NFL Draft 2018: Auburn’s Carlton Davis could be next lockdown cornerback

The Auburn Tigers fell just short of a College Football Playoff berth in 2017. How will their No. 1 cornerback Carlton Davis fair in the 2018 NFL Draft?

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After earning a starting position as a freshman, Carlton Davis was a staple to the Auburn secondary. While he had strong seasons in 2015 and 2016, he emerged as one of the nation’s best in the 2017 push to the playoff. While the team fell just short after a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, the Tigers have quite a few big names headed to the draft but Davis may be one of the biggest.

In 38 career games, he finished with 138 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, a recovery and four interceptions. Those are strong numbers for a corner in the SEC West. Whether that dominance and talent will transfer to the next level is in question, but he is still projected as a high pick. A strong combine effort would do wonders for the kid from Florida.

Strengths

Davis is big. He checks in at 6-foot-1, taller than the average NFL cornerback with arms that dangle down his sides. Those long arms have proven extremely important in terms of pass break ups and tackles in the Auburn secondary the last three seasons. His size and wingspan allows him to blanket receivers and take them out of the equation for a big play. He is also known for the speed and ability of his hands to quite literally rip a ball away from someone.

The cornerback experience in guarding some of the best receivers in college football as an SEC defender will serve him well in his professional career. His experience alone could push him into the high second round if not the late first round. A strong showing of speed and agility at the combine is just what he needs to skyrocket his draft stock.

Weaknesses

Davis has been known to stumble and lose his balance in more complex routes. His biggest struggle , however, is his lack of ability to put on the brakes and change routes in coverage, allowing big plays to be made down field. His tendency to be grabby in terms of pass breakups will get him in trouble in the big leagues. He also tends to tug on jerseys and helmets as a recovery tactic, something else that could get him in big trouble.

However, a lack of consistency in his wrapping procedures after a tackle may be his biggest flaw of all. That is something that can be fixed quickly with the right coach though. It has been said that his own quarterback avoided throwing toward him at practices, take that as you will though.

Next: Latest pre-Combine NFL Mock Draft first round

Draft Expectation

Davis’ combination of height, weight, wingspan and ball skills could catapult Davis into the first round of the draft. He is a player that many SEC receivers are quite excited to see leave the conference. He has the ability to take wideouts out of the game completely with his skill in blanketing in coverage, however his tendency to lean toward what could be considered pass interference may knock him down a few notches.

Projection: Late first, early second round