Cornerback

Stanford

6-3 194

Draft Board Overall Prospect Rank: #86

Draft Board Overall Cornerback Rank: #13

Rating: 70 (Late 3^rd)

40 time: 4.49

2/19/11: I was watching the Senior Bowl and I saw this one cornerback making play after play and my reaction was “who the hell is that kid?” Turns out he was Stanford cornerback Richard Sherman, a mid-week injury replacement. I was instantly intrigued. He looked like Chris Cook, another prospect I overlooked going into Senior Bowl week last year, that I eventually fell in love with as a prospect. Cook ended up going 34^th overall to the Vikings.

I had to do more research. I found out he was listed at either 6-2 or 6-3, and 190-195, a little skinny but definitely good size. He was a former wide receiver, who had only played the cornerback position for two years, which instantly reminded me of Sam Shields, the 2010 undrafted free agent, former wide receiver turned cornerback who only had one year experience at the position. He ended up being a huge part of the Packers Super Bowl run this year.

He’s certainly raw on tape, but I love his upside. For someone who has been playing the position for 2 years, he’s very instinctial. He doesn’t look like a former wide receiver, with the exception of his size and ball skills. He needs some work on technique. He had one huge mental blunder at the end of the half in the Senior Bowl that should have led to an allowed touchdown, but Andy Dalton underthrew a wide open Leonard Hankerson significantly (almost ended up a pick).

However, he could excel as a deep cover corner, an athletic cornerback with great and ball skills, and very instinctual play that’s only going to get better with more experience. He struggles against the run and needs to bulk up about 10 pounds without losing athleticism to become less of a liability against the run. I don’t think he can play free safety as some as saying he should. He has the height, but he lacks the run stopping and tackling abilities a safety needs. He has Antonio Cromartie type upside with his athleticism and ball skills, but his weaknesses as a press corner and as a run stopper.

NFL Comparison: Poor man’s Antonio Cromartie