By Dom C.
I’m going to start with this, the views expressed in this article are 100% my own and were not influenced by GreenBean, the New York Jets, Joe Douglas nor are they affiliated with any other group, sect, creed, race or color. I preface with that because I want to lead with this very bold statement – if we want to see the Jets take a significant step in 2022, the cornerback position may be the most pressing need for JD and staff to address.
Yes, I said it (cue the boos). The Jets are a team chock full of young players up and down the roster, especially at CB – this is a very true statement. A young team that is going to have to lick its wounds after a rough season. A season in which we, the fans, suffered through these very young Jets playing some historically bad defense. Is it just the fault of the CB’s? Undoubtedly no. No one person nor one position could stink up the joint as the Jets have at certain points of this year. So, I know what you are saying right now under your breath – corner? Really? Let’s break down why this makes sense.
- Lack of positional depth: We have witnessed the emergence of Bryce Hall in 2021 as well as some excellent play from the rookie SCB Michael Carter II. We sure have. Both of JD’s late round gems have really stood out and who doesn’t love to see it. There is nothing really much that I need to say about either guy – they are great young building blocks that have shown to be competent NFL players. After those two players, the questions begin. Brandin Echols, last year’s 6th round draft pick has flashed at times and has helped out in run support this season. Unfortunately, his most memorable moment is focused around an autographed Tom Brady football. PFF has his overall ranking at 46.6. He has been targeted 62 times this season and has allowed 40 receptions. I don’t think he is a cut candidate, but there is still some major development necessary before he is capable of anything more than a CB used on a limited basis in sub-packages. Javelin Guidry is a free agent (albeit an Exclusive Rights Free Agent) but should be retained considering he is only 23 and the financial commitment to retain him will be minimal. Guidry plays exclusively in the slot and has done a nice job over the past 2 years. A good depth piece for sure. Jason Pinnock, another 2021 draft pick (5th round) did not see many snaps at CB this year (the ones he did see were not all that good) and looks to have transitioned full time to free safety – where his length and athleticism may be a good fit for the Jets. UDFA Isaiah Dunn came in with a lot of hype in the pre-season but has not been able to contribute much of anything, let alone anything of value. Rachad Wildgoose and Lamar Jackson have both fluctuated up and down from practice squad to the active roster, but neither really contribute. With the exception of Guidry all the aforementioned players are under contract for next season – which is a good thing for the continuity of the CB room, which bodes well for their development. Can one of these guys take a Bryce Hall sized leap in 2022? I hope so, but I’d hate to have to rely on it. Addressing CB clearly can be addressed via the free agent route with the likes of JC Jackson, Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward and Donte Jackson – who are all young and all scheduled to be available. Regardless the avenue, CB is a major concern – as constituted, outside of Bryce Hall I struggle to find another true boundary CB currently on the roster. You may not like to admit it, but the CB room needs an influx of talent.
- Return of the injured players: I have stated in previous articles that I have written that I’d be OK with going a bunch of different ways in the draft because there are tons of positions where the Jets have holes to fill. Corner, safety, edge, OL, WR – just to name a few. We all know that the Jets have been riddled with injuries this season. Let’s start naming that guys who will or can possibly be back next year and be counted on to contribute. Edge – can’t wait to see Carl Lawson come back healthy, as he was our prized FA acquisition this past off-season. That is a no-brainer. We have also seen on a limited basis Bryce Huff’s talent as a situational pass rusher. Another full (and healthy) season of his development could pay handsome dividends for our pass rush. Vinny Curry, albeit a little long in the tooth can impact our pass rush at a situational basis as well. We didn’t get the chance to see him at all. We all know what Mekhi Becton’s absence meant for our offense. If he can stay healthy, his presence and value to the team is hard to ignore. Same with Connor McGovern, who after a slow start to the year really played well at center before his season ending injury. Can Cam Clark return and develop into the viable IOL we all hoped that we’d see in 2021? The WR room has also been walloped this year, but a healthy Corey Davis and Elijah Moore in 2022 bring some piece of mind. I think the Jets have signed and/or started 937 different safeties this year. Will we bring back Marcus Maye? I’d also love to see what Lamarcus Joyner can bring to the Salah defense. Both players are true question marks to return, but if they do I think I can sleep well at night knowing we are in a better position than we have now with the Davis/Riley/Pinnock combination.
- Draft value: The 2022 draft class is loaded at certain positions. However, it is very unbalanced at others – the positions we classify as the premium positions. It is an all-around deep class at safety, tight end and IOL and is very top-heavy at edge, WR, CB and OT. After the first 2 rounds, the talent takes a deep dip at the latter named positions. As it stands now, the Jets own premium draft capital with 5 picks falling in the top 70. The Jets currently stand 29th in passing yards allowed, 29th in interceptions, 31st in first downs allowed through the air and 30th in net yards gained per pass. Considering all of these points, JD and the rest of the Jets brass would be wise to buck their recent trend and invest in the CB position early in this draft.
Let’s take a little bit deeper of a dive at some of the cornerback prospects that we may see come April, as there is clear validity of need at the position. As always, it will be impossible to touch on all the draft prospects. The article will cover two higher-rated prospects, a mid-round target and one diamond in the rough late-round player that could come in and impress. There are names here that you are familiar with and some names you may not be. Hell, there are going to be some names not touched on at all that you will see drafted relatively early. The article is meant solely to be an informative tool that will hopefully entice you to research some of the players yourself and form your own opinions. That’s what we do here. On to the cornerbacks I’d love to see a part of Gang Green in 2022.
Derek Stingley, Jr.
Like it or not, it is relatively easy to label Derek Stingley, Jr. as one of the best cornerback prospects to come out of college in some time. He checks the necessary boxes with his size (6’1 190 lbs) speed (4.3 40-yard dash) and overall athleticism – all plus-plus traits that top cornerback prospects need. He is a cerebral athlete and plays with excellent anticipation – allowing him to jump routes and get accurate reads on the QB. He has those buttery hips that coaches and scouts drool over. Stingley’s top tier speed along with his agility allows him to stick in the hip pocket of the receiver he is defending like glue. His ball skills are also excellent – being a former wideout in high school, Stingley knows how to locate the ball well and always attacks the ball at its high point. He has an extremely solid incompletion rate on balls thrown his way – very similar to Bryce Hall. His strong hands and length allow him to win those battles more often than not. The level of competition he faced in the SEC shows that he is battle tested – starting at LSU since he was a true freshman. His overall “counting’’ stats may not jump off of the page, but it is more likely the fact that teams would literally avoid his side of the field. What really intrigues me about Stingley is his versatility – most of his snaps came in off coverage– which aligns as a perfect scheme fit for the Robert Salah defense, although he still has all the necessary traits to excel in M2M. He’s not a thumper but is a willing tackler. There is room for improvement in that area of his game. The biggest question that everyone is going to have about Derek Stingley is his lack of actual time on the field – a question that is very valid. Stingley has played 10 games in the past 27 months – some missed do to the COVID-19 pandemic and some due to lingering foot and ankle injuries – the foot injury required surgery this past October. Not great news for a DB who relies on change of direction and speed to play. Although all reports suggest that he will be fully healed by the time the combine comes around, the red flag has been planted. He will need crystal clear medicals and be able to test well at the combine to be cleared by some of this unfortunate scarlet letter. I know that I am in the minority of Jets fans when I say JD DRAFT THIS MAN. Of course, that is said with a grain of salt at this point in time, but if the medicals check out and he tests like the athlete he showed us on the field at LSU, The Jets must not hesitate to hand in the card with his name on it in early in Round 1. He is that special. I think he grades out as a better NFL prospect than both Jaycee Horn and Pat Surtain did last year, both of whom were top 10 draft picks. Lined up on one boundary with Bryce Hall on the other, the Jets would be cooking with heat at cornerback for many years to come. As stated before, there are some other nice 1st/2nd round talents at the position, but none compare to a healthy Derek Stingley, Jr (with an emphasis on the word healthy). I’m 100% strapped onto the Stingley train for the Jets.
Roger McCreary
Another SEC cornerback that can play. Surprised, huh? The senior from Auburn stands 6’0’ and weighs 195 pounds. A consensus All-SEC selection this season and a semi-finalist for the Bednarik Award given to college football’s top defensive player, this guy comes to play. Another CB prospect who has the size that JD seems to like on the boundary, McCreary made the right decision returning for his senior year. After his junior season, there was a little hype around him but still some questions about his style of play and NFL scheme fit, and his size/strength. As a junior, he was tabbed as a late-round selection if he had declared. Instead, McCreary went to work on being the best. Recommitted on getting stronger and improving his game mentality, McCreary came back with a vengeance. I can see Robert Salah in a press conference saying “McCreary…he a dawg”. That is how he plays – aggressive with excellent closing skills and route anticipation. He has a pure athleticism that looks like at times he is shot out of a cannon. There are times that his litheness outshines his football IQ – he can get caught in some precarious positions – only saved by his God-given athletic ability. Well versed in press-man as well as off-man, cover-2, and cover-3 schemes from his time at Auburn, the adjustment to the pro-style of game, especially in the Salah defense should be fluid. McCreary does not play very physically and has a hard time shedding blocks and at times, has shown to be a lunging type of tackler. These habits can be coached up. He does possess all the intangibles that cannot be coached – fluid hips, 4.4 speed which allows him to stay stride for stride with the receiver, and excellent boundary technique. He tracks the deep ball as well as any CB in this draft. Roger will be pigeonholed as a pure boundary defender – if there was an Achilles heel to his defensive game this past season it was staying with the short-to-intermediate crossing routes. Good thing is that the Jets do not need another slot CB – they need one who can play outside and flip flop from press to off the ball when asked. There has been some buzz of him reaching the first round, and although I wouldn’t say it is a reach, I see him more as a second-round talent – one that comes off the board after the likes of Stingley, Sauce Gardner, Elam, Trent McDuffie, and Kyler Gordon. He could be a perfect target with one of our second-rounders if the Jets choose to address different positional needs in the first. Adding McCreary to Hall wouldn’t be a bad Batman and Robin scenario for the Jets defense.
Coby Bryant
This year’s mid-round darling is not the Kobe Bryant you’re thinking of. Unfortunately, I can say that with certainty. This Coby wears #7 (not #8 or #24), wore black and red (not purple and gold), and is as smooth of a defensive football player you will find in the college ranks. High praise for someone who was not even the best cornerback on his team. Bryant was overshadowed by his running mate the past few years Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner although both had a big part to play in the Cincinnati Bearcat’s memorable run this season. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better cornerback duo in the nation than the tandem that Cincinnati put out. Make no mistake, playing across from a sure-fire first-round pick such as Gardner has its challenges. It means that the offense consistently looked his way. What did the 6’1 200-pound redshirt senior do with that? He stepped up and excelled. In 4 years as a starter after his redshirt season, Bryant amassed 161 tackles, 38 passes defended, 10 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. Not too shabby. A true outside CB, Bryant has a nose for the ball. His instincts to make the big play stood out as I watched and reviewed Cincinnati games from this past season. Whether it was his ball-hawking prowess, Bryant delivering a big hit or just neutralizing the receiver with excellent press technique – it is clear that Bryant is a player that will make a name for himself in the league. He has that killer instinct that one wants as a defensive player – always hustling and playing right through the whistle. Bryant earned the 2021 Jim Thorpe award given to college football’s best defensive back, beating out Oregon’s Vernon McKinley and Baylor’s Jalen Pitre for the honor. As I opened with, he has smooth footwork and technique, making the work he does on the field look effortless. He won’t test out as the fastest CB but is far from slow and his sheer athletic prowess and quickness allow him to re-engage easily if a receiver gets a step on him. Cincinnati played a lot of press-man coverage, so scouts will need to see how capable his off-ball skills are. A product that sounds so good is not always perfect – Bryant is a graduate student and will be an older 24 by the time April rolls around, which will immediately cause him to fall on some draft boards. His quick read, handsy style of play tended to draw the ire of some referees as well this past season. He’ll need to cut down the penalties at the next level. Coby Bryant is a top 125 overall prospect and should hear his name called at some point in round 2 or round 3. Bryant has the physical tools to make an immediate impact on whatever team does take him. I could see him developing to elite status over time with good coaching, very similar to the path taken by Darius Slay of the Eagles. If he is there in the third round or early fourth for the Jets, it would be a no-brainer for me – even despite his age. The kid has that mamba mentality, similar to his namesake.
Joshua Williams
You really want to talk a late-round diamond in the rough? Let us take a ride down to Fayetteville, North Carolina straight to Division II Fayetteville State, and talk about Joshua Williams. Standing 6’3’’, weighing 195 pounds, and timed in the 4.4 to 4.5 range, the long-limbed Williams has the weight of the small school world on his shoulders. He is trying to be the first player from Fayetteville St ever to be drafted. Let it be known, there is a good chance that does happen. Possessing excellent footwork and a smooth backpedal along with uncanny ball skills, Williams has everything that NFL teams covet at the position. A true dominator in college, Williams is a true do-it-all cornerback. He can play press, off-man, or zone comfortably and fluidly. His college career ended with 75 tackles, 22 passes defended, and 5 interceptions – two of which were returned for touchdowns. His cover abilities shine through on the limited film and highlight tapes out there on him. He stays in tight coverage mostly all the time and puts his 33-inch arms to good use, easily allowing him a good jam when in press. Williams, being as tall and lanky as he is, does struggle at times sinking his hips and lowering his pad level coming in and out of breaks. With all that being said, the elephant in the room that sits square upon the shoulders of Williams – clear concerns regarding the caliber of play he faced in college. Although he stood out, the talent level of the offenses he played against was not what some of the other corners in the draft lined up against. Williams will get to show what he is made of and if his skills can stand toe to toe against higher-level talent in the coming weeks in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, being the only D-II invitee at the game. It is hard not to see a little Richard Sherman in his game – both are long and lean with a knack for finding the ball and making plays. He will be a project for most NFL teams and may have to spend some time in the weight room getting stronger early in his career, but we know that you cannot coach size and length, and those attributes that were gifted to him will have some teams clamoring for him come Day 3. Williams feels like one of those JD late-round specials, and for a man that big who moves that well….special just may be the right word to describe him.
You can line up your tomatoes and fire away at me at will – I am prepared. Short-term memory is both a blessing and a curse and it is something that a lot of Jets fans carry with them. JD has yet to spend high draft capital at cornerback during his tenure calling the shots – that is what most fans will cling to. This draft class is different, as there is a precipitous drop-off in talent after day two. The situation of the roster is also different, with some major firepower needed in the cornerback room. One thing is for sure: if the Jets do take an early swing at CB, I’m confident us Jets fans will not be disappointed. In fact, I think in hindsight that we will all see how important it was for our team to take the next step.
How dark it was before the dawn!
Let’s go Jets.
Good stuff right here
Great job Dom. Please put me on mailing list.
Ron Moelake Loizzo
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
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