Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at cornerback:
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 192
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: He is one of the best quarterbacks in a deep draft for the position. And with Jalen Mills making the transition back to safety following Devin McCourty’s retirement, the Patriots need a corner who can step in right away and make an impact.
Gonzalez, who rates as the top corner by many draft pundits, fits the bill. He’s an explosive athlete who has the tools to be a No. 1 corner and defend the bigger wide receivers. Man coverage is his forte, but he should play well in any scheme.
Most mocks have him going early, but with four quarterbacks expected to go in the top 10, there’s a chance he could slip to No. 14, where the Patriots have their first pick. Or, they can move up to grab him.
Ht/Wt: 5-11 ½, 181
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: Confident. Tenacious. Aggressive. Having those three traits would well bode for any cornerback. Witherspoon happens to exude all of three qualities.
Add in great ball skills, instincts and awareness, and he’s definitely a fit for the Patriots.
He consistently shut down opponents in the Big Ten last season. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 34.9 percent of the passes his way, and he recorded 14 pass breakups and three interceptions in 12 games.
If the Pats are looking for a corner with size, he might not be their man, but he’s scheme versatile and by most accounts, NFL ready.
Another factor weighing in his favor for the Patriots? He’s a special teams ace. And he was coached by Bret Bielema, a former Patriots assistant.
Ht/Wt: 6-2 1/2, 193
Projected round: 1
Scouting report: He’s the son of former All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter, who was a longtime Steeler.
The younger Porter is a freakish athlete who boasts impressive size and athleticism. At the Combine, he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. His long arms (35-inch arms) were a nightmare for receivers at the college level.
He’s primarily been a boundary corner and doesn’t have the scheme versatility of others, mostly because he wasn’t asked to play zone all that much.
His incredible reach and speed allow him to cover a lot of ground. He’s also one of the best corners defending the run.
Another plus? Porter, who had an official visit in Foxboro, also has plenty of special teams experience.
Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Ht/Wt : 6-1, 170
Projected round: 2
Scouting report: If the Patriots don’t take a corner in the first round, Forbes is a good bet for Bill Belichick in the second round if he isn’t scooped up earlier.
He’s a ball hawk extraordinaire in the mold of an Asante Samuel. He finished as the record holder for most pick-6s in FBS history with six. Overall, he had 14 interceptions in his college career.
Basically, he has the ball skills of a wide receiver. Given his speed and overall skill set, he does well in press coverage.
He’s a possible starter, or insurance in the event Jack Jones doesn’t improve in Year 2 to earn more playing time.
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 197
Projected round: 2nd
Scouting report: He’s a perimeter corner whose combination of size, strength and athleticism are what teams tend to crave at the position.
He’s especially effective in press-man coverage. Even Ohio State’s collection of receiving studs had difficulty when going up against Banks. See Buckeyes star Marvin Harrison Jr. for details.
Banks and Jakorian Bennett formed one of the best cornerback duos in college football this past season. He still needs some work on making sure he’s not too grabby with his hands, but has the skillset to be a top corner in the league.
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 198
Projected round: 2nd-3rd
Scouting report: He was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl.
Given his rare size, not to mention 34-inch arms, perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he excels playing out on the boundary. The supersized corner also has surprisingly good movement skills.
His lightning-quick three-cone drill (6.63 seconds), and eye-popping shuttle time (4.05 seconds) are impressive for a man his size.
The Patriots need an outside corner with his kind of length and quickness.
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 193
Projected round: 4th
Scouting report: Between his top-level quickness (6.60 second three-cone drill), stellar instincts, and ability to play special teams, the Iowa corner boasts several traits the Patriots gravitate toward.
He plays physically as a tackler, as well as at the catch point. The three-year starter is a playmaker who takes full advantage of his instincts and soft hands.
He might be best-suited in a zone-based defense. Evaluators also see him possibly moving to safety. He would likely be a third or fourth corner for a team at the outset.
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 189
Projected round: 7th
Scouting report: He was the best corner on the Patriots-coached West Shrine Bowl team.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino should have a good read on his makeup and ability. Watching his tape, Jones has a nice feel for the game and making plays.
Add in his special teams experience – he blocked both a kick and punt during his time in college – and Jones could prove to be a later-round pick.