2017 NFL Draft: Top Corner Prospect Is About To Fall Hard
By Erik Lambert
Just a year ago, there was a major buzz going around the Florida cornerback Teez Tabor was a lock for being the best in the 2017 NFL draft.
His mix of size coupled with standout production made it seem inevitable. Tabor was long and athletic, didn’t allow a ton of completions and snagged seven interceptions over his final two years. Not to mention scoring two defensive touchdowns and notching three sacks. He was a versatile playmaker that offenses soon tried to avoid. So that begs the question. Why is his draft stock set to go into a potential free fall one month before the action begins?
The short answer is simple: speed. Nothing can kill momentum for a corner prospect faster than running slow times in the 40-yard dash, either at the scouting combine or pro days. Tabor had the hard luck to do it at both. After a rough 4.62 at the combine, he made matters even worse for himself at the Florida pro day.
Teez Tabor - running in the high 4.7s at his pro day, per scouts
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 28, 2017
Florida CB Teez Tabor allowed 2 TDs over the past 3 years. If nothing else, 4.7 40 is going to send teams back to tape to find out how.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) March 28, 2017
Say What!?
That’s right. A cornerback known for his press coverage ability ran in the glacial 4.7 range. That is not good. This after Tabor placed bets with fellow draft prospects that he would be the first one off the board at his position. A wager he is now most likely to lose. No doubt this development has instantly made him one of the most polarizing prospects in the entire class.
Who exactly is he? The productive press corner who gave quarterbacks little room for hope or a slow-footed fraud who benefited from being surrounded by quality talent? Per usual the tape will reveal much, but like most players it will come down to the scheme Tabor lands in. He’s got talent and many (MANY) others in the past proved that they shouldn’t have been defined by their 40 times. It’s just a matter of figuring out if he’s another.