Part 8, DB: Film vs. 40 debate rages
Scouts viewed this as a special cornerback class. Then, they were clocked in the 40-yard dash. It all makes stacking this Terrion Arnold-led group a difficult task for NFL clubs, writes Bob McGinn.
This is the 40th year that Bob McGinn has written his NFL Draft Series. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-’17), BobMcGinn Football (2018-’19), The Athletic (2020-’21) and GoLongTD.com (2022-’24). Until 2014, many personnel people were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts. The average score for NFL prospects on the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic test is about 19.
By Bob McGinn
In late February, with the NFL scouting combine a few days away, an experienced personnel man took stock of the class of cornerbacks about to enter the 2024 draft.
“In all the years I’ve done this I don’t know if I’ve seen corners like this,” the scout said. “There are so many potential first-round corners. They all have decent size. Looks like they all can run. There’s not much that separates them. It’s all going to come down to Indianapolis for them.”
The two (sometimes one, by choice) consequential 40-yard dashes each cornerback must confront and conquer, either at the Lucas Oil Stadium combine or the campus pro day, influences draft boards league-wide probably more than any position. But this year, after the 40’s were run, the balloon popped on the cornerback draft.