tcu-jason-verrett-ap-photo.jpg
TCU CB Jason Verrett.
(AP Photo)
Heading into the 2014 NFL Draft on May 8, we'll be profiling some of the top players that project to be a good fit with for the New England Patriots. The series continues today with TCU cornerback Jason Verrett. Click here to see the full series.
School
: Texas Christian
Position
: Cornerback
Height
: 5-foot-9
Weight
: 189 pounds
Jason Verrett may be one of the shortest cornerbacks in this year's draft class, but he may also have the best pure coverage skills.
The TCU product is quick, makes good reads and does a good job tracking the ball. On the other hand, he gets out-leveraged by larger receivers and can get swallowed when blockers get him squared up. In a rapidly evolving league, does Verrett get points for an ability to thrive in a wide open passing game or see his stock drop as teams get bigger?
The biggest takeaway after watching Verrett on tape is how often he simply blankets the guy he's covering and the different spots he does it from. Verrett plays both outside corner positions and occasionally drops back into a safety-type position (I didn't see him take any snaps while covering the slot).
At that outside corner position, he showcased his ability to work with a cushion and also line up right at the line of scrimmage and run with his man on an island. Verrett reads plays well and usually has a grasp on where the offense is going to to with the ball. Rarely did I see him fooled on a play or beaten cleanly on a route. His ball skills could use a little work. There were a couple spots where he failed to locate the ball or turn around, which drew him a couple flags.
Verrett's quickness and top-end speed are what allow him to stick with receivers even with a short cushion. He showed that off at the combine, posting a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and a 6.67-second 3-cone drill. It's that one-on-one coverage scenario that likely generates the most concern for NFL teams. He looked great in that spot in college, didn't show any ability to play much bump-and-run coverage. That may have a good thing for TCU, since there aren't too many guys he can press at the line. However, that's definitely a knock on his stock
Verrett was picked on an awful lot for a cornerback with his reputation. This is likely a result of teams trying to get a mismatch between him and a taller receiver. However, it's also led to him leading the NCAA with 38 passes defended over the past two seasons with 38 (30 deflections and eight interceptions).
Don't let Verrett's size fool you -- he's quite versatile. For example, take TCU's 2013 matchup against LSU, a team with two early draft picks at wide receiver (Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham), two running backs that went to the combine (Jeremy Hill, Alfred Blue) and a QB that will likely be drafted despite a knee injury (Zach Mettenberger). During that game, arguably his best of the season, Verrett showed the following:
• His versatility to line up at safety, playing deep zone in the center of the field, kind of like Devin McCourty did at time when he was mainly a corner, makes a good plays on the ball.
• Solid tackling, not just for his size. Verrett brought down the 6-foot, 233-pound Jeremy Hill and 6-foot-2, 223-pound Alfred Blue in the open field.
• Blitzed off the corner, recording the sack.
• Showed that his size is an issue, got out-leveraged by 5-foot-11 Odell Beckham.
• Let Beckham get behind him on another play, but showed the recovery speed, athleticism and ball skills to break up the deep ball intended for him.
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There are a number of 5-foot-10 cornerbacks in the NFL (Patriots CB Alfonzo Dennard to name one), but once the height dips below that threshold, it gets hard for prospects to get a chance. In the 2013 NFL Draft, the first 5-foot-9 defensive back wasn't selected until Leon McFadden and Tyrann Mathieu were taken with back-to-back picks at No. 68 and No. 69, respectively. In 2012, there wasn't a single cornerback taken that was listed a 5-foot-9 or lower.
You can never have enough cornerbacks. This will be especially true if Aqib Talib ends up leaving via free agency. Still, there will always be a need for cornerback help in the NFL, especially a versatile one with Verrett's skills in coverage.
Are the Patriots comfortable with a cornerback depth chart of Alfonzo Dennard, Logan Ryan and Kyle Arrington behind Talib? When everyone's healthy, maybe. However, Talib, Dennard and Ryan aren't the fastest group of corners in the league, which has left the secondary vulnerable to some of the league's burners whenever Arrington can't match up. The Patriots can do a solid job of handling bigger receivers when Talib is healthy (see: Julio Jones, Jimmy Graham early in 2013), but struggle at times with deep threats (see: Josh Gordon, T.Y. Hilton, even Steve Smith). Perhaps it's time to get faster.
Although his size remains an issue, Verrett still ranks high for most scouts. He'll likely be available at the end of Round 1, but would be a much better value if the Patriots trade down into Round 2 or sit pat on Day 2 and see if teams balk at taking a shorter cornerback.
There's a clear top tier or Justin Gilbert and Darqueze Dennard in this year's cornerback crop. Verrett's draft position will likely depend on how teams feel about him compared to other second-tier prospects like Bradley Roby, Loucheiz Purifoy and Kyle Fuller.