1. Christian Gonzalez – Oregon

6’1″ 197 lbs.
The long corner from Oregon is projected as the first defensive back off the board in the 2023 NFL draft. One of the main reasons why Gonzalez is such a high valued prospect is because of his physicality at the line of scrimmage, and his long speed to chase balls down in the air. With fluid hips and good footwork, Gonzalez turns well on a receivers break rarely losing reps. Playing as an outside corner, he understands that he has a teammate named the sideline, and forces receivers to the boundary. If a quarterback tries to throw the ball into the tight window Gonzalez creates, the ball usually ends up in the dirt as he is extremely physical at the point of reception. He has the size to go toe to toe with any receiver on the outside, and is very disciplined with his physicality, not overcommitting with contact at the line of scrimmage. He adjusts well when the ball is in the air, and is super quick out of his break. González does a good job of turning his head and locating the ball when covering the deep third. Covering shorter routes, Christian reaches around the receiver rather than through them when the ball is thrown. His physicality isn’t just at the snap of the ball, he disrupts receivers routes and timing as he eats up space and gets hands on the receiver during their stem. When tackling, he seems more angry rather than technical. He does do a good job of setting the edge, and demonstrated good aggression on the boundary, but you would like to see him clean up his form. Wasn’t an uncommon to see Gonzalez get flagged for being too physical. He gets a little grabby on breaks as he doesn’t possess the short speed some smaller twitchier receivers do. He is going to go in the top 10 to a team that is looking for a corner that is reliable on the outside. 

2. Devon Witherspoon – Illinois

5’11 1/2″ 181 lbs.
Devon Witherspoon has amazing instincts and blew plays up countless times at Illinois. His play recognition paired with his burst to the ball gave blockers a tough task to get a hand on him before he was behind the line on scrimmage. Witherspoon challenges the 50/50 ball well against larger receivers. He gets his head turned around, hands on his target, and puts himself in a position to make a play on the ball every time. He played a variety of roles for the Illini defense, lining up in press man, in off coverage, and in the slot. I like him more as an off coverage defender because he shows great quickness but lacks the long speed. Witherspoon got beat several times over the top by a speedier receiver in his college career.  When playing the flat he does a great job of handing off the deep route and sitting down looking inside for the crosser over the middle. He disguises well at the line of scrimmage when sent on a corner blitz, not alerting the quarterback pre snap. When playing against the run, he shows good downfield pursuit, maintaining the edge to turn the runner inside, but also attacking that outside shoulder to make a play on the ball. With that big hit ability comes some unorthodox tackling, putting himself in a bad spot to get injured or flagged. Another flaw in Witherspoon’s game is his contact during receivers routes, often times being too grabby on a receivers cuts. Unfortuantely he could be manipulated due to his love to read the quarterback, and could get burnt with the double move. Despite these apparent flaws, Witherspoon should go at the tail end of the top 10, or sneak to a team like the Patriots at 14. 

3. Joey Porter Jr. – Penn State

6’2 1/2″ 193 lbs.
Joey Porter Jr is a prototypical press man corner as he is physical at the line of scrimmage, and possesses the speed to stick with any receiver. He understands where he is on the field, squeezing receivers into the sideline, or playing closer to the ball and trailing when in the endzone. Shows good good eyes and feel when playing zone, not getting caught watching. Great hand fighting when the ball is snapped not being too grabby. Instead Porter Jr punches well and adjusts to the receivers stem. Not only is he physical in coverage and the line of scrimmage, Porter also packs a punch in the run game. Not afraid to set the edge, or blow plays up with his instincts. He isn’t as technically sound as you would like, often letting receivers close the gap between them, setting himself up for the double move. He needs to clean up his footwork, he was getting beat inside on the slant too many times. Super sticky in coverage, sometimes being a little too grabby which will get called at the next level. With the right development polishing up his fundamentals, he could be a teams premiere corner. Look out for Joey Porter Jr. going in the high teens in the first round. 

4. Brian Branch – Alabama

6’0″ 190 lbs.
The annual first round defensive back from Alabama is 2023 Brian Branch. Branch was tasked with playing the difficult role of slot corner in Nick Saban’s defense, and he did an exceptional job. Branch is able to play against bigger receiving threats with the help of his long extremities, and against twitchy slot receivers thanks to his quick feet and great downfield pursuit at the release of the football. He trades releases very well, anticipates the run route coming, and has the burst to finish the play with a pass break up. Branch plays the curl exceptionally well, always reading receivers body language, and getting his eyes on the quarterback. When tasked with sending some heat at the quarterback, he blitzes well off the edge blowing up plays before they have time to develop. He makes sure to take up as much space as possible if he can’t get home to sack the passer. He sets the edge well on outside runs turning the ball back inside to his linebackers. Despite him playing in the box a lot, he does lack some muscle, often getting pushed around or carried by bigger backs. Branch is also a little grabby and handsy at a receivers break which will almost always get flagged at the next level. With the help of him being a slot corner, and a super intelligent player, he should go within the top 20 picks of the first round. 

5. Deonte Banks – Maryland

6’0″ 197 lbs.
Deonte Banks stock rose once he ran a 4.35 40 at the 2023 NFL. It also helps that he’s one of the bigger corners, weighing in at 205 pounds, and measuring up at 6’2”. Banks showed scouts that he is able to play press man, and off coverage at the next level. He loved to be physical at the line of scrimmage, and has lots of confidence to go toe to toe with any receiver. He has super fluid hips, putting himself in good position when transitioning into a trail technique. Banks is able to challenge receivers at the catch point with his length and awareness to locate the ball in the air. On underneath routes, he plays downhill when the ball is thrown, closer space between him and the receiver. Due to an injury plagued season in 2021, and not the most statistically impressive season in 2022, teams might not be so high on Banks as he hasn’t proven himself fully. His technique when pressing needs improvement, he tends to 2 hand jab receivers at the snap of the ball, which could set himself up to get beat early by a veteran receiver. He is too grabby throughout the route, he needs to rely on his length and speed to keep up with receivers. When playing zone he loves to jump routes and make the big play, but he needs to be more disciplined in zone coverage or else a good offensive coordinator will have field day on this young corner. Banks should go in the first round of the draft thanks to the intangibles he possesses. 

6. Emmanuel Forbes – Mississippi state

6’1″ 166lbs.
Emmanuel Forbes is a true ball hawk playing the corner position. As a former wide receiver, Forbes high points the ball and has great hands. Forbes is a playmaker once he gets the ball in his hands too, which isn’t uncommon. I’m his career at Mississippi state, Forbes intercepted sec quarterbacks x times, housing it for x scores. He is the most statistically impressive corner in this draft thanks to his ball skills.  Forbes possesses a smaller frame compared to these other top corners. Considered a “lightweight” due to him being less than 170 pounds. Despite this, Forbes does play well through contact and does a good job of contesting each catch. With a quick back pedal, and good long speed, not many are able to create separation when running a deep route. As a former receiver he has a good understanding of what his opposition is trying to do to him. Forbes is an adequate defender against the run, he shows enthusiasm to stump the run and set the edge, but really lacks the size and strength to really be considered reliable. He also shows poor pursuit angles, a misjudgement of speed, and lacks technique when tackling. With these key issues to highlight, I have him dropping to day 2.