If Howie Wants to Keep Collecting High-Upside CBs, Here are Two He Should Like

What a difference a couple of games make.

Several weeks ago, concern with the Eagles secondary weighed on the city as James Bradberry aged right before our eyes, Avonte Maddox was out on another significant IR, and we all know Darius Slay – while still playing great – isn’t going to last forever.

But then Avonte was cleared to return and both Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks got their opportunities. With Isaiah Rodgers still stashed for 2024, it looked like Howie’s plan of collecting a lot of low-cost, high-upside options could pay off.

While taking one of the premier corners in the upcoming draft could still make sense, if one or both of Kelee and Ricks pays off it gives Howie more flexibility. But even with that, long-term needs remain as Slay is probably entering his last year and Isaiah and Avonte are only signed through 2024.

If Howie rolls with the guys we have but continues his strategy looking for low-cost, high-upside corners, there are two guys in the 2024 draft that should be of interest and I believe are way better prospects than where they are currently projected:

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Kamal, currently projected as an early day 3 pick (I have him with a R3 grade), is one of the best upside cornerbacks in this class. An injury in the Alabama game ended his breakout 2023 season early, but he has outside corner traits and talent if used in the right scheme:

• An aggressive playmaking corner with the mentality and finger-wagging, forget-the-last-play swagger you want
• Size and speed, listed at 6’1″ and 197lbs with a projected forty in the upper 4.4s (although I don’t think he looks quite as big on field as his listed measurements)
• Athletic enough to play man and stick with receivers, but at his best with the play in front of him or in zone
• Played little press so there isn’t a ton of film there but this was more Tennessee’s scheme than his limitation – in clips you will see, he’s effective staying with receivers but he doesn’t get his head turned around consistently
• Gets his hands on the ball at one of the best rates – his 18% forced incompletion rate and 8 interceptions over the past two seasons (6% interception rate) are both some of the best in recent drafts
• Gives up extremely little, holding receivers to a 36% reception rate (behind only Eli Ricks and Devon Witherspoon last year), 2.9 yards per target and only 1.7 average yards after catch
• One of the better corners covering big receivers with good film against 6’6″ 240lb TE Jake Johnson, 6’4″ 220lb WR Malachi Fields, and 6’1″ 220lb Xavier Legette, who all had some of their worst games against Tennessee with Hadden covering them
• Tackling has been an issue but is improved after a disastrous and eye-opening game against Florida early this season

Film clips

These clips summarize his coverage – you will see his effectiveness and closing speed in off coverage. In press, he stays with receivers but often doesn’t turn back to the ball, he will get flags in the NFL.

But he will also make plays on the ball – a lot of Tennessee critics will say he had a lot of easy interceptions, and some were like the one on Spencer Rattler below, but he also has the amazing play against Texas A&M to tip the ball to himself and seal the game.

(Apologies for the broadcast copy as Hadden is so under-the-radar that all-22 film isn’t out yet…)

Draft fit

Like past high-upside CBs Howie has looked to add to the secondary, Hadden is another guy whose traits and upside are better than his expected draft position. He has limitations, but, if used to his skillsets, he’s going to be great value and a playmaker in coverage.

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Like Hadden, Mike Sainristil is going to be a value in the draft. Slot corners often are not taken high – of the top 20 rated slot corners in the NFL this year, two were taken in the 1st, six on day two, and the rest were day 3 or undrafted.

Currently expected to be an early-to-mid day 3 pick, I also have Sainristil with a R3 grade and as the draft’s best pure slot corner, I wouldn’t be shocked if he surprised higher.

He will be overlooked by some because of his size and inexperience at corner – just two seasons ago, this was what he was doing:

But the Eagles should love Sainristil. He’s athletic. He’s competitive. He plays way above his size with incredible toughness and leadership. He’s a team captain and a guy the coaches and other players rave about.

• Always near the catch point with 12 PBUs and 6 interceptions on 107 career targets and 15% forced incompletion rate, a good rate for primarily playing the slot
• Shows short-area quickness and his experience playing receiver helps him anticipate
• Intangibles, leadership, and toughness – Dane Brugler said “Scouts say he’s like a player-coach, an influencer, a leader… With his toughness, you would never guess he’s a former receiver”
• Despite being new to the position and usually going up against bigger receivers, plays clean with 0 career penalties
• At times will wait for a play to get to him instead of moving forward or attacking, I believe this is more inexperience playing CB than traits

Film clips

I try to pull clips to be representative of the player, both what they do well and where to improve. Below you will see that in coverage he can play up at the line and plays bigger than his size including his coverage in the end zone against Cade Stover. He isn’t going to be a highlight reel hit guy and is more of a “drag down” tackler, but is effective limiting gains.

For improvement, you will see him wait for a play to get to him at times instead of being aggressive and closing. The Alabama rushing touchdown he gave up in the playoffs is a perfect example where it was clearly a run and he waited and only closed 1 yard in, flat-footed by the time Jase McClellan gets to him. Remember that he is only in his second year on defense. There are plenty of clips that shows his ability to close quickly so you have to think most of this is his inexperience.

Draft fit

Avonte is still under contract for 2024 but the Eagles need a plan outside of him as he has missed 22 games over the past two seasons. Isaiah Rodgers is probably part of the, if not the, plan but he is also only signed in 2024. Sainristil, like Avonte before him, could be a high-upside pick to give a longer-term answer in the slot which I think the Eagles really need.

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