Projecting a 2023 NFL draft prospect to the NFL isn’t simply about looking at production from the 2022 season, as measurables and career bodies of work also come into play.
Still, it’s interesting to see when some of the best players in the draft had their best season in college football. Here, we look at the top 10 cornerbacks on PFF’s big board and highlight their best season by PFF grade, adding some stats for context.
Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Big board rank: 7/CB1
- Best PFF grade: 92.0, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 92.5
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 78.6
Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- Big board rank: 10/CB2
- Best PFF grade: 81.4, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 81.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 75.8
Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
- Big board rank: 16/CB3
- Best PFF grade: 73.2, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 77.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 53.2
Deonte Banks, Maryland
- Big board rank: 18/CB4
- Best PFF grade: 72.0, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 74.3
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 57.7
Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
- Big board rank: 36/CB5
- Best PFF grade: 87.2, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 89.3
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 79.7
Cam Smith, South Carolina
- Big board rank: 38/CB6
- Best PFF grade: 88.4, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 89.7
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 82.4
Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
- Big board rank: 45/CB7
- Best PFF grade: 76.7, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 79.5
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 76.7
Garrett Williams, Syracuse
- Big board rank: 49/CB8
- Best PFF grade: 75.3, 2020
- 2020 Coverage grade: 72.1
- 2020 Run-defense grade: 79.7
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
- Big board rank: 59/CB9
- Best PFF grade: 85.5, 2020
- 2020 Coverage grade: 89.1
- 2020 Run-defense grade: 54.5
Eli Ricks, Alabama
- Big board rank: 61/CB10
- Best PFF grade: 82.8, 2020
- 2020 Coverage grade: 85.6
- 2020 Run-defense grade: 66.2
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