NFL Draft 2011: Power Ranking the Top 15 Defensive Backs in the NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft is about two and a half months away, and teams are looking over their roster to see where they can fill a need with some talent or are looking for the best players in the draft in hopes of landing a future elite player.
This draft is already known for its incredibly deep defensive line class, as well as a weak running back class. It also has either a great or terrible quarterback group in the first round depending on who you ask. As for other positions, they have their assorted stars, and the defensive backfield is one of these areas.
Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara are the names well-known to those reading up on mock drafts, but who are others to keep an eye on? Here are the top 15 defensive backs in the 2011 NFL Draft.
15. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
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Dowling is certainly the riskiest pick on this list. He has all the talent in the world, but injuries cost him just about all of his senior season, and not playing in the Senior Bowl hurt his stock as well. He's a very physical corner, and if part of the right defense, can be a playmaker.
He was originally a borderline first-round pick, but has fallen to around the middle of the third round. He can jump back into the second with a great combine, so long as he's actually ready to go for it.
14. Jaiquawn Jarrett, FS, Temple
2 of 15Jaiquawn Jarrett has been a very under-the-radar player entering the draft, partially due to Temple being screwed out of a bowl game despite an 8-4 record. He looked good in the senior bowl playing alongside Quinton Carter and has shown that he doesn't shy away from hard hits.
He is projected in the middle of the third round and could be a surprise playmaker in the NFL.
13. Ahmad Black, SS, Florida
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Ahmad Black's a tough one to rate, mainly because I think he'll be moved to cornerback in the NFL. He's speedy and can keep up with wideouts, but he's short at 5'8" and is a leaper to make up for it. The problem is, if you leap and miss, there's a big play for the wide receiver you're supposed to be guarding. Nonetheless, he has the skills to possibly be good.
Most draft boards have him as a 2-3 round guy, and I see him going around No. 70. He was great in Senior Bowl practices, but missing the game hurt a bit.
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12. Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
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Brandon Burton seems to have the same strengths and weaknesses as Black. He is susceptible to big plays, but is a great tackler and can make good plays when needed. The 6'0" cornerback is a better size, though, without losing the speed needed to be a good cornerback.
He is projected between the second and third round, and I don't really see him moving one way or the other unless the combine shows a surprise.
11. Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
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Patrick is another player not unlike Burton and Black in the sense that he can try too hard to make a play, and he ends up missing the tackle and causing the big play as a result. Nonetheless, he's been a solid receiver for Louisville, and his five interceptions his senior year cannot go unnoticed.
He's projected as a late second-round pick, which sounds about right for how he plays right now.
10. Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
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I actually have Curtis Brown a bit higher on my ranks than others have, thanks to a great Senior Bowl performance. Brown showed blistering speed and great route-running, but it remains to be seen if he can play in a zone-coverage defense, rather than a man-coverage defense which we already know he can do well.
He's projected in the 2-3 round range, but I can see him moving into the middle of the second round.
9. Quinton Carter, FS, Oklahoma
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Carter is someone who is rising up draft boards, and some even have him as the top safety in the draft ahead of Rahim Moore. I'm not willing to go that far just yet, but he has emerged as a top ten defensive back in the draft. He has very good instincts, has no problem taking sharp routes, and is a great role model.
He's projected to go in the second round, and I see him sneaking into the top 50 closer to the draft.
8. DeAndre McDaniel, SS, Clemson
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The top strong safety in the draft, McDaniel had an incredible junior year with 102 tackles and eight interceptions, but was not able to put up those kinds of numbers last year. Nonetheless, he had many opportunities to prove himself against passes since Da'Quan Bowers had rushing attacks sown up.
He is projected as a second round pick, and I actually don't think the combine will affect his standing all that much with his performance in college.
7. Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
9 of 15Davon House is another cornerback who is under the radar, likely the result of New Mexico State being a bad football team. This combined with missing the Senior Bowl due to injury has hurt his stock somewhat. He's proven himself to be a great man-coverage cornerback, and many have compared him to last year's WAC cornerback in the draft, Kyle Wilson.
House is projected to go in the second round, but in his case, the combine will be a major test. I see him getting through that without any issues.
6. Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA
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The best safeties in the draft comes from UCLA, a school that always seems to produce quality defensive backs for the NFL. Moore has 14 interceptions in his career, and unlike many of the previous defensive backs listed, Moore is great at zone coverage. He needs to work on his tackling a bit if he wants to stay above Quinton Carter though.
Mock drafts vary between having him late in the first round or in the middle of the third round. I see him going relatively early in the second.
5. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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Aaron Williams is declaring for the draft after Texas had a rare bad year, and that will hurt his status a bit, even though it shouldn't. Still, he only made the All Big-12 Second Team this year. Despite these marks, he has shown great ability and is a perfect size for the cornerback position. He may need a year or two of guidance, but he could be a full time starter later on.
Williams is a late first-round pick, and going somewhere like Baltimore could be ideal.
4. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
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Jimmy Smith is one of two things. He's either the man who beat out Aaron Williams to make the All-Big 12 First Team, or he's the man who seems to be coming out of nowhere as he rockets up draft boards. Smith proved in the Senior Bowl that, beyond great size, he has great awareness on the field, and could double as a run-stopping corner when needed.
Smith is a borderline 1-2 pick right now, but with a good combine, he could easily crack the top 25.
3. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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Brandon Harris doesn't have the collegiate numbers some of the other players do on this list (only one interception in 2010), but what he does have is great athleticism and tackling ability, which we're surprisingly not seeing too much of further down the list. I know teams would like to see more interceptions out of him rather than just swatting the ball away, though.
He's projected as a late first round pick, and I don't see him moving from that after the combine.
2. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Prince Amukamara is similar to Brandon Harris in the sense that he did not make an interception all season. However, scouts are saying that it's the result of being thrown to infrequently, resulting in him seeming like Darrelle Revis out there. Amukamara has proven that he can earn the title of "shutdown corner", which teams will jump at.
It would surprise me if Amukamara fell out of the top 10, and most drafts have him going around there.
1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Patrick Peterson is the best defensive back in the draft, and for that matter might be the best athlete in the draft. He's physical, can shut down even the best wide receivers, can double as a great kick returner, and has very few weaknesses. If I were a GM and Peterson was still on the board when it was my team's turn to pick, I would select him without a second thought.
Most drafts have him going to either the Broncos at number two or the Bills at number three. Either team would be lucky to have him.
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