2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking the top ten cornerbacks

Projected round: 3rd-4th

Game reviewed: TCU vs Purdue, 2019

Jeff Gladney, the TCU senior is one of the hardest cornerbacks on this list to diagnosis. His first two seasons for TCU were pretty average, but his last two seasons have been remarkable. He is fast on the field, but his 183-pound frame makes me wonder how well he’ll hold up in the NFL. He might be the best player on this list after Okudah, but he regressed this year after a phenomenal 2018.

Gladney may possibly be the fastest cornerback available in the 2020 NFL Draft. His break’s down the field are a sight to see, and he has a legitimate shot at being a wide receiver in the league, if he really wanted to be. I think his draft stock is going to rise after the combine when his speed and athletic ability will be on full display.

With all that speed, Gladney has been an excellent man coverage cornerback, who isn’t afraid to play underneath a receiver, since any separation they may get can be made up for when Gladney turns upfield. On top of his exceptional speed, Gladney is a very clean player, who rarely received a penalty in his four seasons at TCU. This is something many cornerbacks struggle with at the next level, and his lack of penalties will not go unnoticed by scouts.

Despite Gladney’s smaller size, he isn’t afraid of contact and has been a better than expected tackler, with very few missed tackles. His form when tackling can be sometimes concerning, but this is an issue that can be addressed by coaches at the next level.

His biggest concern heading into the 2020 NFL Draft will be his weight and lack of consistency in the four seasons he played in college. His smaller frame has already caused him trouble when receivers push off him at the line of scrimmage in college.

In the NFL, where the talent is much bigger, receivers like D.K Metcalf and Emmanuel Sanders will knock this guy back and well off course. His lack of consistency year to year will be a concern as well. Many will wonder if his 2018 season was Gladney’s peak year, or if 2019 was just a slight regression before the real talent shines in the NFL.

No matter where general managers fall on this debate, Gladney will hear his name called in the 2020 NFL Draft. What round he is selected will largely be determined by his combine results and how confident the general manager is of his team’s strength and conditioning coach. If Gladney could add 20 pounds in the off-season without losing his speed, expect him to be a strong candidate for starting in the NFL in 2020.