1. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech Hokies – 6’ 3” 213 lbs.

Positives

Jimmy Williams is a rare size/speed specimen at defensive back and is the most likely of the excellent CB/S tweeners (Huff, Allen, and Williams) to be a cornerback in the NFL. He’s a very physical player that has an intimidating swagger about him. He’s a monster in press coverage and is excellent at executing the jam at the line of scrimmage. Williams is also a hard worker. His hitting, speed, and good tackling makes an impact in run support. He’s a quick, athletic player, and also has good receiving skills to secure interceptions when the opportunity is there.

Negatives

Williams is not a great DB in zone coverage and he doesn't read and react as fast as some of the other elite DBs in this draft, although his speed helps offset this. His aggressive style will also take him out of position on some plays. His cockiness is very strong, and he got kicked out of his last college game.

Numbers Game

4.44 – Williams 40 time at his pro day (he didn't work out at the combine) highlights his top notch size/speed package.

NFL Comparison

Bobby Taylor/Chris McAlister

Summary

Jimmy Williams is a unique player that combines speed and athleticism with a very nasty style of play. He’s not the most instinctive or technically advanced DB, but his tools will likely make him the first or second CB off the board in the draft. His physical play and strong presence in run support should make him a quality CB for IDP dynasty leagues.

2. Tye Hill, Clemson Tigers - 5'10" 185 lbs.

Positives

Tye Hill is one of the fastest players in the entire draft, and he’s a natural shutdown cover corner. He’s an incredibly smooth athlete in change of direction and can often use this plus his speed to recover when beaten. Hill is small, but very willing to be physical in run support and press coverage. He’s an explosive athlete beyond his elite speed, including a 41” vertical that helps offset his height disadvantage. He’s got excellent skills to get to the ball and can mirror receivers better than any DB in this draft.

Negatives

Hill is small, there’s no way around this. Bigger WRs could take advantage of him, and he may get lost in run support. He’s not very good in zone coverage (see Sinorice Moss TD in the Senior Bowl), but he has been improving over time. His hands are somewhat suspect and cause him to lose some interceptions.

Numbers Game

15 – Hill’s pass breakups ended an astounding 15 scoring drives in his junior year, showing how clutch he can be.

NFL Comparison

DeAngelo Hall

Summary

Tye Hill is the best man coverage corner in the draft, period. He will instantly bolster the defensive backfield of the team that drafts him and could develop into an elite shutdown corner as he is only 3 years removed from a switch to defense from RB. He will be an excellent fantasy CB for at least the first few years of his career while teams test him.

3. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State Seminoles - 6'2" 208 lbs.

Positives

Like Jimmy Williams, Cromartie possesses a rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism. He’s a strong force in run support and can deliver the crushing hit. He is a strong performer in press coverage and has the speed to recover on even the speediest of wide receivers. His change of direction and leaping skills are top notch.

Negatives

Cromartie is an extremely raw player. He’s never been a full-time starter and missed the entire 2005 season with a torn ACL. He lacks technique and instincts and will need some development to unlock his full potential. He does have a large bust risk for such a highly regarded player.

Numbers Game

1 – Cromartie has started one game in his college career.

NFL Comparison

Chris Gamble

Summary

Antonio Cromartie has as much upside as any defensive back in the entire draft, but he carries more risk than most of the first day rated defensive backs. He could be a jackpot pick in late first/early second if his development goes well. His size and physical style of play insures that he will be a quality fantasy CB.

4. Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina Gamecocks – 5’11” 193 lbs.

Positives

Johnathan Joseph is the only CB in the draft who would have a chance to beat Tye Hill in a footrace. He’s an instinctive DB who has the speed and change of direction ability to recover when a receiver gets the best of him. He’s a hard worker who shows improvement in weak areas when he concentrates on them. Joseph also has very good hands and has returned kickoffs on occasion. He’s great in man coverage and has no problem mirroring wide receivers.

Negatives

Joseph is not the strongest or most physical DB, and he’s average at best at tackling and hitting. He’s not very polished in zone coverage, and his inexperience leaves him lacking in reading and react skills. He’ll sometimes take unnecessary risks playing the ball instead of the man.

Numbers Game

14 – Joseph only played 14 games at South Carolina – the whole of his Division I football career.

NFL Comparison

Dre’ Bly

Summary

Joseph joins Antonio Cromartie as a fast rising corner on many draft boards despite a very limited of body of gameplay to evaluate – showing just how valuable speedy cover corners are in this league. He may get into the first round and should be of the first 5 corners selected.

5. Ashton Youbuty, Ohio State Buckeyes – 6’0” 189 lbs.

Positives

Youbuty is a fast, explosively athletic cover corner. He’s adept at man coverage and uses his closing speed and athleticism to make plays on the ball in the air. Ashton uses his excellent speed and burst to close well on both run and pass plays. He’s got the change of direction skills to mirror most receivers. Unlike some of the higher ranked CBs, Youbuty is also very good in zone coverage. Another plus is that Youbuty is a natural receiver for a defensive back.

Negatives

Youbuty is a gambler and he relies on his physical tools to make up for mental lapses on the field. He’s not a big presence in run support, lacking the size and hitting to make an impact. Youbuty came out as a junior and is still raw and has a lot to learn about playing the position.

Numbers Game

4 – Youbuty’s 4 interceptions in 2004 tied for the big 10 lead.

NFL Comparison

Charles Tillman

Summary

Youbuty has the tools to be a very good cover corner in the NFL. He’s got to learn to rely less on his brilliant athleticism, but his potential should get him into the second round of the draft.

6. Alan Zemaitis, Penn State Nittany Lions – 6’1” 195 lbs.

Positives

Alan Zemaitis is a smart, strong, physical cornerback with top notch read and react skills and football IQ. He’s got good range and hands and puts himself in position to make many big plays – enough that college teams started to throw away from his part of the field in his junior year. He’s a strong hitter and is very good at getting jams on the receiver off the line of scrimmage. He’s got the agility and athleticism to play in tight coverage, and the speed and closing ability to play loose. He’s also a tough kid that came back from a serious car accident in 2003 faster and better than anyone expected.

Negatives

Zemaitis lacks the top end speed and athleticism of the top 5 CBs in this class. Some see him being moved to safety in the NFL.

Numbers Game

19 – The opposing team completed a grand total of 19 passes to the player Zemaitis was covering in 2005.

NFL Comparison

Mike McKenzie

Summary

Zemaitis may not have the eye-popping measurables and athletic ability of the top CBs in this class, but his intangibles and hard-nosed style are probably the best in this class. He’s been a big play/shutdown CB at a top level of competition and will contribute to his NFL immediately. He should definitely be a first day pick.

7. Will Blackmon, Boston College Eagles – 6’0” 198 lbs.

Positives

Will Blackmon is a very athletic explosive player who made an impact as a corner, wide receiver, and return specialist in college. He’s a smooth player in coverage and his hands are elite for a DB, as evidenced by his being to start at WR in his senior year. When he was a corner, he showed good ability to mirror the receiver and close on the ball in flight. He is an elite kickoff returner, coming close to breaking the all-time NCAA Division record for career kickoff return yardage. He has good size for a corner.

Negatives

Blackmon has now spent an entire year away from the cornerback position and has a lot of work to do to catch up. He is unlikely to stick at WR in the NFL despite working out as one at the combine. He doesn't have elite timed speed. Blackmon is not a particularly physical or strong player.

Numbers Game

51/763/4 – Blackmon’s line as a WR in his senior was pretty good considering that he hadn't played there before in his collegiate career.

NFL Comparison

Nathan Vasher

Summary

Like many of the CBs on this list, Blackmon has an element of risk because of lack of experience at his position. He might not be the 7th CB off the board at the draft, but he should be bumped up for fantasy because of how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands.

8. Richard Marshall, Fresno State Bulldogs – 5’11” 189 lbs.

Positives

Richard Marshall is yet another burner with great athleticism in this class of cornerbacks. He is elite at making plays on the ball in flight with his leaping ability, hands, and adjustments. Marshall is a true ball thief and generally a solid tackler. He can also contribute as a kickoff returner.

Negatives

Marshall is not a particularly tough or physical player and doesn't show up much in run support. He has smaller than ideal height and bulk. He’s not the best at reading and reacting, and relies on his speed to recover.

Numbers Game

35 – Marshall averaged an astounding 35 yards on his nine interception returns at Fresno State.

NFL Comparison

Terrell Buckley

Summary

Marshall is not very polished, but his speed, ball skills, and gamebreaking ability on interception returns should get him drafted on the first day in a league that values cornerbacks so much.

9. Kelly Jennings, Miami (FL) Hurricanes – 5’11” 178 lbs.

Positives

Jennings joins many others on this list with elite timed speed. He’s also got a great vertical leap and change of direction ability. His speed gives him great range and he’s good at anticipating routes. He’s a tenacious player whose ball skills help make up for his lack of height and size. He’s also got great hands for a DB.

Negatives

Jennings is small and may not have the room to get much bigger, possibly relegating to him a nickel back role in the NFL. He does not excel in zone coverage, and like many of the other speedsters on this list, will rely on his speed to make up for mental lapses. He’s a willing tackler, but too small to bring the lumber and likely to be a marginal tackler against NFL sized offensive skill players.

Numbers Game

3.0 – Jennings GPA got him on the ACC All-Academic team in 2005.

NFL Comparison

Aaron Glenn

Summary

Jennings has been a shutdown corner in college, but he will struggle to overcome his lack of size at the next level. Still, DBs who can cover are in demand, and he should go on the first day.

10. DeMario Minter, Georgia Bulldogs – 5’ 11” 190 lbs.

Positives

Minter is a strong and physically cut cover corner. He’s a very sound tackler and a hard-nosed presence in run support. He’s good at establishing tight coverage and has good, but not elite speed. DeMario changes direction well and is an athletic corner. Minter also has the leaping ability and body control to make plays on the ball in flight.

Negatives

DeMario has below average hands and loses interceptions because of it. He’s not very good in zone coverage. His less than ideal size will lessen his impact in the running game at the next level.

Numbers Game

7 – Seven times Minter held his receiver without a catch for the entire game.

NFL Comparison

Daylon McCutcheon

Summary

Minter is a very solid corner, but he lacks the upside and elite tools of most of the corners on this list. He’s worth watching for IDP dynasty leagues if he lands a starting gig eventually because new corners get picked on, but he’s unlikely to be more than an average pro cornerback.