2023 NFL Draft: Joey Porter Jr., Christian Gonzalez Placed High on Updated Cornerback Rankings
By Hunter Haas
The 2023 NFL Draft is stacked at the cornerback position. In our updated rankings, Joey Porter Jr. and Christian Gonzalez lead the way for the positional group.
As the league continues to place more importance on the passing game, wide receivers are becoming invaluable. In return, the same is true about those tasked with defending these pass catchers.
Cornerback is as important of a position as there is on the defense. They come in all shapes and sizes, which has never been more true for a draft class than this one. There are man coverage specialists, zone coverage savants, and smaller shutdown nickelbacks.
2023 NFL Draft: Joey Porter Jr., Christian Gonzalez Placed High on Updated Cornerback Rankings
Sauce Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in 2022, took home Defensive Rookie of the Year. Tariq Woolen, the No. 153 overall pick in 2022, finished third in the voting, proving that elite-level play can be found throughout all three days of the NFL Draft.
In the latest set of rankings, cornerbacks take center stage. The following list shows my top 20 prospects for the position, plus several honorable mentions that should hear their names called in this year’s draft. Let’s kick things off with No. 20!
CB20: Eli Ricks (Alabama)
Strictly going off talent, Eli Ricks is a top-10 player at the cornerback position. However, he has been unable to generate consistent playing time since his breakout freshman season at LSU. Ricks is worth taking the chance on, but I would hold off until early day three based solely on his unproven track record.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3
CB19: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU)
The nephew of LaDainian Tomlinson is an explosive athlete trapped in a frame best described as ‘small’. He plays bigger than the size reads, and his ball skills are legitimately great, but I worry about his ability to wrap pass catchers up in the NFL. Still, THT could be a long-term answer in the slot if he lands in the correct situation.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3
CB18: Riley Moss (Iowa)
Riley Moss is among the best athletes in the draft class, and yes, if you have not heard, he is white! The Iowa star has the traits to be a starter in a zone-heavy scheme, and his knack for never taking a snap off will take him a long way. I wouldn’t leave Moss on an island much, but he’s shown the ability to hold up in one-on-ones.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3
CB17: Kei’Trel Clark (Louisville)
Kei’Trel Clark is one of my favorite players in the 2023 NFL Draft — regardless of position. The former Louisville Cardinal garnered zero stars on the recruiting trail and has a chip the size of Texas on his shoulder. This hunger to prove himself shows up on tape and also during his time at the Shrine Bowl.
Clark is best suited for the slot, as he lacks the ideal size for a boundary cornerback. He struggles to shake free from blocks because of this and can be out-muscled down the field. Nonetheless, Clark’s dedication to perfecting his craft will earn him reps early in his career.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3
CB16: Garrett Williams (Syracuse)
Garrett Williams suffered an untimely ACL injury midway through the 2022 season, bringing his Syracuse career to a disappointing end. Still, during his time with the Orange, Williams developed into one of the better cornerbacks in the ACC.
He is best suited for zone coverage, but his competitiveness and impressive hip fluidity allow Williams to impact plays in man coverage. He doesn’t possess great ball skills, but I’d expect this to improve when NFL coaching teaches him how to get his head turned around. The injury likely knocks Williams down the board and plays a part in my grade.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3