Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves has some very impressive game tape, but will that success translate to him being a top selection in the 2016 NFL Draft?
Vernon Hargreaves might not be the biggest cornerback in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he plays big enough to make up for it. Because of that, he will be one of the first players selected in the draft, but there are a couple of things that could make teams think twice about calling his name too early.
Hargreaves is an amazing athlete. He got to show off his speed and athleticism at the combine, where he dominated the vertical jump and the broad jump. One thing that wasn’t on the display at the combing was his instincts. He has a nose for the football and is great at predicting the path throws. He can use his agility to change directions with ease out of a backpedal and can keep up with even the fastest pass catchers.
But teams will always question drafting a cornerback that is under 6 feet tall. Some squads may not be comfortable playing him on the outside at that size and may worry about putting him in the slot because of his smaller frame. He also is prone to making some mistakes when reading a quarterback, giving up the big deep play on occasion.
Here are Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves’ numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:
Height: 5’10”
Vernon Hargreaves compares to:
- CBS Sports: Joe Haden, Browns
- NFL.com: Joe Haden, Browns
Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings will be looking to add a cornerback this year to prepare for the eventual retirement of Terence Newman. Minnesota has proven they have no problem drafting a cornerback early, having used two first round picks on the position in recent years. They could continue to develop Hargreaves while not forcing him into the lineup immediately, which could be good for his future.
Next: 5 WR options for the Vikings in the 2016 NFL Draft
My Take:
In my opinion, Vernon Hargreaves is an elite level talent. I consider his negatives as very minor things, and believe he can play much bigger than his listed size and has shown that ability on tape on numerous occasions. Still, if he does slip in the draft because of size concerns, the Vikings would definitely like to add a guy like him to their group of cornerbacks.