2021 NFL Draft cornerback rankings: Patrick Surtain II leads strong group
By John Blair
11. Kary Vincent Jr., LSU
5-foot-10, 185 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
Despite never being a full-time starter at LSU, Kary Vincent Jr. is a player with exciting upside. What makes Vincent such a promising prospect is his speed. He was part of the track team at LSU and ran a blistering 4.33 40-yard dash at LSU’s pro day. On top of his speed, he has shown good ball skill coming away with four interceptions in 2019. One more positive with him is that he has the versatility to play either a nickel corner role or free safety in the NFL.
While he does have the potential to develop into a very solid player he is far from a finished product. He needs to improve his route recognition and overall football IQ. Another issue with him is he is not the most physical corner in the 2021 NFL Draft and is below average when it comes to supporting the run. Part of the reason he is not the most physical corner in the draft is due to a lack of strength evident by him only getting eight reps on the bench press.
12. Olaijah Griffin, USC
6-foot, 175 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
A prospect who is flying under the radar that has the potential to become an NFL starter is Olaijah Griffin of USC. Griffin led the Trojans in pass deflections in 2019 and finished third on the team in this category last season. Part of the reason he was able to be so productive is how smooth of an athlete he is. He has very fluid hips and also shows the athletic ability to outmaneuver a wide receiver in coverage. Scouts also like his confident attitude he plays with and how he is not afraid to help out vs. the run.
The only reason Griffin carries a day three grade instead of a day two grade is his injury history. In 2019, he battled back issues and in 2018 he missed time due to a shoulder injury. It doesn’t help he has a slight frame which raises questions on if he can take the pounding the NFL hands out. It is also worth noting that despite breaking 13 passes over the past two seasons he has only been able to come away with one interception.