro day. Still very raw, he has lots of upside.

Patrick Robinson (Florida State)—Robinson is this high because he is a blistering all-around athlete. While he does not project as a first-year starter, teams will reach for his potential. Robinson grades out as a future second corner with solid man cover skills.

Kareem Jackson (Alabama)—For a national champion, Jackson is surprisingly flying under the radar. At 5'10" he is just over that first round corner bar and runs around a 4.4. In interviews he stated a desire to get work as a returner, something he couldn't do at 'Bama because of Arenas.

Dominique Franks (Oklahoma)—With his size, speed and talent, Franks is a first round prospect who will probably fall to the second for absolutely no good reason. He is eighth on this list because of great coverage skills but struggles up at the press. He could easily be fourth or fifth on a team's board who ask their corners to play off.

Syd'Quan Thompson (California)—This prospect is "Antoine Winfield Jr." for a host of reasons. Tough, strong, physical—Thompson will be in a receiver's head all game. Strict man teams will leave the 5'9" Thompson of of their boards altogether but zone teams could take him as early as Minnesota in the first.

Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State)—Ehh, how to put this...Cox is a first round pick physically but has more red flags than a rainy day at Talladega. During the media sessions at the combine, Cox said his Cotton Bowl infractions wouldn't happen again because he wouldn't let the NFL "get in his pocket." Comforting.

There it is, the top of the cornerback crop. All of these guys fall into the first round or first-second round grading categories. Other names like Jerome Murphy (S Florida), Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana PA), and Joshua Moore (Kansas State) could sneak into that group as well.

As solid second rounders, add Javier Arenas (Alabama), Donovan Warren (Michigan), Alterraun Verner (UCLA) and Chris Cook (Virginia).

That is 17 possible second round cornerbacks. Depending on an individual team, that number could go from 13 to as many as 20. That is an epic number. In 2009, only six CBs went in the top two rounds. In 2008, only 10.

The ranking of this list is very tight and could be listed a thousand different ways depending on who is asked. It will also change a bit before draft day as these players interview and hold pro days.

No matter how it shakes out, one thing is clear. If a team needs a cornerback, this should be a very good year.

Michael Schottey is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Detroit Lions and the NFL Draft. He is also a team correspondent for DraftTek.com as well as a guest writer for MLive.com. Check out his podcasts at BlogTalkRadio or follow him on Twitter.