The cornerback spot is one of the prime positions in football and if a true lockdown cover man is available at the top of the draft, he will be in the top five overall discussion. In a cornerback class that is very muddy right now in terms of where they rank and project, Auburn’s junior Carlton Davis has as good a chance as anyone to be the top one. The three-year starter is quietly the best player on one of the most dominant defenses in the country. Opposing quarterbacks hate to look his way, as seen with the minimal passes thrown in his direction week after week.
What He Does Well:
At 6’1 with long arms and upper tier speed, Davis is a cornerback with a ton of range. His reach-radius has been the trend at the position that scouts and coaches alike are always looking for. There is more to him than his size, however. Davis is a very smooth turn and run athlete who can stop, redirect, and burst after diagnosing what his man is doing. For such a high-hipped build, he has plus agility. When he gets matched up in press coverage, the initial jab is powerful enough and he times it very well with his footwork and hip movement. In addition to his ability to factor against the pass, Davis is a plus run defender who will not hesitate to take on a physical downhill ball carrier.
Where He Needs Work:
With as much experience as Davis has under his belt, he doesn’t show enough consistency with his technique. He gets very high in his backpedal, leaving him vulnerable to quick route runners and sudden-vertical speed. He is going to be a player who always needs to pay attention to detail post-snap. Davis also will get a little too hand-reliant when trying to locate the deep pass intended for his man. He doesn’t trust himself to locate the ball with balance and proper positioning.