2017 NFL Combine: Cornerbacks to Watch
By Justin Smith
Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU – 5’11″, 191 pounds
Like Adoree Jackson, White is also an elite return man, but he has more so shown that he’s an excellent cover corner as well. His footwork is routinely praised by NFL scout and film study shows he has the feet and hips to change direction and follow receivers in and out of their breaks.
He has experience playing on an island and also received some slot reps in 2016. He’s a versatile player, and was 8th in the FBS with 14 PBUs in 2016. He plays sticky coverage and has shown the ability to shadow elite receivers throughout his SEC career.
Yet despite his success as a returner, concerns arise over his top-end speed as well. He does not have the size to overcome a lack of speed. He’s a similar position to Jones in that he needs an excellent 40 time and to show NFL-level strength in drills to solidify his stock in the first round.
The majority of mock drafts I’ve seen have White going to the Raiders at 24. JBB’s Tyler Dickson has White to the Raiders in his recent mock draft. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com also has White in his latest mock draft. JBB’s editor Nick Hjeltness has further analysis here of Zierlein’s draft.
The Raiders have two very big corners on the outside in David Amerson and Sean Smith. Aside from a couple of decent games from D.J. Hayden, they really need a corner to cover the slot. White would fit that bill.
Where he will likely excel, and one of the most important drills for corners, is in the 3-cone drill. He has exceptional footwork and change-of-direction agility, and should show that at the combine.
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State – 6’1″, 195 pounds
Conley’s biggest strength is his size and length. He has gangly-long arms, and used them to secure four picks and eight PBUs in 2016 while being named second-team all Big-Ten.
He also has good top-end speed for a big corner, with the ability to track the ball in the air. Where Conley struggles is, as with most big corners, with smaller receivers who run a variety of crossing routes.
More from Just Blog Baby
- Raiders news: Free agent TE Foster Moreau diagnosed with cancer
- Order your Jimmy Garoppolo Las Vegas Raiders gear now
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2023 NFL Draft will make-or-break David Ziegler Era
- Raiders news: Jimmy Garoppolo offered a different kind of deal
- Raiders 2023 NFL Draft: Trading down for an elite DT on Day 1
His lack of telephone-booth quickness and fluidity changing directions causes him to lose receivers in coverage. As such, he reaches and grabs when he’s beat, leading to penalties.
Film study shows that Conley has difficulty against more intricate route trees, and can be slow to diagnose plays. For a large corner he plays the run somewhat soft, rarely coming downhill to stop a play. A coach can teach these things. They cannot teach Conley’s size-speed combination.
Conley needs good measurables in Indianapolis to raise his stock, which is currently second round. For him to rise into the first, he’ll have to show he has fluidity in the 3-cone drill. A good showing in the 40 will verify his speed. A good bench press will alleviate concerns about his strength in the run game.
Next: Fixing Secondary Should Be Top Priority
Playing opposite of Lattimore, Conley got overshadowed by his elite teammate. He’s generating recent buzz and Matt Miller had him mocked to the Raiders at #24 in early February.
He’s someone with natural size that could raise his stock with a strong combine performance.