#241: 2021 Dash To The Draft (CB/S with Jeff Barnes)

Sports Krunch w/DKROM

1. This has been a rather rough week for one of the top CB prospects in this draft class, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley. This week, his draft stock may have taken a hit as he underwent a microdisectomy procedure on his back on Tuesday. This is the second back operation he’s had in 15 months (he underwent surgery due to a pinched nerve in his back in December 2019). Many analysts had him as the top corner on their boards prior to this latest news. Even though you weren’t one of those analysts, why do you think so many regarded him that way and still do? Assuming he’ll be ready for training camp, is he still worth a top 15-20 pick in your eyes or should his worrisome history of back problems make him fall further down the board in your opinion?

2. The top corner on your board at the moment is the guy who many had running neck-and-neck with Caleb Farley as the top-rated corner in this draft prior to these latest developments, and that is Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II. The son of All Pro CB Patrick Surtain, Sr., Surtain II was arguably THE cornerstone to the 2020 National Championship Crimson Tide’s defense. Moreover, Alabama’s associate DC Charles Kelly compared the younger Surtain to Jalen Ramsey, whom Kelly also coached in college. Do you think Patrick Surtain II can eventually reach the current level of Jalen Ramsey, who is arguably the best corner in the NFL right now?

3. As rough as a week as it was for Caleb Farley, this was a fantastic week for South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. The son of long-time Saints WR Joe Horn, Jaycee absolutely tore it up at the South Carolina Pro Day yesterday, posting strikingly similar numbers to Patrick Surtain II. Does the tantalizing upside Horn offers make him worth a top-15 pick in your view, and would it surprise you if he eventually turns out to be the best corner from this class?

4. A corner that is likely shooting up draft boards at the moment is Eric Stokes of Georgia. Stokes may have the best ball skills of any corner in this class (he totaled four interceptions this year, and only allowed a 38.5 percent completion rate when targeted), and he displayed some freakishly athletic traits at the Georgia Pro Day (ran a 4.31 in the 40, and posted a 38.5” vertical). However, he also posted some very concerning numbers in the agility drills (a 6.96 three-cone time, which puts him in the 7thpercentile, and a 4.36 20-yard shuttle time, which puts him in the 9thpercentile). Are those times enough to push him out of the first round entirely in your view?

5. This year’s safety crop is rather poor, but it has a consensus name at the top of the list in TCU’s Trevon Moehrig. What makes him the best safety in this class?

6. A safety that has seen a pretty meteoric rise up draft boards since he stole the show at the Senior Bowl is Richie Grant of UCF. There is buzz around the league that he could end up as a top-50 pick. Do you think that’s mainly because of the poor depth of this safety class or does his talent warrant such value? If this draft had a more typical group of safeties, where would he go?

7. Buy Or Sell

-Greg Newsome (Northwestern): Buy

-Elijah Molden (Washington): Buy

-Kelvin Joseph (Kentucky): Sell

-Tyson Campbell (Georgia): Buy as a sub-package player (early day three)

-Asante Samuel, Jr. (Florida State): Buy

-Jamar Johnson (Indiana): Sell

-Jevon Holland (Oregon): Buy

-Hamsah Nasrildeen (Florida State): Buy

8. Best Team Fits

-Caleb Farley: Cowboys, Lions

-Patrick Surtain II: Patriots, 49ers

-Jaycee Horn: Vikings, Chiefs

-Eric Stokes: Seahawks, Jets, 49ers

-Greg Newsome: Broncos

-Asante Samuel, Jr.: Colts

-Elijah Molden: Any zone-heavy team (Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers)

-Trevon Moehrig: Falcons

-Richie Grant: Cardinals, Giants

-Jevon Holland: Lions