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With the 2024 draft approaching, it is time to get prepared for your IDP drafts. Here, we will be taking a look into the defensive back class. This year's safety class is incredibly thin and the top 10 is actually dominated by cornerbacks. Let's take a look at the pre-combine top 10 IDP rookie defensive backs.
1) Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa (6-foot-1, 207 pounds)
2023 Stats: (10 games) 41 tackles (26 solos), 2 tackles for a loss, 5 passes defended, and 2 interceptions.
DeJean is built with mass like a safety but has the raw athleticism and elite-level ball skills of a nimble-footed cornerback. He moves smoothly throughout his frame and flips his hips without losing a step. His athleticism is off the charts, and he boasts both long speed and short-area quickness shown when closing on the football. DeJean has shown zero fear in run defense, triggering downhill with cheetah-like closing speed and wrap-up technique that is tighter than a burrito.
He is a ballhawk and has seven interceptions over his past two seasons with the Hawkeyes. DeJean is a dream slot corner with the size and strength to match tight ends while also having elite mobility to stick with shifty slot receivers. His ball skills, matched with his tackling technique, could see him truly rack up some solid rookie IDP numbers.
Related: Pre-Combine Top 10 Rookie IDP Linebackers
Related: Pre-Combine Top 10 Rookie IDP Edge Rushers
Related: Pre-Combine Top 10 Rookie IDP Defensive Tackles
2) Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota (6-foot-2, 210 pounds)
2023 Stats: (12 games) 53 tackles (34 solos), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
If Nubin plays full-time safety in a Cover 2 or lines up as a strong safety in the box, he could easily overtake the number one spot. With his skillset, I actually project him playing a lot more in the slot, the same position I project DeJean to play, which gives DeJean the edge. Still, Nubin has an absolute knack for the football, coming up with 13 career interceptions.
Nubin shows unbelievable IQ when playing zone coverage. He times his breaks on the football and takes great angles to either get his hands on the football or limit yards after the catch. His tackling ability is exceptional. He wraps players up better than a sushi roll. Nubin can come downhill with more than adequate closing speed. His fluidity in his hips is what drops him below DeJean.
He seems to lose a step when flipping his hips. This will not be as much of a deterrent covering tight ends, but if he is tasked to cover shifty wide receivers, he could fall behind when they break their routes. Either way, Nubin has extreme positional versatility, giving him ample opportunity to see playing time as a rookie.
3) Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson (6-foot-2, 185 pounds)
2023 Stats: (10 games) 29 tackles (23 solos), 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 defensive touchdown.
Wiggins gets the nod at number three here because I see him as a starting-caliber cornerback. He has the height, arm length, competitiveness, and technique to win an outside cornerback starting gig. Wiggins uses his long arms like battering rams in press coverage, jarring wide receivers off their routes early in their routes. He can flip his hips smoothly to transition to running with wide receivers on vertical routes.
Wiggins attacks the catch point very well with great timing, and again his long arms help being competitive. He has long strides, which help him keep with receivers, but lacks true long speed, which could lead him to getting picked on a bit on vertical routes as a rookie. That, matched with his physicality at the catch point, could lead to Wiggins leading all rookies in passes defended. His landing spot needs to be watched.
4) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama (6-foot-1, 195 pounds)
2023 Stats: (14 games) 32 tackles (24 solos), 2 tackles for a loss, and 7 passes defended.
McKinstry is an incredibly physical cornerback with great size and strength. He has great length and has a jaw-jarring jam early in routes and press coverage. His transition to run with receivers is smooth and effortless as well. McKinstry has shown elite-level processing in zone and man coverage, making great breaks on the football and reading routes well.
What may be the most intriguing for his IDP value is McKinstry's interest in helping in the run game. Again, he shows strong mental processing pre-snap and early in plays to break off and come downhill in run support. Once he gets downhill, his physicality and technique allow him to make plays in the backfield. His ability to read screens and flats gets him to the football quickly. McKinstry also has a great opportunity to be a starting cornerback as a rookie, giving him instant IDP value.
5) Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama (6-foot-0, 196 pounds)
2023 Stats: (14 games) 63 tackles (40 solos), 6.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 12 passes defended, 5 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.
Arnold could easily skyrocket up this list if he continues to show growth. Arnold is effective in all phases of the game. He has great run support and is impressive in the screen game, press-man coverage, zone coverage, outside and inside coverage, and even lining up at safety. Terrion brings a large frame to the table as a cornerback and uses every bit of that length, attacking the catch point, jamming receivers, and wrapping up running backs.
Arnold has great athleticism, and his tackling technique is elite for a cornerback. When he comes downhill, it is with great burst, and he rarely misses a tackle. His footwork is smoother than Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. He mirrors receivers with ease, showing great transitions through all phases of routes. Arnold could be a quick riser.
6) Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo (6-foot-0, 195 pounds)
2023 Stats: (13 games) 41 tackles (32 solos), 2 tackles for a loss, 18 passes defended, and 1 interception.
Mitchell has elite athleticism as well as elite ball skills. This is another cornerback who could rise up the rankings. Not only does he showcase an impressive IQ with route recognition, but he also has the speed and burst to make unbelievable breaks on the football. His ability to get his hands on the football is next to none. Over the past two seasons, Mitchell came away with 37 passes defended, leading all of college football over that span.
Mitchell could clean up his technique. His pedal seems a bit robotic, and his transitions need to smoothen out, but his athleticism helps him make up for it. If he does clean up his technique, he could be an elite NFL cornerback.
7) Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (5-foot-11, 206 pounds)
2023 Stats: (10 games) 59 tackles (40 solos), 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 5 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown.
Kinchens has all the makings of being a productive NFL nickel cornerback or safety. He has all the tools and abilities, he just needs to clean up his technique. Kinchens provides elite game speed with good route recognition as a safety, making strong breaks on the football. He showcased this with his 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. His frame is stout, and he plays with great physicality, showing that aggressive tight ends and receivers should not be a problem for him.
His man coverage needs to tighten up, as he bites on fakes too easily and gets beat with double moves. Kinchens also needs to clean up his tackling. His aggression has him taking poor angles to the football, forcing him to miss with arm tackles far too often. I love his tools and his nose for the football. His landing spot will be big for his playing time.
8) Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri (6-foot-0, 188 pounds)
2023 Stats: (9 games) 35 tackles (24 solos), 1.5 tackles for a loss, 4 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble.
Rakestraw just may be the best cornerback in man coverage in the 2024 NFL draft. His pre-snap recognition is elite, and he sees plays develop before they happen, getting himself into great positions. He plays with great technique and limits penalties while staying in the hip of receivers with effortless agility and smooth motion like a wave throughout his body. Rakestraw has tremendous length, allowing him to attack the catch point and be very disruptive.
He is a bit thinner and does not carry the same frame as some of the other cornerbacks mentioned earlier, but his coverage skills should help him see the field. His movement and technique are just too good.
9) Calen Bullock, S, USC (6-foot-3, 190 pounds)
2023 Stats: (12 games) 63 tackles (42 solos), 7 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown.
Bullock has shown signs of being a ball hawk; he just needs to be more consistent. He has great height and length, making him a dangerous player as a deep safety. It is very hard to get over the top of him. Add the fact that he has great route awareness and play recognition, and quarterbacks think twice about attacking him over the top. Bullock is also a strong open-field tackler, squaring up with good technique.
He needs to add some mass to his frame, but there is room. Where he has trouble is in run defense. He has a tough time shedding and disengaging blockers. Bullock is a strong special teams player as well, which should earn him a roster spot and early action.
10) T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State (6-foot-2, 200 pounds)
2023 Stats: (12 games) 44 tackles (33 solos), 3 tackles for a loss, 7 passes defended, and 2 interceptions.
Tampa has a powerful frame from the cornerback position, making him an imposing presence in press coverage. It looks like a boxer coming at you with his jab at initial contact and it can be absolutely jarring. Even though Tampa is a larger cornerback, it does not affect his play speed. He shows quick closing speed in run support and has a knack for strong hits. Tampa uses his hands well throughout routes to stick right in the pocket of wide receivers.
He is proficient in both man and zone, giving him scheme versatility. At times, Tampa can be a bit too aggressive, biting on double moves and play action, allowing him to get beat over the top. Due to his bulky frame, his hips are a bit stiff in his transition. Even still, his technique and overall IQ keep him tight in coverage.
Other Names to Know
- Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
- Kalen King, CB, Penn State
- Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
- Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
- Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Final Thoughts
As you can see, this list is dominated by cornerbacks. This should not be too surprising based on the state of offenses in the NFL...plus the fact that this safety class is one of the worst I can remember. Rookie cornerbacks often make more of an impact than safeties because of their position and potential to see the field more. Sure, safeties are generally the higher-scoring defensive backs, but rookie safeties rarely grab a starting role right away, as elite prospect cornerbacks can do. Kyle Bellefueil and I keep covering the IDP rookies for you guys. Check out his linebacker article here. Thanks again for reading, and let's have a great start to the 2024 season.
