Top 5 cornerbacks in 2022 NFL Draft
Finally, we’re just over a week away from the Jacksonville Jaguars making the first selection in 2022 NFL Draft.
Having already highlighted the talent available at quarterback, edge and wide receiver, we now take a look at the cornerbacks.
Marlon Humphrey recently claimed the position is the second hardest to play in the NFL. With that in mind, teams will be desperate to make improvements ahead of the 2022 season in the draft.
It’s another stacked cornerback class, with a few players potentially going within the top 10 selections.
Here is our list of the top five cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft:
Honourable mentions: Roger McCreary, Kaiir Elam, Derion Kendrick
5. Kyler Gordon, Washington
We start with one of two Washington defenders to make the list, Kyler Gordon.
A physical defender, Gordon is a versatile corner who can play both outside and inside. He plays the game on the front foot and is agile in his movements when in coverage.
Having bench pressed an impressive 20 reps at the NFL Combine, Gordon can also back up his aggressive play with some impressive natural traits.
While he’s explosive in strength, Gordon was a 4.5+ second runner in the 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine. That’s not at all slow, but it’s certainly not as quick as some of his peers. NFL teams could have an issue with that pace.
Washington had a quality duo of corners in 2021. Unfortunately for Gordon, teammate Trent McDuffie was the more obvious talent through college. Gordon may be a first-round talent, but it’s likely that McDuffie will be drafted earlier.
Gordon is definitely raw in talent and has plenty to work on in terms of tackle technique. But he has all the ability to go on and become a very good cornerback in the NFL.
4. Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
A former five-star recruit out of high school, Andrew Booth has been a top rated player for Clemson over the past few years.
He was a starter in two of his three years in college and led the Tigers with three interceptions and five pass breakups over 11 starts in 2021.
And quarterbacks had a 9.0 passer rating when targeting Booth on throws down the field. That number was 5.6 better than anybody else in the country last season. Highly impressive.
Booth’s experience is largely in zone coverage. While he needs to improve as a tackler, Booth has great awareness which helps him to make game-changing plays.
He definitely could be higher on this list, his talent is there for all to see. Yet, Booth doesn’t quite have the excitement factor as other players on the list.
He also has a high injury record and needs to stay healthy to have a successful career in the NFL.
With his athleticism and skillset though, he could land with several teams in the first round.
3. Trent McDuffie, Washington
McDuffie wasn’t as big a name as Sauce Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr. during college. But he’s certainly making waves ahead of the NFL Draft.
The Washington standout enjoyed a productive 2021. He recorded 35 tackles, four for loss, as well as six pass breakups and a sack during 11 games for the Huskies.
He’s a speedy athlete, having posted a quick 4.44 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Combine and put his electric footwork on full display.
Similar to his college teammate Gordon, McDuffie is an excellent cover defender and offers a special teams ability as a credible punt returner.
On the other hand, at around 5’10” and with sub-30” arm length, McDuffie doesn’t have the biggest frame.
But the 21-year-old is a tough competitor and makes up for his average size with some crafty, rugged play. He’s well experienced as a three-year starter and can make a solid transition into the NFL.
McDuffie has a lot of fans from across the league, so expect him to go relatively early in the first round.
2. Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
A couple of years ago, Derek Stingley Jr. was possibly the most talked about player in this entire draft class, let alone just in his position.
One of the highest rated corners ever out of high school, Stingley enjoyed an outstanding freshman year in college, earning a consensus All-American selection in 2019.
But after a difficult 2021 following an injury hit 2020, the perspective has changed for the LSU star.
Stingley certainly has a huge upside and is still among the most talented players available for selection in Las Vegas, yet his limited play time prevents him from the number one spot on this list.
He’s entering the NFL Draft having posted a sublime 4.37 40-yard-dash in his recent Pro Day and, despite not working out at the NFL Combine in February, has impressed team evaluators ahead of April 28.
Don’t let the narrative of a quiet couple of years suggest that Stingley got worse during college. NFL teams are going to bet it all on his talent.
We had Stingley going to the Vikings at 12 overall in our recent mock draft. But he could well go much earlier.
We believe that he’s going to excel as a pro and could become one of the best cover corners around.
1. Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, Cincinnati
A key member of Cincinnati’s incredible run to the College Football Playoff Semi-finals in 2021, Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner is in contention to become a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.
He’s a tall cornerback with exceptional athletic traits. Beyond his size, Gardner is an extremely talented football player and has great ball skills.
Gardner has great experience playing man coverage, he’s been the best in the country at it over the last couple of years. But he can also play in zone coverage or from off alignments.
His versatility, along with his incredible athleticism and instinctive decision making, makes him such an exciting prospect.
There is still need from a lot of development, but Gardner possess that swagger that will help him go all the way to becoming an elite corner in the NFL.
Without doubt, Gardner will certainly be one of the earliest selections at the 2022 NFL Draft.
