Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Erik Lambert
The 2017 NFL draft class is overflowing with potential quality cornerbacks. Where does Cameron Sutton sit on that long food chain?
Position: CB
School: Tennessee
Year: Senior
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 186 lbs
STRENGTHS:
- Does not fear contact at all. Throws his body into plays as a tackler and isn’t shy about using his hands violently with the receiver in press coverage.
- Impressive acceleration. Lends well both to his ability to explode into the backfield on tackles for loss and recovering if he’s initially beat by the wide receiver downfield.
- Shows fluidity in his hips as he can flip them back and forth when running forward or backward. Demonstrates his solid agility in coverage.
- Very quick reaction skills. The moment he sees where the ball is going he fires out of his stance towards it in order to limit extra yardage.
This play showcases all the things Sutton does well. His ability to follow where the football is going. The quick reaction to break to the spot and the explosive acceleration to cut off the pass. Then the strong hands and speed to easily take it to the house for a score. Given his proficiency in press coverage, throw outs on him will be a big risk.
- Huge potential as a blitzer off the edge. Sudden quickness, acceleration and speed will make him an excellent option for those exotic packages.
- Maintains his responsibility setting the edge on outside runs, forcing plays back inside where the help should be waiting. Doesn’t try to do too much.
- Has experience and some success as a punt returner. He scored three touchdowns between 2014 and 2015. Proves both his athleticism and speed.
WEAKNESSES:
- Size is going to be talked about. Being 5’11” isn’t a killer these days but it will show up as an issue from time to time against bigger receivers and tight ends.
- Aggressiveness can work against him at times, leading some hard bites on double moves. Receivers have often beaten him cleanly in this fashion.
- Lacks the feel for playing off coverage. Can often be a split second late reaction to which route the receiver will run, allowing for an easy catch or big play.
- Ball skills seemed to regress from the early part of his career to the later part. Inconsistent at turning to find the football. Will lead to trouble with penalties in NFL.
- Missed most of 2016 with a bad ankle injury. Not the best type for a cornerback to suffer and leads to speculation of whether his smaller body can handle NFL physicality.
Pro Comparison: Malcolm Butler
Another shorter cornerback who plays like he’s so much bigger. Butler was a surprise in 2014 but he was always an athletic, physical and determined corner who played sticky coverage. His trademark ability? Reading where the football is going and exploding to the point right as it arrives. Sutton has many of those same exact qualities. Not to mention similar physical dimensions.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round
If Sutton had been able to stay healthy in 2016, there is a strong possibility he’d have been considered for the 1st round. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Combined with a strong class, he’ll likely fall to somewhere in the middle of Day 2. That means some team will likely get a top 32 talent who can start immediately on defense and provide addition punt return value.