Green Bay Packers NFL Draft: Who will be available for Ted Thompson’s picks?
By Doug Rogalla
January 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back P.J. Williams (26) in defense position against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports photograph
The Cornerbacks (rounds 2-4)
The cornerbacks who may still be available at the end of first and second rounds, according to NFL Draft Geek and NFL.com are as follows:
Ronald Darby, DB, Florida State (5-10 5/8, 193 pounds, 4.37 40)
Elite man-to-man coverage skills; can play on an island in space and lock down the most athletic of receivers; elite speed; cannot be outrun; best nickelback in the draft; experienced playing out of the slot; undersized; doesn’t have the ideal height or bulk to matchup with tall X and Z receivers [NFL Draft Geek]
P.J. Williams, DB, Florida State (6-0, 194 pounds, 4.53 40)
Most physical cornerback in the 2015 NFL Draft; excels in bump-and-run coverage; gets a great jam off the line; throws off timing and knocks receivers off routes; best run supporting cornerback in draft; loves to hit, great form tackler, gets off blocks; faster game speed than timed; rarely if ever saw him get beat over the top; busted for DUI on April 3 [NFL Draft Geek].
Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio) (5-11 1/8, 195 pounds, 4.46 40)
Four-year basketball player; seamless transition to football field as a cornerback; has point guard’s foot quickness and hip fluidity; plays with balance and above-average play strength; well-built and competitive; can be a disruptive press-corner; likely lacks the necessary experience to come in and help right away [NFL.com]. [Note: a TT special aka Sam Shields + Demetri Goodson – athletes with potential].
Alex Carter, CB, Stanford (6-0 1/8, 196 pounds, 4.50 40)
Possesses desired, height, bulk and length to matchup with monster NFL receivers; 4.51 speed is more than adequate for a guy his size; can hang downfield; shines in press coverage; gets a great press off the line, patient with footwork to mirror, rarely allows receiver to get clean release; started every game in three year career; IQ and character praised by David Shaw [NFL Draft Geek].
Josh Shaw, DB, USC (6-0 1/2, 201 pounds, 4.34 40)
Tremendous in run support; diagnoses plays very quickly, gets off blocks, excellent form tackler, sets the edge; strong and physical; most bench reps (26) of any DB at Combine; fabricated story about injury ankles while jumping to save drowning nephew; suspended for most of 2014 [NFL Draft Geek].
Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State (5-10 1/8, 197 pounds, 4.43 40)
Physical, feisty press corner; gives up nothing underneath. Earned nickname “Mighty Mouse”; long speed (4.49) to turn and run; standout in run support; able to defeat blockers and finish plays as a tackler; does a great job blowing up screen plays; excellent ball skills; eight INTs and 16 passes broken up in two years; strong at the catch point; attacks the ball and rakes at receiver’s hands; undersized at 5’10”; won’t matchup well with some of the taller receivers in the league [NFL Draft Geek].
Now on to the linebackers …
Next: The inside 3-4 linebackers (middle rounds)