2020 NFL Draft preview: Who are the top cornerbacks and safeties?

Troy Pride Jr. (Sr., Notre Dame, 5-11, 193)

Pride is a plus athlete with sprinter speed which he relies upon to cover up his undeveloped technique. Projected: 3rd or 4th round

Cameron Dantzler (Jr., Mississippi St., 6-2, 188)

Size and lack of elite speed may force move to safety. Dantzler is a good tackler with aggressive tendencies in coverage. Projected: 3rd to 5th round

Javelin Guidry (Jr., Utah, 5-9, 191)

Size is an issue, but Guidry is FAST (he was 100-meter champion in both Texas and California during an illustrious high school track career). He could shine in some sort of hybrid nickel role. Projected: 4th to 7th round

Lamar Jackson (Sr., Nebraska, 6-2, 208)

Jackson's best traits are his physicality and size. He has a strong man-to-man skills, but lacks elite speed. Projected: 5th round to UFA

Stanford Samuels III (Jr., Florida St., 6-1, 187)

Samuels is a physical bump-and-run corner with solid ball skills (eight interceptions in 24 starts) and decent quickness. Projected: 6th round to UFA

Safeties:

Alohi Gilman (Jr., Notre Dame, 5-10, 201)

Gilman is more effective closer to the line of scrimmage. He set a Notre Dame single-game record with 19 tackles as a sophomore (vs. Clemson). Projected: 4th to 6th round

Julian Blackmon (Sr., Utah, 6-0, 187)

Blackmon excelled at both cornerback (four interceptions in 2017) and strong safety (four interceptions in 2019) for the Utes. Projected: 5th to 7th round

L'Jarius Sneed (Sr., Louisiana Tech, 6-0, 192)

Sneed returned at least one interception for a touchdown in three of his four seasons. No FBS player had more over that time period. Projected: 5th to 7th round

K'Von Wallace (Sr., Clemson, 5-11, 206)

Wallace is a three-year starter (and team captain) who is built like a cornerback, but plays like a safety with elite awareness. Projected: 5th to 7th round