Cornerback Trent McDuffie’s collegiate film showcases why he deserves top NFL draft-prospect status
We started the 2022 NFL draft cornerback conversation with Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner. The prospect the kids call “Sauce” initially seemed like a New York Jets option at No. 10, but after breaking down the film, he is more likely an option at No. 4.
In short, Sauce is the undoubted top corner talent in this player pool. So, the question then becomes, “Who’s No. 2?”
Two names often come up, LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. and Washington’s Trent McDuffie.
The full Trent McDuffie film breakdown can be seen at the bottom of this article.
Our latest review zeroed in on the oft-injured Stingley, whose talent is undeniable. Unfortunately, the risk may far surpass the reward for a rebuilding team such as the Jets.
McDuffie, on the other hand, may just pass more of the “surefire” tests than the LSU stud. But is he a realistic option for the Jets at No. 10?
- Is McDuffie much of a downgrade from Gardner?
- Can he play both inside and outside?
- Will his size allow him to play outside in the big-boy NFL?
- Is he a scheme-specific corner?
- And, of course, is he worth the tenth overall pick?
Those questions and much more are answered in the latest edition of Blewett’s Blitz. The full Trent McDuffie film breakdown (over an hour of college game tape) can be seen at the bottom of this article.
YouTube clip and podcast episode
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Top-notch quickness
- Lateral quickness/burst
- Ball skills (limited reps)
- Willingness in run game
- Awareness
- Hand fighting
- Can blitz
- Just as comfortable in man and zone
- Changes up technique from off, catch, soft and aggressive press
- Fluidity
- Acceleration
- Quick out of breaks
- Balance in backpedal
- Pre-snap stance
- Patient in press
- Inches back with good balance
- Speed
- Stays square in press
- Gets shuffles in press
- Eyes stay low, doesn’t get faked out by head movements
- Smooth when opening hips
- Ability to gear down
- Gets hands-on WR as he opens
- Keeps hands-on during WR stem
- Rarely overcommits lower half
- Squeezes to sideline
- Does well to squeeze or maintain contact while in bail/shuffle
- Can play outside and in slot
- Route break anticipation
- Plays route aggressively, trusts his athleticism
- Confident player
- Aware of traffic vs. crossing routes
- Balance in press
- Will jump routes
- Stays over toes
- Leveraging routes while off
- Vertical
- Strike timing
- Sticky
Weaknesses
- Reps of him leaving feet as tackler
- Can be over aggressive (double moves?), jumps routes often
- Can be too patient with feet vs deep stems
- Needs to get hands-on more in press
- Size
- Length
- Setting edge as force player
- Can play in no man’s land
- Jump splits at snap too often
- Too focused on QB when bailing
- Could be more forceful in taking in blocks
- Needs to wrap up as tackler
- Can he stand up vs. bigger WRs?
- Didn’t see him targeted much, want to see more reps of him playing ball
- Didn’t see him vs double moves
