Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Joshua Jackson has a chance to be one of the top corners in the 2018 NFL draft. Does the tape back that up from his scouting report?

Position:  CB

School:  Iowa

Year:  Junior

Height:  6’1″

Weight:  192 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• Ideal size for an NFL corner. Not too big that he’s overly stiff in his backpedal but not too small that he can’t match up with bigger receivers.
• Shows solid fluidity in his hips. Able to turn and run without losing any of his initial acceleration, allowing him to avoid getting beat deep.
• Outstanding ball skills. The switch certainly flipped for him in 2017 as he produced eight interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns. Strong hands and body control.
• Has a good feel in space. Able to keep his eyes on the quarterback without losing a grasp of where other bodies are around him.

This video encapsulates everything great about Jackson. He shows the long speed to hang with receivers down the field. He keeps his eyes on the QB but doesn’t lose his coverage responsibility and then showcases the hands and athleticism for some big interceptions. These aren’t gift picks either. Most of them are plays made through his own individual efforts.

• Does a good job of using his hands to stay physical with the receiver but wise to never get grabby. Always toes the line to avoid penalties.
• Solid tackling technique. Has the strength and discipline to latch on to the ball carrier and not let go. Takes his run defense seriously.
• Shows awareness and timing in his blitzing assignments. Has the acceleration and agility to avoid blockers and make an impact in the backfield.
• Seems to have adequate long speed. Proves most of the time he can hang with receivers down the field without losing any space.
• Good reaction time in zone coverage. When the ball is thrown in front of him he closes to it quickly to prevent any after-the-catch yardage.

WEAKNESSES:

• Needs to do a better job of squeezing off out routes against receivers. Veteran QBs will be able to pick on him all day like that.
• While he’s good at flipping his hips he has a tendency to do so early, allowing more crafty route running receivers to set him up on cross or curl routes.
• Has a bad tendency to get lost in coverage from time to time, leaving his guy wide open. Has to show more awareness in what he sees. 
• Though he doesn’t fear contact he has to get better about being aggressive. Doesn’t immediately attack ball carriers in space, allowing them time to make a move for extra yardage.
• Also has an annoying habit of not using his solid tackling technique all the time. Tends to think a good hit will suffice and gets reminded it not always is.

Pro Comparison:  Brent Grimes

Perhaps a better way to put it is if Grimes were 6’1″ instead of 5’10”. He remains one of the more criminally underrated corners in the NFL. He reached four Pro Bowls in his career with two different teams and is still going strong at 34. Athleticism, strong hands and discipline are hallmarks of what makes him so reliable. People don’t realize how good he is until he’s gone. That is the essence of Jackson.

Projection:  1st Round

One year of outstanding production still makes Jackson a bit of a wildcard. Did the switch really flip for him or is this one of those flash in the pan deals? Either way, there’s no question he has the skill set of a top 32 player. Size, speed, athleticism, and ball skills are all checked boxes with him. It’s a matter of how much more disciplined and refined he can make his game.