Michael Davis was recognized as one of the best zone coverage cornerbacks in the NFL by Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar. Recently, Farrar compiled the best slot defenders, and his new teammate, Chris Harris Jr., was among the list.

1. Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Class
2. Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Prospects
3. Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Picks
4. Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Rankings

2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 cornerbacks A true lockdown corner, capable of covering elite receivers without help from a safety, changes everything for a defense. Rank First Last College Height Weight 40-Time Class; 1: Jeff: Okudah: Ohio St. 6-1 ⅛: 205: 4.48: JR: 2: CJ: Henderson: Florida: 6-0 ¾: 204: 4.39: JR: 3: Trevon.

Harris Jr. came in as the 10th-best slot defender in the league. Farrar cited his awareness and intelligence in coverage as his main strengths.

Now with the Chargers after nine years in Denver, Harris has said that he will spend most of his time in the slot as part of one of the NFL’s most potentially dominant secondaries. What makes Harris the personification of the slot defender throughout his career? His short-area speed, change of direction ability, and toughness are all prototypical, but it’s his intelligence and awareness to discern what’s happening in the passing game before it happens that gives him a considerable advantage. The Chargers got a real bargain in Harris’ two-year, $20 million contract, but it’s interesting to see how Harris and Desmond King (who just missed this list) will co-exist in a defense that put more than five defensive backs on the field just 19% of the time in 2019.

The top Cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft from the College Football 2019 Season! A formation in which 5 defensive backs are in the field (one in the slot). 2020 NFL Draft: 49ers picks, mock drafts, news, rumors, analysis Ranking the 15 best cornerbacks in the draft This year’s class is much, much stronger than last year’s class.

Harris Jr. stayed in the AFC West, leaving the Broncos after nine seasons for the Chargers. The acquisition of the four-time Pro Bowler bolstered a defense that ranked No. 6 in the league last season.

However, according to NFL.com research, the Chargers allowed nine yards per slot target last season, which was the fifth-highest average in the league. They also ranked No. 30 in completion percentage to slot targets.

Harris Jr., 30, is one of the NFL’s polished cornerbacks in that he can on the outside and shadow a No. 1 wide receiver but also excel as a slot cornerback. Harris projects as the starting slot corner, overtaking Desmond King in that role.

Harris is capable of playing on the outside along with some safety, but we can expect to see him primarily on the inside. His coverage skills and open space tackling will be key as the team looks to stop the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.

The best thing about it all is that getting him for two years at $17 million was a heck of a bargain.

A true lockdown corner, capable of covering elite receivers without help from a safety, changes everything for a defense. That’s why the top four players here received first-round grades; the fifth could easily hear his name called on Thursday night depending on how the draft unfolds.

This class of corners appears to have one sure-thing star, but several others have a chance to reach that ceiling. NFL defensive coordinators are increasingly relying on nickel and dime packages, and covet versatile players who can deftly switch between man and zone coverages or step inside to cover the slot. Deception is everything in the NFL, and that requires having smart corners who can adapt on the fly.

Here’s a look at the best of this year’s class.

1. Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State

Okudah is in a class of his own. He’s the best corner prospect I’ve watched since Jalen Ramsey. In fact, that’s my comp for the Ohio State star. He’s got everything teams look for in a No. 1 corner: Size, speed, agility, instincts and the mentality all great corners have. On top of the coverage ability, Okudah isn’t afraid to make a tackle. Having a lockdown guy like this on the roster makes game-planning so much easier.

Grade: Early 1st Round

2. Kristian Fulton, LSU

It’s not going to be hard for NFL teams to project how Fulton will fare in a pro defense. LSU took a pro-style approach to coverage during Fulton’s career, routinely asking him to play press-man coverage with no safety help over the top. And he did it against the nation’s best receivers. As good as Fulton is in man coverage, he might be better in zone. That versatility should get him drafted early on Day 1.

Grade: Early 1st Round

3. C.J. Henderson, Florida

There has been speculation that Henderson has leapfrogged Okudah on some teams’ draft boards, but it’s hard to justify that based on his 2019 film. He took a step back after a phenomenal 2018 season. Henderson’s movement skills were still there, but lapses in concentration got him beat downfield on several occasions. My biggest concern with the Florida star? He’s not a physical corner and could get beat up by true No. 1 receivers. He might be a top-end No. 2 two rather than a centerpiece for a defensive secondary.

Grade: Late 1st Round

4. Jeff Gladney, TCU

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Class

Gladney is a play-maker. Does that mentality get him into trouble sometimes? Sure, but the positive plays outweigh the negatives. In TCU’s defense, he was asked to play in a variety of coverages. He played press man, he played zone from deeper alignments and he made plays no matter what he was asked to do. Gladney’s risk-taking might scare some teams off, but there’s no doubt he’ll be a useful NFL player, if not a star.

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Prospects

Grade: Late 1st Round

5. Jaylon Johnson, Utah

Johnson is an ideal No. 2 corner for an NFL defense. He’s a physical dude who understands how offenses want to attack. He may not have the agility to stick with the top receivers in one-on-one coverage, but if you have a lockdown guy on the other side of him, Johnson is going to make a lot of plays. The only question is whether Johnson’s physicality will translate to the next level because he is a bit undersized.

Grade: Mid 2nd Round

Five more prospects to keep an eye on…

6. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
7. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
8. Bryce Hall, Virginia
9. Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
10. A.J. Terrell, Clemson

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Picks

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Rankings

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