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NFL Draft 2016 Rankings: Top 5 cornerbacks

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) against the Florida Gators during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) against the Florida Gators during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ranking the five best cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft, including three players who could find themselves taken in the top half of the first round.

After quarterback, defensive end and offensive tackle, the cornerback spot is the most valuable position during the NFL Draft.

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There’s no denying the NFL is a passing league and will continue to be a passing league with more and more teams throwing 40 times per game and spreading defenses out that puts cornerbacks on an island against receivers.

The pressure to find a shutdown cornerback like Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman or Patrick Peterson is immense for general managers and scouts and if you find one of those players you’re rare company because those type of players aren’t coming around every year.

However, this year’s group of cornerbacks features a group of elite prospects who should be able to win starting jobs as rookies and potentially develop into perennial Pro Bowl selections like that aforementioned trio.

There could be as many as five corners taken in the first round when the draft begins in late April, including two players who could go in the top 10 and one inside the first five picks.

Here’s how I rank the top five cornerbacks entering the NFL Combine.

Ramsey could go to the Baltimore Ravens with the fifth pick. He is a future All-Pro who has experience all over the secondary during his Florida State career. He’s also a track star who is going to light up the combine when he goes through drills.

Hargreaves was better as a sophomore than he was a junior and there’s a clear gap between him and Ramsey for the top spot. He is a dominant combine away from getting back to top 10-15 consideration.

Alexander had a great career at Clemson even if he was overshadowed by players in the front seven. He can pass Hargreaves during the pre-draft process.

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Apple was overshadowed as well during his time at Ohio State considering the loaded roster Urban Meyer had the last two years in Columbus. He’s a better prospect than former teammate Bradley Roby who was a first round pick of the Denver Broncos two years ago.

Fuller would have been No. 2 or No. 3 on this list if not for a knee injury that cost him most of the season. He’s a better prospect than older brother Kyle who was the No. 14 pick by the Chicago Bears two years ago, but his injury history could see him drop to the bottom third of the first round or top of the second round.

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