Devin McCourty, CB/KR, Rutgers
Ht: 5’ 10 ¾” Wt: 196
EMQB’s analysis on the pick: McCourty is a perfect Patriots' player: smart, versatile, and physical. The Patriots struggled on defense last year, and I believe many of their draft picks will be defensive players in this draft.
Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: Lean, athletic, quick-footed cornerback with legit speed, movement skills and explosion to match up at the next level. Ordinary ball skills limit his ceiling, but should be able to contribute readily as a core special-teams player and nickel defender. Low-risk selection with starter potential.
NFL projection: Top-40 pick.
GM Jr’s scouting report: McCourty is the type of cornerback that you have to be careful not to overlook because of the number of catches he allows, as he has the athleticism, competitiveness, ball skills, and special teams production to be a productive cornerback in the NFL. While he measures in a basically 5’11, he looks and plays shorter than that. One thing that is so impressive about McCourty is his ability and willingness to get hands on receiver in “Press” coverage, maintain contact to play physical with receiver throughout route and ball skills to break up passes when he anticipates the pass arriving. He is a dangerous kickoff returner who gets to full speed very fast, hits the hole quickly and has the speed to take plays the distance. He flies down the field as a “Gunner” on punt coverage unit and does a very good job of staying under control to either make the tackle in the open field or to slow up returner enough so teammates can make the tackle. Overall, right now McCourty is a cornerback that is ideally suited to be a #3 cornerback and special teams star, but he has the physical talent to become a very good starter. He is going to need to improve his backpedal in order to transition quicker so that he can close quicker on passes and must improve his ability breaking up passes he is in position to make a play on. His elite special teams ability and top level athleticism will give him as much time as he needs as a special teams star and nickel back to try and develop into a starter.
Lindy’s Sports scouting report: McCourty has been a major contributor on special teams, averaging 25.1 yards per kick off return, including a touchdown, in 2009 and blocking seven kicks in his career. That special teams acumen, along with speed and ball skills, makes McCourty likely to be drafted earlier than some expect.
Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695
GM Jr. 2010 Draft Guide available @ http://gmjrnfldraft.com/
Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332
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