2023 NFL Draft Rankings: Cornerbacks
Josh Frey
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The 2023 NFL Draft rankings series continues with the cornerback position, which just so happens to be one of the more loaded positions in the entire class. If you need to catch up on other installments, the previous links are below:
1. Kelee Ringo (Georgia)
As a whole, the cornerback position is probably my favorite to talk about in this year’s draft class. They may not have anyone go in the top five like last year (Derek Stingley Jr., Sauce Gardner), but this class runs about 10 deep with player’s that could make an impact in the NFL as future starters.
Leading the way for this group, in my mind, has to be Kelee Ringo at Georgia. The Bulldogs CB1 has been incredible all season and is the full package as a CB prospect. He has ideal size at 6’2 and 205 pounds, but there’s also athleticism and fluidity in his movements while in coverage that makes him even more deadly.
Ringo is extremely fast, but he has the ability to overpower receivers at the line of scrimmage in press. That being said, he does have some issues recognizing routes at times. If he does fall down the board, it will be because of that lack of development at this point in his draft process.
2. Christian Gonzalez (Oregon)
After going under the radar for much of his career at Colorado, Christian Gonzalez went to Oregon to gain more national recognition against higher quality opponents. Well, he did just that. Since the debacle that was Oregon’s Week 1 blowout loss to Georgia, he’s done just that.
Gonzalez has intercepted 4 passes this year, which ranks third in the PAC-12. He was a big reason for the success that the Ducks found in 2022. Because of his size and big play potential, there are certainly rumblings that he will be the CB1 when the draft arrives in April.
3. Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State)
This may be higher than some other folks have Joey Porter at this point, but he seems like one of the most NFL-ready CBs in this entire class. He’s an extremely long corner and has just as much size as the others above him.
There’s also an aura around him that just exudes confidence and poise. He’s very physical in coverage, and while that can occasionally lead to some penalty issues, he sets the tone for every matchup. Combine that with some great ball skills, and he’s just as good a CB as any other in this class.
4. Cam Smith (South Carolina)
Cam Smith isn’t quite as long as the other CBs above him, standing at just 6’0, but he makes up for it with physicality. He’s another explosive athlete too with incredible closing speed that allows him to bait opposing QBs into throwing his way.
There are some glaring question marks in his game, though. Smith is not very good against the run and can be extremely inconsistent when trying to shed blocks. Despite his physical play at the top of routes, he doesn’t bring that same physicality to the line of scrimmage at times, and he doesn’t play press coverage.
These issues will impact how much Smith can immediately impact a defense at the NFL level, but assuming he sorts out some of the issues in run support as well as development in his coverage skills, there’s a path towards him being a starting CB as early as Year Two.
5. Clark Phillips III (Utah)
We discussed how this Utah defense was filled with playmakers this season in the linebackers rankings with Mohamoud Diabate, and Clark Phillips is another example at CB for the Utes. He’s easily the smallest player on this list today at 5’10 and under 200 pounds, but he’s always in the right place at the right time in his coverage.
Phillips is an aggressive player, and he thrives in zone coverage schemes. He’s another fluid mover, and his quick feet and smooth hips allow him to keep up with even the faster receivers in the NCAA. He excels at timing passes, and he was a massive playmaker for Utah, leading the PAC-12 with 6 INTs.
His aggressive coverage style can sometimes bite back, though, biting on fakes and being left vulnerable on go routes over the top. Overcommitting is the biggest concern for Phillips right now, but that can be fixed.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.