Scouting Bucs’ Formal Visits: CB

With the NFL Mix within the rearview mirror, we at Pewter Report have you ever lined on which prospects the Bucs have spoken to. Over the subsequent two weeks, I’m going to offer you, the reader, with transient scouting reviews on the gamers the crew had formal visits with. You possibly can take a look at our first article on the extensive receivers right here. We are actually on to cornerbacks.

Shavon Revel – ECU

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Picture courtesy of ECU

Top – 6’2

Weight – 194

Arm Size – 32.625″

40 – N/A

Broad – N/A

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle – N/A

Only a few corners on this draft class can match the bodily traits of Revel. His velocity, explosiveness and motion abilities are Zyon McCollum-esque. And he could also be simply as uncooked of a prospect. Revel performed in simply three video games final yr earlier than an ACL tear ended his season prematurely. He had simply 15 profession begins at ECU during the last three seasons, and he will likely be 23 when the 2025 season begins.

However man, the high-end reps present a giant, bodily nook who can play man protection towards any of the high-end receivers within the NFL. Revel’s closing velocity and second response reps are scary good. There are only a few gamers who he can not outrun when wanted. However Revel’s play recognition and understanding of route developments as they relate to his zone protection assignments can go away him chasing. He additionally had a comparatively low stage of competitors to go together with his lack of expertise.

Revel’s missed sort out fee is extremely low and certainly will likely be engaging to the Bucs. And people tackles include a reasonably large pop for his place. He additionally brings power and energy to his engagement on the line of scrimmage along with his jams. He enjoys re-routing receivers to the sideline and experience them out of bounds and out of the development.

Whereas he nonetheless has lots to study in zone protection, he’ll nonetheless enter the league as a participant who will assault and pinch routes on the stem, forcing receivers to play sturdy by means of the catch level. However it’ll additionally go away him inclined for routes growing behind him in addition to double strikes. And whereas his quantity of ball manufacturing could seem low in comparison with his friends, he’s the one participant on this listing with a ball manufacturing fee north of three%.

East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. has actually spectacular response abilities + potential to search out the ball in section to go along with his size and athleticism.

Revel had 14 compelled incompletions in 15 video games the final two seasons. pic.twitter.com/6C9ACUT81k

Revel is presently seen as a late first-round or early second-round choose.

Profession Stats (through PFF) – 55 tck, 12 atck, 5.6% MTR, 21 stops, 0 FF, 43.1% catch fee allowed, 1.05 yds/cov rep, 3 INT, 12 PBU, 14 FI

Benjamin Morrison – Notre Dame

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morris – Picture by: USA At present

Top – 6’0

Weight – 193

Arm Size – 30.375″

40 – N/A

Vert – N/A

Broad – N/A

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle – N/A

Morrison is a tall nook with clean drops into deep zones. His protection grades in man and zone have been almost equivalent for almost all of his profession at Notre Dame, however I fear about how his stiffer hips will maintain up within the NFL. And this was earlier than Morrison went beneath the knife for a hip damage final yr.

Past that, he is a great participant who shortly acknowledges ideas. This provides Morrison a fast psychological set off to proactively pinch on routes and tighten throwing home windows. He additionally has a knack to desert his personal project to make a play elsewhere on the sector. And he not often guesses unsuitable. This has helped him rack up 12 interceptions and 23 compelled incompletions in simply 2.5 seasons. That certainly stands out to the Bucs, who’re searching for higher ball manufacturing than they’ve generated previously few seasons.

Due to his rehab we would not have testing for Morrison. However I don’t count on him to match the spectacular numbers of McCollum or Jamel Dean. I might classify him extra as a Carlton Davis III type-of athlete however with a lot shorter arms. His sub 31″ arms can be shorter than virtually each perimeter nook the Bucs have employed since Todd Bowles joined the crew in 2019. That will even be a part of the explanation why he struggles to persistently carry down ball carriers as a tackler. He’s not a robust hitter and fails to wrap up too usually.

However Morrison could be the smartest nook on this yr’s draft. And he can be a scheme match for the Bucs’ cover-3 heavy system. Add within the ball manufacturing and you may see why the crew has proven a cursory stage of curiosity.

Benjamin Morrison has actually nice instincts. I get the priority following 2024 however he might be a steal. pic.twitter.com/Da1nQprVjL

Morrison is presently seen as a second-round possibility on most consensus boards.

Profession Stats – 78 tck, 10 atck, 16.2% MTR, 26 stops, 0 FF, 45.7% catch fee allowed, 0.80 yds/cov rep, 12 INT, 9 PBU, 23 FI

Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston Picture by: USA At present

Top – 5’11

Weight – 183

Arm Size – 31″

40 – 4.28

Vert – 39.5″

Broad – 10’9

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle -N/A

Hairston is one in every of a number of corners on this draft who examine in at beneath 6 toes however play a lot larger and  extra bodily than their statures counsel. You possibly can see it in how he competes on the catch level and throws his all into every sort out try. He not often will get bullied on the high of the stem. Actually, it’s usually the alternative as he’s keen to get bodily and disrupt transitions.

His actions are explosive and compact, which suggests he has superior hip sink to react and drive down on curls and comebacks shortly. His 4.28 velocity is legit and exhibits up on movie. He stored up with Texas’ speedy receiving corps as a result of his fast foot velocity and willingness to open his tempo extensive.

He can open too extensive on horizontal stems giving area and alternative for well-timed throws and nuanced route runners to take benefit. That is additionally why he’s greatest in a zone system, the place he can maintain issues in entrance of him and drive down quite than throughout in section. Hairston can rely an excessive amount of on his closing velocity to struggle towards this and must tighten up his hip-transitions. He may even must clear medicals as he missed an honest chunk of time with a shoulder damage final yr.

Maxwell Hairston is a twitched up PLAYMAKER.

In 20 begins, Hairston has allowed a 72.7 passer ranking with 6 INTs and eight PBUs.

At 5’11 179lbs, Hairston is an asset coming downhill vs. the run/RPO sport, lacking solely 8% of tackles in 2023 as an outdoor CB.

Day 2 expertise, for now. pic.twitter.com/UiQtrxDsqH

Hairston is presently near Morrison on consensus boards as an early second-round possibility.

Profession Stats – 78 tck, 6 atck, 12.5% MTR, 23 stops, 3 FF, 63.7% catch fee allowed, 1.26 yds/cov rep, 6 INT, 8 PBU, 11 FI

Cobee Bryant – Kansas

Kansas CB Cobee Bryant and UNLV WR Ricky White – Picture by: USA At present

Top – 6’0

Weight – 180

Arm Size – 31.25″

40 – 4.53

Vert – N/A

Broad – N/A

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle – N/A

Bryant is one other standout run-defending nook in a category that has few. His slender body doesn’t match the physicality with which he performs. He’s an opportunistic playmaking zone nook who retains his eyes within the backfield and neatly takes calculated possibilities. Regardless of a scarcity of high finish velocity, he can shut/burst in shorter areas that make him best for a zone heavy scheme the place he can capitalize on his strengths by breaking on the ball within the air.

Bryant is fearless on the sector, throwing his all into each determination he makes. It’s that confidence that basically helps him stand out on tape. Clean hips and a willingness to make use of his fingers to remain hooked up to receivers by means of the stem of the route. That is a necessary ability to play on the subsequent stage. However equally as vital is understanding the right way to keep hooked up with out drawing flags, and Bryant toes the road fairly effectively.

He has smoother hips than I believe he’s given credit score for and makes use of leverage effectively. However he’ll battle in press and man protection as a result of his leaner body and slower lengthy velocity. A Cowl 2/3 – quarters heavy system will assist to reduce his weaknesses and maximize his strengths. I additionally suppose his aggressiveness, agility and tenacity may give him inside/exterior versatility to play the slot if want be. However it’s honest to marvel if his strengths as a run defender received’t totally translate to the subsequent stage given his mild weight.

I do know he’s 170 lbs however Cobee Bryant is one in every of my favourite gamers on this class. 11 INTs/16 PBUs/3 FF during the last 3 seasons and probably the most bodily CB in run help that I’ve watched pic.twitter.com/nWVzBC1vg0

Bryant is seen as a late day-two/early day-three choose in response to consensus boards at the moment.

Profession Stats – 125 tck, 19 atck, 14.3% MTR, 48 stops, 4 FF, 57.9% catch fee allowed, 1.12 yds/cov rep, 13 INT, 18 PBU, 24 FI

Jaylin Smith – USC

USC CB Jaylin Smith Picture by: USA At present

Top – 5’10.5

Weight – 187

Arm Size – 29.875″

40 – 4.45

Vert – 32.5″

Broad – 10’02

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle – N/A 

Smith was a enjoyable watch. He has nice foot velocity, which helps him hit over 20 MPH in actual sport settings. Even when his testing isn’t unbelievable, the tape is robust as a flexible defensive again who can transfer throughout the protection. Essentially the most spectacular a part of his sport is his twitchiness that enables him to remain hooked up to receivers as a greater man nook than as a zone dropper.

Smith, like Bryant, is a keen run defender with the very best profession cease fee, 6.31%, of any nook I’ve evaluated thus far. That is partly as a result of he has spent the vast majority of his profession inside taking part in the slot. He solely received prolonged motion on the perimeter this previous season. On the NFL stage, I believe he’s greatest as a nickel the place his run protection will likely be greatest utilized. He has higher press reps than different corners on this listing as a result of versatile joints that enable him to reflect and match fast changes.

Now whereas he’s a keen run defender, his tackling isn’t persistently sturdy. Normally, he lacks play power on the catch level and as a hitter as a result of a scarcity of dimension and mass. His footwork can get uneven and results in slower transitions throughout a number of planes. And when driving down on routes breaking in entrance of him, Smith doesn’t sink into his hips to blow up again to the road of scrimmage. You possibly can see this in his deceleration/acceleration numbers from his monitoring knowledge. That has contributed to his low ball manufacturing as effectively.

USC CB Jaylin Smith has some superior press man reps pic.twitter.com/Mlkhu2pXaE

Smith is presently projected to be a day-three choose.

Profession Stats – 147 tck, 33 atck, 11.3% MTR, 50 stops, 1 FF, 53.6% catch fee allowed, 0.76 yds/cov rep, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 7 FI

Tommi Hill – Nebraska

Nebraska CB Tommi Hill Picture by: USA At present

Top – 6’0.5

Weight – 213

Arm Size – 32.875″

40 – N/A

Vert – N/A

Broad – N/A

3-cone – N/A

Brief shuttle – N/A 

Hill is without doubt one of the thickest corners on this draft at 213 kilos. His construct would make him a robust candidate to maneuver to security. And that’s the place I believe he may be greatest as a match. His athleticism and route recognition would play up in that function and he would offer versatility that the Bucs would possibly discover alluring. It will additionally decrease one in every of my larger considerations for him which is restoration velocity.

Hill’s greatest trait are his eyes, as he retains them transferring continually between the quarterback and the routes growing round him. This leads him to creating performs in an instinctual method, as evidenced by his 3.29% ball manufacturing fee in 2023 when he was totally wholesome.

He will get excessive marks for his run protection from Professional Soccer Focus, however I’ve my considerations in his kind and willingness to stay his head in and actually blow up a play. And whereas others like his hip fluidity, I really feel like they’re a bit stiffer than most and that’s why he opens up and declares early which may result in receivers getting behind him.

Oh no, Shedeur. Late/dangerous determination = choose 6.

CB Tommi Hill is Nebraska’s high NFL man. Day 2 grade. pic.twitter.com/5cn0neGlmt

Hill is presently seen as a day-three choose by consensus boards.

Profession Stats – 61 tck, 13 atck, 10.8% MTR, 26 stops, 0 FF, 61.1% catch fee allowed, 1.00 yds/cov rep, 5 INT, 10 PBU, 10 FI

My present draft board options these corners within the following tiers:

Tier 2 – Shavon Revel

Tier 4 – Cobee Bryant

Tier 6 – Maxwell Hairston, Benjamin Morrison

Tier 7 – Jaylin Smith, Tommi Hill