Okay then, I'm not putting as much energy into CBs as I did last year, it seems like most of the competition will be for Practice Squad slots or nickelback.
Round one: Darrelle Revis and Leon Hall, I expect them to be long gone by #24.
Round Two: This is where I believe the Pats will first have CBs to consider.
Jonathan Wade (Tennessee): He caught my eye at the Combine, looking much smoother in drills than I had expected from a player classified as a track athlete. Reportedly he had a good season, one where people noted his performance looked more like a football player and less like a track star. I watched him in the Senior Bowl and saw some good and some work needed - if BB wants a project with a high ceiling, this would be a good kid.
Josh Wilson (Maryland): Excellent nickelback prospect, tough man cover guy, smurf, very good Senior Bowl.
A.J. Davis (NC State): The write-ups talk about his quicks and how he doesn't bite on fakes, excellent in coverage. Reported to be an okay tackler, but needs work.
Round Three
Michael Coe (Alabama State): Lost his job to Houston at Arkansas, transferred for his Senior year. Compares to Cory Webster.
Fred Bennett (South Carolina): Adequate cover corner with decent read/react skills. Reluctant in run support, but has been contacted by the Patriots.
Fifth Round
Ryan Smith (Florida): Started 32 of 35 games played at Utah and Florida. Small, wiry kid who will stick his nose in on run support and likes to hit, but his size limits his impact. Compares to Ray Mickens and is worth consideration for nickelback.
Corey Graham (New Hampshire): Productive CB/KR coming off a broken leg.
Courtney Brown (Cal Poly): Big athletic CB who excelled at the lower level and had an outstanding Pro-Day.
Sixth Round
DeAndre Jackson (Iowa State): Four year starter, KR, coming off an ACL injury.
Reggie Lewis (Florida): Converted WR, borderline straightline speed, but very good change of direction numbers. Raw talent that could be developed on the Practice Squad. Has had off-field issues, reportedly fought with a coach in High School, has a chip on his shoulder and may be a locker room issue - then again, Rodney has a chip to match any he might have.
Larry Anam (BC): Athletic CB/FS with great straightline speed and good change of direction numbers from his Pro-day. Won award as student athlete who best met the ideal for BC athletes on and off the field.
Seventh Round
Alan Ball (Illinois): Four year starter, finished #3 in Big 10 for passes defended in conference games.
Tim Mixon (California): Nickelback prospect/PR. Missed 06 season with ACL injury. Considered by many to be the more well-rounded athlete when paired with Daymeion Hughes, team leader, high character player.
John Talley (Duke): Highly productive CB in the ACC, borderline athlete.
Usama Young (Kent State): Three year starter, physical, knack for the ball, good tackler, good Pro-day numbers, recruited to Kent State by Dean Pees. If the Pats want him, they may have to go day one per a story in the Ravenna Record Courier.
UDFA
Trumaine McBride (Mississippi): Three year starter, smurf, team leader, looked good in Combine drills, Pro-day numbers improved on borderline Combine numbers.
Marcus Hamilton (Virginia): Three year starter, finished career tied with Ronde Barber for third in school record in interceptions, good run support.
William Gay (Louisville): Began starting as a true freshman, had five interceptions, 55 tackles, two sacks and 11 pass breakups this season. The Pats need another Gay CB.
Antonio Smith (Ohio State): Selected by his teammates as the winner of the Bo Rein Award as the team's most inspirational player. Smith, a former walk-on, was converted to scholarship in the spring and wound up winning first-team All-Big Ten honors this season.
Calvin Bannister (Hampton): Smurf, Rated the best man coverage defender in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks by the NFL Draft Report.
Mike Richardson (Notre Dame): If not a typo, his Pro-day 3-cone is the best in the draft. Seemd the best of a weak secondary when I watched games live.
Joe Garcia (Nevada): String bean, had a decent Hula Bowl.
Ramzee Robinson (Alabama): Smurf, team leader, three year starter.
