#318: Dash To The Draft 2022 (DB Class Overview with Russell Brown)

1. Headed into the Combine, it was a mystery as to who would be the first corner off the board. But now, we just might have clarity. Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who is the long, tall corner most teams covet, and never allowed a TD in college absolutely stole the show in Indy. He reportedly aced interviews (he’s widely regarded as a high-character guy) and shined in athletic testing where he ran a 4.41 40. Do you think it’s a virtual certainty that Sauce Gardner will be the first corner taken…and does he deserve to be?

2. One of the bigger wild cards in this draft is LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr. Stingley had one very bad year in college, one injury-plagued year, and a first team All-America year. If that first team All America year was 2021, he would likely be the first corner taken off the board. Unfortunately, that season was his freshman year in 2019. And as Thor Nystrom said on this program weeks ago, the number of college players that were only great as freshmen in college yet subsequently became very good NFL players is very small. How high are you on Stingley and do you think he can replicate the 2019 version of himself at the NFL level?

3. Before last week’s events in Indy, some, including Dane Brugler, believed Washington’s Trent McDuffie could end up as the top corner in this class. McDuffie is versatile, tough and athletic. That said, he has sub-30” arms and the amount of corners with that length that have found success at the NFL level is VERY minute. That said, CBS NFL Draft analyst Chris Trapasso brought up a good point by saying that corners coming into the league aren’t as long and tall as they were a decade or so ago and if size/length is sacrificed for agility at the CB position, it is fine given where the game is headed. Do you share that view and do you still believe McDuffie can buck that troubling trend? How far can you see McDuffie falling because of that non-ideal length?

4. Arguably the best player in this draft class regardless of position is Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. That said, many people do not believe you should draft a safety that high. Nonetheless, there’s no denying his talent and the leadership he’d bring to a team on Day 1. Do you think he has a strong case to be a top-five pick?

5. S/CB hybrids are more in demand than ever before in the NFL. And this draft offers two such prospects in Michigan’s Daxton Hill and Baylor’s Jalen Pitre. That said, as important as versatility is, you have to give these players a clearly defined role their rookie season so they’re not mentally swimming in the playbook so to speak. What is the best such role for each of these players next season and beyond? 

6. Another guy that is likely rising up draft boards after the Combine is Georgia’s Lewis Cine. He absolutely tore it up in testing (4.37 in the 40, 36.5” vertical, and 133” broad jump). Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted out that several teams had first-round grades on him BEFORE the Combine. Would you be surprised if he hears his name called on Day 1?

7. Buy Or Sell: Andrew Booth, Jr., Kaiir Elam, Kyler Gordon, Marcus Jones, Coby Bryant, Roger McCreary, Tariq Woolen, Jaquan Brisker, Bryan Cook, Nick Cross, Verone McKinley III

8. Best Landing Spots:

-Sauce Gardner: Jets, Vikings

-Derek Stingley, Jr.: Ravens

-Trent McDuffie: Eagles, Vikings

-Andrew Booth, Jr.: Bills, Chiefs

-Kyle Hamilton: Falcons

-Daxton Hill: Lions, Chiefs

-Jalen Pitre: Seahawks

-Jaquan Brisker: Lions, Jets