Below is a list of the cornerback prospects for the Ravens in the 2023 draft. Check back as I may augment this list from time to time. To the extent that time permits, other position analyses will follow (excepting offensive tackle, tight ends, centers, and safeties).
UPDATE, April 19, 2023: The Ravens met with the following cornerback prospects pre-draft:
Julius Brents
Emmanuel Forbes
Anthony Johnson
Steven Jones (listed at safety by some)
Jeremy Lucien
Joey Porter Jr.
Kelee Ringo
Cam Smith
Tyrique Stevenson
Cory Trice
The Cornerback Need
The Ravens clearly need a starting corner (or two) at this point in the off season. A return of Marcus Peters, if at all, would be a post-draft event and probably contingent on who the Ravens come up with. The needs are clear. First, a number one man-cover corner who can run (who knows about Armour-Davis) and has scheme diversity. Second, a slot corner (though I still like Pepe Williams in that spot). I’m not a fan of putting Marlon Humphrey full-time in the slot. But the Ravens clearly need speed. They need someone who can turn those hips and take the receiver all the way up the field. To me, if you can’t run at a top level, you’re not a great candidate for the Ravens this year, notwithstanding whatever other traits you bring. With that in mind, here’s the cornerback crop.
Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez is 6’1, 197 lbs. from Oregon. He is a gifted athlete. He is plenty fast (4.38 forty time) and, like Deonte Banks, showcased outstanding vertical jump and broad jump ability. Gonzalez has excellent acceleration and can turn and run. He has played “clean” running with receivers without grabbing (only three pass interference calls in the last two years). Gonzalez needs some work in press coverage, particularly on jam technique. He is not a gifted tackler but improving. Nor does he have the tenaciousness or natural aggressiveness that the Ravens prefer. But he has shown the ability to play all types of coverages; he is very scheme diverse.
Gonzalez has fluid hips and should be able to match up with everyone. He should be able to carry receivers vertically. Gonzalez easily transitions from pedaling to flipping his hips. He is not a natural ball hawk at this point; he needs improvement looking back for the ball and competing with physicality.
Gonzalez has been seen as the first or second top corner in this draft. I’m not as high on him for the Ravens in that I have a few other players above him. But he’s definitely a top prospect. Round 1.
Devon Witherspoon
Witherspoon is 5’11, 181 lbs. from Illinois – Witherspoon was arguably the best cover corner in college in 2022. Known as a very tough competitor, he has an outstanding knowledge of the game. His coach raved about Witherspoon’s intelligence. This is a guy who studies tape and it was evident in his read-react ability.
Witherspoon could stand to add some more bulk to his frame. He ran a 4.42 on his pro day (good but not elite top-end speed) and his recovery time and long speed might be slightly suspect in the NFL. He’s a natural cover corner who is blessed with great quickness and diagnosis abilities. He defensed 17 passes last year alone. Witherspoon offers good ball skills and plays much tougher than his size, certainly as a tackler. He offers stern run support. He’s a tough dude. I believe he offers scheme versatility. Witherspoon has quick feet and very fluid hips, offering very good short area burst. He should be able to stay in receiver’s pockets.
Witherspoon also offers excellent ability to close on a receiver and the ball. It’s easy to see him playing alone on the outside. Witherspoon can get caught a bit staring into the backfield, but that is coachable. Now the question I have of him as a man-cover corner is whether he has the strength in press coverage against bigger NFL receivers. In college he demonstrated solid striking ability in press coverage. But is he better suited playing on the inside? I believe he can do both. And this is a supremely confident corner.
For the Ravens, is Witherspoon a better fit inside or outside? Do the Ravens want to keep Marlon Humphrey on the inside? I don’t think this matters too much, as I’d be very surprised if Witherspoon is on the board when the Ravens select. But if he is, the Ravens should grab him. Round 1.
Joey Porter, Jr.
Porter is 6’2, 193 lbs. from Penn State. He had an excellent career at Penn State. He’s blessed with extremely long arms which, combined with his size, give him unique length, and will make him a tough corner on press coverage for many wideouts. That length allows him to play around receivers. He also possesses big hands. He’s not as fast as some of his peers (he ran a decent but not great 4.46 forty). This brings into question his recovery speed and it’s hard to see how this will not be one of his challenges in the NFL. Similarly, Porter does not have the type of burst that top corners possess. His vertical jump was poor.
But Porter has shown a natural ability to gain leverage and stay in contact with receivers. These skills will play well in NFL press coverages. His college production playing press was outstanding. Now he has been too grabby (way too many penalties), which would be a big problem in the NFL. But he’s been very effective using his hands and arms re-routing receivers. He lacks tackling consistency, particularly in run support, and needs work on his technique.
Porter is not a crystal clean prospect. I have doubts as to his effectiveness in multiple zone coverages. How effective will he be against a quick trigger quarterback when he’s playing off? Can he compete on quick slants? How will his ordinary transitional quickness play when he’s out in space? Porter’s effectiveness in the Ravens schemes depends on how Macdonald approaches 2023.
Against the Bengals last year, we saw the effectiveness of zone schemes with Roquan Smith tasked on the inside down the field. This is where Smith is most effective. Will Porter fit in? If the Ravens reverted to primary press coverage, he fits right on in. This is the key info we don’t know – what is Macdonald’s plan? Porter is a round 1 prospect, but he is not clean. And because there are questions as to how scheme diverse he can be, I don’t think he’s the right player for the Ravens. Round 1.
Deonte Banks
Banks is 6’0, 197 lbs. from Maryland. From a physical gifts perspective Banks has almost everything you look for in an NFL cover corner. He has decent size and is built tough, combined with excellent speed (4.35 in the 40 which was 85th percentile, and 1.45 in the short area 10-yard which was second best among the top corner prospects). He offers excellent agility. Although his arms are a bit short, he was outstanding in both the vertical jump (he should be able to high point the ball) and the broad jump, showcasing an explosiveness in his lower body.
Banks is known as a physical player, will attack towards the line, and can finish in the open field. He is an excellent tackler. He is made for press coverage. Banks was not as consistent in zone and off coverages as he needs to be at the next level. Mechanical adjustments are needed at the pro level, as he can get caught opening his hips too early and he was a bit too grabby in college. But his hips are loose and fluid, and he can turn, mirror and run. He has a very good motor. Banks was not as disruptive in the pass game as he should be, as he only picked off two balls in his career.
What makes Banks potentially special is his combination of agility, long speed, short area burst (he’s a quick twitcher) and explosiveness. He also has a willingness to tackle. His loose hips allow him to transition from inside to outside quickly, and match speed down the field.
For the Ravens, it’s all a matter of what coverages Mike Macdonald will play in 2023. Last year, he deployed many more zone looks than the Ravens had under Wink Martindale. It worked well with the personnel Macdonald had. Banks will need work to excel in zone-type packages, most of which will come with hard study and preparation. It may take him a little longer in zone schemes than one might want given that there were instances where his recognition was not where it should be. Initially, he is likely best suited to work press the way Marcus Peters used to. One can’t ignore that Banks had a major shoulder injury in 2021. But Banks has the physical and mental composition to play traditional Ravens defense. Round 1.
Cam Smith
Smith is 6’, 180 lbs. from South Carolina. He ran a solid 4.43 forty. His arm length is average, and he has small hands. But his vertical jump and broad jump were both very good, so he tested well from an athletic perspective. But he is not an elite athlete. Smith’s college production was excellent, as he got his hands on the ball frequently. However, I’m concerned with his lack of recovery speed on the outside and he may be better suited on the inside where he can showcase his short area quickness.
Smith certainly lacks ideal bulk. He needs technique work in press coverage. He has some challenges shedding blocks down the field. Smith is a very heady player. But sometimes his foot movement is slow, forcing him to grab on. These weaknesses scream that he is better suited in zone schemes and is arguably not as scheme diverse as the Ravens might like. Round 2.
Emmanuel Forbes
Forbes is 6’ 166 lbs. from Mississippi State. At a mere 166 pounds, one has to be concerned with the complete lack of bulk that Forbes brings. Now Forbes counters that with blazing speed (he ran a 4.35 forty), but otherwise lacked the athleticism one looks for in an NFL corner (average broad jump and slightly better than average vertical jump). He also has very small hands.
But that lack of bulk scares me immediately. He got run over too many times for my taste. I just can’t see him coming up and succeeding in the run game. Without at least 15 more pounds of bulk, it’s enough for me to remove him from consideration for the Ravens. He weighed 165 pounds in high school so I’m skeptical he can suddenly add the needed bulk now. But he’s a ballhawk, no doubt (he had 14 picks in his three college years). And he dominated in man coverage in 2022, where he showed great awareness and route recognition ability. Round 2.
Kelee Ringo
Ringo is 6’1, 207 lbs. from Georgia. He is a freakish, traits corner with the speed/size blend that everyone wants. He ran a 4.36 forty that he combines with his 90th percentile size/weight. But his combine jumps were poor, his arms are short, and his hands are small. Ringo is a bit of a polarizing prospect. He allowed far too many big plays in the SEC this past season though he himself made several big plays. Ringo’s anticipation and read-react are not at NFL top-level. His technique is not where it should be.
Ringo has the speed to allow him to take receivers up the field vertically. He possesses excellent recovery speed allowing him to deploy well in trail technique. He has shown an ability to locate the ball. Ringo brings physicality into play, as one would expect. He’s a solid tackler and an effective gunner on special teams. But he has trouble with routes in front of him. His lack of technique has hindered him in press coverage. And his change of direction skills are a bit suspect, as he could be a liability at this point on out patterns and dig routes. Now he’s not quite 21 so there’s time for technique improvement. But Ringo has a lot of work to do. He has shown well in zone and therefore offers some good scheme versatility. Round 2.
D. J. Turner
Turner is 5’11, 178 lbs. from Michigan. Turner is ideally suited to play on the inside nickel in the NFL. He brings tremendous speed, having run a 4.26 forty on his pro day, along with a 1.42 in the 1-yard and a 2.32 in the 20-yard (his 40 and 20 were the faster at the combine this year). Turne is absolutely explosive, and a tough competitor to boot. He brings the elite quickness and ability to transition that NFL teams seek for that nickel position, able to attack slants. He can run with anyone, including the top speed receivers in the NFL. Turner will stay in your hip pocket. And he’s an intelligent player.
Turner is more physical than his size would suggest. But he has very short arms which, when combined with his smaller stature, puts him at a disadvantage against larger NFL receivers on the outside. Turner will be easily boxed out by these bigger guys. He has not proven to be much of a ballhawk at this point, at least not on the outside. But he has shown well in zone coverages and has the burst to close on underneath routes in front of him. I don’t see him matched up against number one bigger receivers on the outside. But against most number twos he can compete, and certainly, as noted, in the slot. Turner is an intriguing prospect. Round 2.
Terell Smith
At 6’ 204 lbs. from Minnesota, Smith will be 24 when the season starts. Although healthy last year, he did not play in 2019 and 2020 as he lost his starting job and missed three games in 2021. He ran a 4.41 forty and has long arms. Smith is a long-strider but is quick. He is not as advanced as you’d like at his age, but his comparative inexperience is partly responsible. Smith has quick feet but does not mirror as well as he should. He has the ability to be a press corner in the NFL but lacks the quick hips to change directions at an elite level, as his shuttle and three-cone numbers suggest. He is not the type of player to make consistent plays on the ball. I see Smith as an average prospect. Round 4-5.
Clark Phillips III
Phillips is a diminutive 5’9, 184 lbs. from Utah. A unanimous All-American last year, he recorded six interceptions and 12 passes defensed. But he is not swift of foot, having run a 4.51 forty and with comparatively slow 10-yard and 20-yard numbers. Phillips is short-armed and will get boxed out by bigger receivers. Press coverage will not be his game. It’s difficult to see him anywhere other than on the inside in the NFL, where his good twitch and technique will be to best effect.
Phillips is a confident player who was team captain and is a hard worker and excellent studier. He is very competitive. He could be susceptible to double moves. Phillips was also an erratic tackler, though willing. He is a read and react player with the quickness and mental toughness, along with a nose for the ball, that are intriguing in the slot. I think Phillips could turn into an interesting slot-blitzer with his toughness, quickness and competitiveness, but he needs to improve his tackling ability. Unlike some, I don’t see Phillips as an elite prospect and arguably not a tremendous fit for the Ravens. Round 3.
Darius Rush
Rush measures in at 6’1, 198 lbs. from South Carolina. He played opposite of Cam Smith at South Carolina. Rush is an excellent athlete, having run a very fast 4.36 forty. He’s blessed with very long arms. His explosiveness didn’t test well, however. Rush’s footwork is far from elite and is arguably his biggest drawback. His short area skills are a bit suspect. Rush is also not a great tackler as he frequently takes poor angles. He can take wideouts vertically and has excellent acceleration and backpedal. He needs to improve with route anticipation though he explodes on passes in front of him. Now Rush is not all that experienced, and his need to improve his processing is evident.
Notwithstanding those comments, Rush had a very good week at the Senior Bowl. He demonstrated better than expected quickness and an ability to stay in phase with wideouts. Rush showed an excellent ability to mirror receivers and showed well in various types of coverages. His instincts were better than expected, especially for someone who converted from wide receiver and has comparatively less experience. Most of Rush’s flaws can be coached, and I think he’s a very interesting prospect. Round 3.
Tyrique Stevenson
At 6’, 198 lbs. and from Miami, Stevenson is a good but not elite athlete. He has good size and long arms with 4.45 speed but tested poorly with quickness and burst. He is a bit stiffer than you’d like, with the result that he has not been great in off coverage. Nevertheless, he is strong and has shown the ability to muscle receivers and push them around (without holding). Strictly an outside corner candidate, Stevenson utilizes a very physical style (almost too physical). He is not as disciplined as he needs to be and I think he could be susceptible to double moves. Notwithstanding his toughness, he has been an erratic tackler, particularly in the run game.
Stevenson had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl (I’m a believer in real performances at the Senior Bowl). He showcased good feet, an ability to stay in the hip pocket on the receiver, and a solid jab. His tape also highlighted his physicality and an ability to stay engaged down the field. But I’m still not convinced that he has the acceleration and burst to handle solo activities all the way down the field. His transitions with route breaks aren’t great. I see him as a press corner right now, probably not too scheme diverse and, therefore, a less desirable candidate for the Ravens. Round 3.
Julius Brents
Brents is 6’3, 198 lbs. from Kansas State. He combines his height with incredible arm length and has the longest wingspan of almost anyone I can recall. But he’s slow (ran a 4.53). Yet, his other testing was off the charts (95th percentile or more in the vertical, the broad jump, and the 3-cone, and an excellent 20-yard shuttle to boot).
Brents utilizes his length to great advantage at the line of scrimmage, disrupting timing and release for receivers. He transitions well and has solid short area quickness. He obviously has the size to compete at the high point. He’s made for press coverage at the line, though I have some questions about him down the field where he sometimes struggles, especially in locating the ball and given his comparative lack of speed. And I have some questions about him in both off coverages. He is tough and willing in run support.
Like Tyrique Stevenson and Darius Rush, Brents had a big week at the Senior Bowl practices. But I still have some real questions regarding his scheme versatility, and I think he would struggle more than some in zone packages. I’m not sold on Brents as a player who completely fits the Ravens needs. But if you can grab him in round three I think he’d be worth it. Round 2-3.
Kyu Blu Kelly
Kelly is 6’ 191 lbs. from Stanford. He is not the athlete like the top corners in this draft. He ran a slow 4.52 forty and had a mediocre vertical jump (though an excellent broad jump), and it showed in games as he succumbed to false moves. Kelly is not all that physical of a corner and had trouble shedding blocks. Nor is he much of a ballhawk, recording only three interceptions over 35 starts in his career.
His greatest strength is his footwork, especially his quickness, which allows him both to mirror and play in space well, suggesting his best usage is in zone coverages. What Kelly doesn’t offer is what the Ravens need – the speed to turn and run. He’s not the best at switching from a backpedal to taking off down the field. And I don’t see him as the type of nickel that the Ravens would want; someone who can blitz and tackle. Round 4.
Cory Trice Jr.
Trice is 6’3, 206 lbs. from Purdue. He is about the biggest corner in the draft. But he also brings solid speed (ran a 4.47) and has excellent explosiveness (90th percentile in the broad jump). This man was built to play press corner. He offers outstanding run support and is an excellent tackler. Now Trice is not the type of guy to sink his hips and stop on a dime; it’s just not in his body and that could cause some real concerns on double moves and quick cuts across the field; transitioning is not his strength. This is a serious concern.
But Trice plays really tough, with powerful hands and the ability to engulf once he gets those hands on the receiver. For his career, he only allowed 11 catches in press coverage.
Trice has had some injury history, suffering a torn ACL and then a groin problem. Trice was still recovering during the 2022 season. At his size, one wonders whether he could wind up at safety. He needs more refinement from a technique perspective. In all, there are enough questions and limitations about Trice’s game to keep me away from him. But he has some interesting qualities Round 4.
Rejzhon Wright
Wright is 6’2, 193 lbs. from Oregon State. He did not test. He is not the most technical of corners, and proved to be an awful tackler in college. Wright is a bit too grabby, and has struggled against elite speed, playing too upright. He’s best in space where he demonstrated good mirroring abilities. I’m not going into much more on Wright as I see him as too flawed to fit the Ravens. Round 6-7.
Garrett Williams
Williams brings a 6’0, 189 lbs. frame from Syracuse. He suffered an ACL injury last year half way through the season. Prior to the injury, Williams demonstrated elite footwork, among the best in the group. This is a guy who can mirror and stay in your pocket at a top level. He had zero penalties over the past two years.
Williams has outstanding hips and can turn and run. He has the necessary burst to hit routes to the inside. But in the Syracuse system he was infrequently tasked with playing press man coverage, so we’re not entirely sure what we are getting here. At the least, in off man packages we know he can really bring it. This is a guy who, if he recovers well from his injury, could be an on the island type of cover. He tracks the ball well.
Now we don’t know where his speed stands. But his tape suggests that he does not have elite catch-up speed. And he is certainly not the strongest of corners. Nor does he have any experience in the slot. He’s a very aware corner who can jump routes. He is not the perfect candidate for the Ravens, even if he had not been injured. But that injury makes him a no-go for this years’ Ravens. Round 4.
Tre Hodges-Tomlinson
At a very small 5’9, 180 lbs. from TCU, Tomlinson is an extremely fluid corner. He’s obviously small which forces me to see him on the inside in the NFL. He ran a 4.41 forty, which puts him on the faster side. Tomlinson is an excellent athlete, which he has to be at that size. He has an explosive lower body and has outstanding change in direction capability along with short area burst. Tomlinson is a schooled player who is very tough. He is challenged when receivers just power through him and though he is a willing tackler his size presents natural limitations. Unsurprisingly, he has issues at the catch high point.
Tomlinson did not get much experience playing on the inside, but that’s where he’s destined to be in the NFL. This guy is quick, quick, quick. Now, does he fit the Ravens? Let’s face it – 5’9 is just damn small. He is not the perfect nickel corner. I can’t see the Ravens spending third round capital on him. Round 3-4.
Jakorian Bennett
The second of the two Maryland corners in the draft, Bennett brings a 5’10, 188 lbs. frame. He is lightening fast, having fun a 4.30 forty. His testing was off the charts. This guy has great burst and closing speed, but he played inconsistently. His practices at the Senior Bowl also highlighted some struggles on the outside, as he was stacked vertically several times, but showed good effectiveness in the slot. To no surprise he used his great short area quickness to defend against the short and intermediate routes.
Bennett attacks the high point of the ball, but you don’t see him hawking balls all over the field. He is generally inconsistent in his approach and performance. He can be grabby, which I saw on Senior Bowl tapes, and which showed up in the number of penalties last year. Bennett will compete against the run. He has a good ability to get his hands on the ball, though not good enough hands to pull it in on a regular basis. Bennett is an incomplete package who has some elite traits. He belongs on the inside in the NFL in my view. Round 3-4.
Kei’Trel Clark
Clark is 5’10, 177 lbs. from Louisville. He has extraordinarily short arms and a miniscule wingspan. Although he ran well (4.42 forty) the balance of his testing was simply poor. Clark is a tough, smart competitor who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He finds the ball and his quick with good agility to play zone schemes. He struggled a bit in the slot, notwithstanding that he seems best suited to play there. His burst to the ball should produce better results in that inside coverage. To no surprise Clark just isn’t very strong. In all, I just don’t see Clark as a draftable player for the Ravens. He’s too limited. Round 6.
Mekhi Blackmon
Blackmon is 5’11, 178 lbs. out of USC. With average speed and a slim frame, at age 24 one has to wonder how much more Blackmon can do. He’s not a great athlete nor is he very fluid. Although he is instinctive and understands how to play, and though he’s fairly competent against the run, I just don’t see the upside to his game. He lacks good play strength and grabs too frequently. Pass. Round 6.
Jaylon Jones
Jones is 6’2, 205 lbs. from Texas A&M – If Jones were faster, I’d be much higher on him. He ran a very poor 4.57 forty (brought it down to a 4.50 on his pro day), which is simply too slow to take receivers down the field. His recovery time just can’t be where it needs to be. He’s very strong and knows how to use his hands, with the ability to pin receivers. But he lacks the twitchiness you need to be able to cover the entire route tree. I don’t see him being able to stay attached to NFL receivers. His size may intrigue some, but that’s not enough for me. Pass. Round 5-6.
Darrell Luter Jr.
Luter is a 6’, 189 lbs. corner from South Alabama. He shows solid speed (ran a 4.46 forty) and decent though not spectacular athleticism. He possesses long arms. Luter has been most effective in man coverage and successful with his press techniques. He plays tough against the run. He is a high character player. Luter has not been as successful playing off coverages and I think there are questions as to his effectiveness in various zone schemes. Luter will get right back in your face after he is beaten. But his play strength isn’t great and he’s not great in short areas. In all, I see him as a later round candidate. Round 5-6.
Riley Moss
At 6’1, 193 lbs. from Iowa, Moss has very short arms. He tested well athletically with a 4.45 forty and strong vertical jump and broad jump numbers. He’s an explosive player, particularly underneath. Moss is very experienced and is well suited to move to the inside slot position (where he lacks experience). He can turn and run with good twitch. He is a fighter in the run game. A team captain last year, he is well schooled. Moss can sometimes lean too much, which will leave him more flat-footed in the NFL.
Moss has an injury history earlier in his college career (hip and PCL). He reads receivers well which helps his burst and he certainly will attack at the catch point. Moss is probably best suited in zone schemes. But I think he would struggle with press man assignments on the outside. He could be of interest given his zone skills and ability underneath. Round 4-5.
Alex Austin, 6’1, 195 lbs., Oregon State – Just not a good enough prospect.
