2021 NFL Draft: 49ers make aggressive move for QB in 3-round mock draft
Round 1, 11th overall
Pick Analysis. CB. Alabama. player. 31. Scouting Report. Patrick Surtain II. 11
Led by James Bradberry, Logan Ryan and Xavier McKinney, the secondary is becoming a major area of strength for the New York Giants. This team is stockpiling some impressive talent in the defensive backfield and may be building a unit that can lead their defense for many years. That being said, they still have a hold at the No. 2 cornerback position and that can be filled with the selection of Patrick Surtain II here at No. 11 overall.
Surtain shows incredible natural instincts in coverage and overall football IQ on the field. He always seems to be in a great position to make a play on the ball and has the ball skills needed to break up passes with regularity.
Surtain has long arms and he knows how to use them to his advantage at the line of scrimmage, commonly stuffing opposing receivers in press coverage and forcing them to re-route and look for a different path to success. Surtain is also a smooth mover who mirrors opposing receivers well and can break on the ball and break up a pass in an instant.
While Surtain’s on-field awareness and physicality at the line of scrimmage allows him to pile up successful reps often, his lack of ideal deep speed will hurt him at times. Surtain can be beaten deep if he allows a free release at the line of scrimmage and that is obviously a concern at the next level.
That being said, Surtain is a strong press-man coverage corner who also shows impressive instincts in zone coverage. He reads opposing offenses well and always seems to be making a play on the ball when it is thrown his way. With this pick, the Giants complete their strong secondary and will look to build their defense around a potentially elite defensive back unit going forward.