Looking at the drafts from 2005-2014, 40 CB’s were selected in Round One. Of these 40 CB’s, only 8 had 3-Cone times worse than 6.99 (20%). Starting with the most recent:
1. Darqueze Dennard – 7.07 (24[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
2. Xavier Rhodes – 7.29 (25[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
3. Morris Claiborne – 7.01 (6[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
4. Dre Kirkpatrick – 7.20 (17[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
5. Leodis McKelvin – 7.06 (11[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
6. Mike Jenkins – 7.21 (25[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
7. Antoine Cason – 7.07 (27[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
8. Antonio Cromartie – 7.02 (19[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
Note – DJ Hayden and Fabian Washington did not participate in the 3-Cone.
Most people have Revis, Sherman, and Peterson as the top 3 CB’s in the NFL. Revis posted a 3-Cone of 6.56; Sherman posted a 6.72; and Peterson timed at 6.58. Sherman obviously wasn’t a First Round pick, but I mention him for reference.
Prior to his injury, the best rookie CB from the 2014 class was Jason Verrett. Of the top CB’s from the class, his 6.69 3-Cone was the best. Dennard is the only CB from this class on our list of 8, and after Verrett, Bradley Roby posted the best time at 6.74.
From the 2013 group of CB’s, Trufant has looked the best, and in the 3-Cone, he was also the top CB of the Round One CB’s from his class – with a 6.67. Rhodes posted the worst time, and he was pretty good in 2014. It should be noted that he’s 6’1, 210, with 33 3/4” arms (very long).
Two of the three CB’s drafted in First Round of the 2012 Draft posted 7+ 3-Cones (Claiborne and Kirkpatrick), and neither has lived up to expectations, though both have battled through some injuries. Stephon Gilmore has played well in Buffalo, and he posted a 6.61 3-Cone.
To continue the pattern, Patrick Peterson’s 6.58 was the best of his group. Amukamara posted a 6.97, and Jimmy Smith posted 6.93. Amukamara has been somewhat of a disappointment, but Smith has developed into a very good CB. At 6’2, 211, with 32 1/4” arms, he’s another guy whose length has helped.
In 2010, the top time for the top CB prospects belonged to Devin McCourty at 6.70; of course, he moved to FS, but he’s arguably the best player from that group. Joe Haden is the best CB from the class, but his respectable, if average, 6.94 was the worst among the First Round picks.
In 2009, only 2 CB’s were drafted in Round One, but both posted excellent 3-Cones, and both developed into excellent players: Malcom Jenkins – 6.59, Vontae Davis – 6.75. Jenkins, like McCourty, moved to FS.
2008 saw 5 CB’s go in the First, and 3 of the 5 are on the 7+ list (McKelvin, Jenkins, Cason). The two CB’s who were not? Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Aqib Talib. They posted times of 6.74 and 6.82 respectively. Note – the other 3 have not lived up to their draft slots.
2007 was outstanding at the top. Darrelle Revis’ 6.56 was only good for 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] best. Leon Hall topped him with a 6.50. Hall isn’t on Revis’ level, obviously, but he’s been a very good CB throughout his career, and he made the All Pro team once. Aaron Ross was also drafted in Round One, and he timed in at 6.67.
Tye Hill posted the best time of the 2006 group at 6.64, and the two worst times were posted by Antonio Cromartie and Jonathan Joseph – 7.02 and 6.92. Joseph’s 3-Cone puts him in the safe range, and at his peak, he was the best CB from this group. Cromartie’s lack of quickness shows up. When he’s not able to use his length to redirect WR’s, he struggles to change direction. He and Rhodes share some similarities here.
Finally, Antrel Rolle and Carlos Rogers had the best 3-Cones from 2005 group. Rolle recorded a 6.68, but, like McCourty and Jenkins, he moved to FS. Rogers posted a ridiculous 6.48. Had he not wasted away in Washington for six seasons, his career would likely be seen in a different light. He was outstanding in San Francisco, where he made an All Pro team in 2011.
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So what does this all mean for Waynes? Well, you can point to Cromartie and Rhodes, and say, ‘Maybe Waynes is an exception.’ He doesn’t have the frame of Cromartie or Rhodes, but maybe his 4.31 40 makes up for that. But, at 6’0, 186 lbs, with 31” arms and 8 ¼” hands, he’s not going to win a lot of physical battles against NFL WR’s. Cromartie and Rhodes hold their own very well in this area. They’re also much more physical on the LOS than is Waynes.
Further, you have to consider that, at 6’0, 191 lbs, Atoine Cason ran a 4.45 40, Mike Jenkins (5’10, 190lbs) ran a 4.38 40, and Mike Jenkins, at 5’10 197 lbs, ran a 4.38. Very fast CB’s – not great players. More similar in size to Waynes than Waynes is to Cromartie or Rhodes.
We should also remember that only 1 in 5 First Round CB’s posted 7+ 3-Cones. That teams generally avoid CB’s with 7+ 3-Cones is a red flag in of itself.
It’s likely that Waynes is the next member of the 7+ 3-Cone, so where does his legacy fall within this group? He’s certainly more similar in stature to the smaller fast guys who are still in the NFL but also guys who never justified their draft positions. Maybe his speed bumps him into that group with Cromartie and Rhodes. Cromartie has justified his draft position (despite his inconsistent play), and Rhodes looks like he might. We should mention, though, that Cromartie is very clearly not on the level of guys like Revis, Peterson, Talib, Joe Haden, or even Vontae Davis. So if you have a First Round grade on Waynes, and you think that his speed gives him a chance to have a similar career to Cromartie, I can buy that. If you have a Top 10 grade on him, though, you’re asking him to be the best CB in the last 10 drafts to post a 3-Cone worse than 7.0.
His feet hurt him the worst against Baylor.
[video=youtube;RPx3c76slcg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPx3c76slcg[/video]
At 0:10 (marking the video time), he loses his man deep, then loses the ball. Should have been PI.
At 0:37, he’s correct in taking his first step inside to cut off any inside routes, but the WR still crosses his face. Poor throw, or it could have been a TD.
At 0:47, he’s playing off and outside like he has help to the middle, but there was no help. Not even close to the WR, who drops a TD.
At 1:08, the WR creates nice separation on the back shoulder and catches the ball at the Goal Line.
2:08, he’s not paying attention, and Goodley cleans his clock. Knocks him out of the game for a bit.
At 2:45, he gets beat deep down the sideline.
At 2:59, the WR creates space on a comeback for an 8-yard gain. Waynes makes a solid tackle on the play.
At 3:28, he drops a gift INt (8 ¼” hands?).
I have Waynes in the Second Round. He’s not a safe pick. His upside rests somewhere between Leodis McKelvin and Antonio Cromartie, and his build suggests the upside may be closer to McKelvin.
1. Darqueze Dennard – 7.07 (24[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
2. Xavier Rhodes – 7.29 (25[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
3. Morris Claiborne – 7.01 (6[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
4. Dre Kirkpatrick – 7.20 (17[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
5. Leodis McKelvin – 7.06 (11[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
6. Mike Jenkins – 7.21 (25[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
7. Antoine Cason – 7.07 (27[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
8. Antonio Cromartie – 7.02 (19[SUP]th[/SUP] pick)
Note – DJ Hayden and Fabian Washington did not participate in the 3-Cone.
Most people have Revis, Sherman, and Peterson as the top 3 CB’s in the NFL. Revis posted a 3-Cone of 6.56; Sherman posted a 6.72; and Peterson timed at 6.58. Sherman obviously wasn’t a First Round pick, but I mention him for reference.
Prior to his injury, the best rookie CB from the 2014 class was Jason Verrett. Of the top CB’s from the class, his 6.69 3-Cone was the best. Dennard is the only CB from this class on our list of 8, and after Verrett, Bradley Roby posted the best time at 6.74.
From the 2013 group of CB’s, Trufant has looked the best, and in the 3-Cone, he was also the top CB of the Round One CB’s from his class – with a 6.67. Rhodes posted the worst time, and he was pretty good in 2014. It should be noted that he’s 6’1, 210, with 33 3/4” arms (very long).
Two of the three CB’s drafted in First Round of the 2012 Draft posted 7+ 3-Cones (Claiborne and Kirkpatrick), and neither has lived up to expectations, though both have battled through some injuries. Stephon Gilmore has played well in Buffalo, and he posted a 6.61 3-Cone.
To continue the pattern, Patrick Peterson’s 6.58 was the best of his group. Amukamara posted a 6.97, and Jimmy Smith posted 6.93. Amukamara has been somewhat of a disappointment, but Smith has developed into a very good CB. At 6’2, 211, with 32 1/4” arms, he’s another guy whose length has helped.
In 2010, the top time for the top CB prospects belonged to Devin McCourty at 6.70; of course, he moved to FS, but he’s arguably the best player from that group. Joe Haden is the best CB from the class, but his respectable, if average, 6.94 was the worst among the First Round picks.
In 2009, only 2 CB’s were drafted in Round One, but both posted excellent 3-Cones, and both developed into excellent players: Malcom Jenkins – 6.59, Vontae Davis – 6.75. Jenkins, like McCourty, moved to FS.
2008 saw 5 CB’s go in the First, and 3 of the 5 are on the 7+ list (McKelvin, Jenkins, Cason). The two CB’s who were not? Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Aqib Talib. They posted times of 6.74 and 6.82 respectively. Note – the other 3 have not lived up to their draft slots.
2007 was outstanding at the top. Darrelle Revis’ 6.56 was only good for 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] best. Leon Hall topped him with a 6.50. Hall isn’t on Revis’ level, obviously, but he’s been a very good CB throughout his career, and he made the All Pro team once. Aaron Ross was also drafted in Round One, and he timed in at 6.67.
Tye Hill posted the best time of the 2006 group at 6.64, and the two worst times were posted by Antonio Cromartie and Jonathan Joseph – 7.02 and 6.92. Joseph’s 3-Cone puts him in the safe range, and at his peak, he was the best CB from this group. Cromartie’s lack of quickness shows up. When he’s not able to use his length to redirect WR’s, he struggles to change direction. He and Rhodes share some similarities here.
Finally, Antrel Rolle and Carlos Rogers had the best 3-Cones from 2005 group. Rolle recorded a 6.68, but, like McCourty and Jenkins, he moved to FS. Rogers posted a ridiculous 6.48. Had he not wasted away in Washington for six seasons, his career would likely be seen in a different light. He was outstanding in San Francisco, where he made an All Pro team in 2011.
*
So what does this all mean for Waynes? Well, you can point to Cromartie and Rhodes, and say, ‘Maybe Waynes is an exception.’ He doesn’t have the frame of Cromartie or Rhodes, but maybe his 4.31 40 makes up for that. But, at 6’0, 186 lbs, with 31” arms and 8 ¼” hands, he’s not going to win a lot of physical battles against NFL WR’s. Cromartie and Rhodes hold their own very well in this area. They’re also much more physical on the LOS than is Waynes.
Further, you have to consider that, at 6’0, 191 lbs, Atoine Cason ran a 4.45 40, Mike Jenkins (5’10, 190lbs) ran a 4.38 40, and Mike Jenkins, at 5’10 197 lbs, ran a 4.38. Very fast CB’s – not great players. More similar in size to Waynes than Waynes is to Cromartie or Rhodes.
We should also remember that only 1 in 5 First Round CB’s posted 7+ 3-Cones. That teams generally avoid CB’s with 7+ 3-Cones is a red flag in of itself.
It’s likely that Waynes is the next member of the 7+ 3-Cone, so where does his legacy fall within this group? He’s certainly more similar in stature to the smaller fast guys who are still in the NFL but also guys who never justified their draft positions. Maybe his speed bumps him into that group with Cromartie and Rhodes. Cromartie has justified his draft position (despite his inconsistent play), and Rhodes looks like he might. We should mention, though, that Cromartie is very clearly not on the level of guys like Revis, Peterson, Talib, Joe Haden, or even Vontae Davis. So if you have a First Round grade on Waynes, and you think that his speed gives him a chance to have a similar career to Cromartie, I can buy that. If you have a Top 10 grade on him, though, you’re asking him to be the best CB in the last 10 drafts to post a 3-Cone worse than 7.0.
His feet hurt him the worst against Baylor.
[video=youtube;RPx3c76slcg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPx3c76slcg[/video]
At 0:10 (marking the video time), he loses his man deep, then loses the ball. Should have been PI.
At 0:37, he’s correct in taking his first step inside to cut off any inside routes, but the WR still crosses his face. Poor throw, or it could have been a TD.
At 0:47, he’s playing off and outside like he has help to the middle, but there was no help. Not even close to the WR, who drops a TD.
At 1:08, the WR creates nice separation on the back shoulder and catches the ball at the Goal Line.
2:08, he’s not paying attention, and Goodley cleans his clock. Knocks him out of the game for a bit.
At 2:45, he gets beat deep down the sideline.
At 2:59, the WR creates space on a comeback for an 8-yard gain. Waynes makes a solid tackle on the play.
At 3:28, he drops a gift INt (8 ¼” hands?).
I have Waynes in the Second Round. He’s not a safe pick. His upside rests somewhere between Leodis McKelvin and Antonio Cromartie, and his build suggests the upside may be closer to McKelvin.
