A compelling storyline heading into the 2022 NFL draft is who will be the first cornerback off the board. Some analysts have been eyeing LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. in the top spot ever since his freshman season in 2019. Others have elevated Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner to the head of the class following his performance at the NFL combine. Washington’s Trent McDuffie also is in the mix.
As the draft approaches, these three cornerbacks are being evaluated, compared and contrasted with each other. Draft guides and scouting reports sometimes provide too much information, making it difficult to come to a conclusion on the guy.
Teams will be considering how each prospect’s style of play fits with their defense. With that in mind, let’s examine Stingley, Gardner and McDuffie to identify how they fit in the three defensive schemes: zone, man and match coverage.
