2017 NFL Mock Draft: NFL Conference Championship Edition
By Tyler Brooke
player. 49. . CB. Clemson. Cordrea Tankersley. 29
It’s been apparent all season long that the Green Bay Packers are in desperate need of some help in their secondary. With Sam Shields’ likely retiring after this season due to a history of concussions, there is no reliable No. 1 option at cornerback on the roster.
The good news is that this is an extremely deep class of defensive backs, and with the No. 29 pick, someone is going to be there. In this scenario, Clemson’s Cordrea Tankersley would be the best option for the Packers if they’re looking for a guy with upside as a shutdown corner.
With long arms and a 6-foot-0, 200-pound frame, Tankersley has the build of a future No. 1 cornerback. He does a great job of using the size and those long arms to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, making him excellent at press and man coverage.
Tankersley has the ball skills and athleticism to make plays in coverage, but the big concern with the Clemson cornerback is his inconsistent tackling. At this point, the Packers need any kind of help that they can get in the secondary, and if they take a cornerback like Tankersley in the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take one or two more corners in the later rounds.