Updated 2012 NFL Draft cornerback rankings

by Dan Kadar on Nov 18, 2011 11:19 AM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

The rise of LSU's Morris Claiborne is complete. All season he's inched his way up the rankings and now it's nearly impossible to not consider him the nation's best cornerback prospect. It's also helped him that Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick has been inconsistent, Janoris Jenkins is playing at a lower level and Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard has been injured.

Find the rankings and let me know what you think. Who should be lower and who should be higher? Also, how would you compare Claiborne to the top cornerbacks from previous seasons?

1. Morris Claiborne | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | LSU * - Prospect notes

2. Dre Kirkpatrick | 6'2, 190 pounds | CB | Alabama * - Prospect notes

3. Janoris Jenkins | 5'11, 186 pounds | CB | North Alabama - Prospect notes | Red Flag Alert

4. Alfonzo Dennard | 5'10, 205 pounds | CB | Nebraska - Prospect notes

5. Chase Minniefield | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | Virginia - Prospect notes

6. Stephon Gilmore | 6'1, 190 pounds | CB | South Carolina *- Prospect notes

7. Brandon Boykin | 5'10, 184 pounds | CB | Georgia - Prospect notes

8. Jayron Hosley | 5'10, 170 pounds | CB | Virginia Tech *

9. Jamell Fleming | 5'11, 192 pounds | CB | Oklahoma

10. Coryell Judie | 5'11, 188 pounds | CB | Texas A&M

11. Donnie Fletcher | 6'1, 200 pounds | CB | Boston College

12. Casey Hayward | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | Vanderbilt

13. Shaun Prater | 5'11, 180 pounds | CB | Iowa

14. Leonard Johnson | 5'10, 202 pounds | CB | Iowa State

15. Jonathan Banks | 6'1, 185 pounds | CB | Mississippi State

16. Desmond Trufant | 6'0, 178 pounds | CB | Washington *

17. Robert Blanton | 6'0, 200 pounds | CB | Notre Dame

18. Charles Brown | 5'9, 205 pounds | CB | North Carolina

19. Cliff Harris | 5'11, 165 pounds | CB | Oregon * - Prospect notes | Red Flag Alert

20. Keith Tandy | 5'10, 198 pounds | CB | West Virginia

21. De'Quan Menzie | 6'0, 198 pounds | CB | Alabama

22. Micah Hyde | 6'1, 185 pounds | CB | Iowa *

23. Rod Sweeting | 6'0, 184 pounds | CB | Georgia Tech *

24. Ryan Steed | 5'11, 190 pounds | CB | Furman

25. Greg Reid | 5'9, 175 pounds | CB | Florida State *

26. Josh Robinson | 5'10, 192 pounds | CB | Central Florida *

27. Johnny Adams | 5'11, 175 pounds | CB | Michigan State *

28. Omar Bolden | 5'10, 195 pounds | CB | Arizona State

29. Brandon McGee | 6'0, 190 pounds | CB | Miami *

30. Isaiah Frey | 6'0, 190 pounds | CB | Nevada

31. Trumaine Johnson | 6'2, 197 pounds | CB | Montana

32. Troy Woolfolk | 6'0, 191 pounds | CB | Michigan

* denotes underclassman

QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | MLB | CB | FS | SS

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Comments

Still think Kirkpatrick has the greatest upside and better athleticism over Claiborne.

My rankings:

Dre Kirkpatrick
Morris Claiborne
Alfonzo Dennard
Janoris Jenkins
Chase Minniefield
Stephon Gilmore
Jayron Hosely

Claiborne, I think, is a worse prospect than both Prince and Peterson, though not by much. Kirkpatrick has been worse than Claiborne, but again, I can see a much greater upside with him.

I support the Giants like bras support Kim Kardashian's boobs. It can be a struggle, we've had some jiggles, but we're still firm.

by BigBlueIntervention on Nov 18, 2011 11:42 AM EST reply actions

So which CB’s on this list fall to the second round? Do the Browns have a chance of getting Minnefield there? What are your thoughts?

"A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week." -- George S. Patton
Joe Thomas is his name when he comes down from heaven...

by J. W. on Nov 18, 2011 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

I'd say Minnifield goes top of the 2nd.

I support the Giants like bras support Kim Kardashian's boobs. It can be a struggle, we've had some jiggles, but we're still firm.

by BigBlueIntervention on Nov 19, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

Hyde has been far and away better than Prater for Iowa this year.

really unimpressed with Prater’s play so far this season.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"Except for half a dozen in each town the citizens are proud of that achievement of ignorance which is so easy to come by. To be 'intellectual' or 'artistic' or, in their own word, to be 'highbrow,' is to be priggish and of dubious virtue." —Sinclair Lewis

by shake n bake on Nov 18, 2011 11:44 AM EST reply actions

top 32

and no mention of Conroy Black for the U of Utah? i’m not a scout but he’s been solid for a team ranked 2nd in pass defense efficiency in the Pac-12 (conference with several solid QBs) and has 4 ints this year. Plus, sub 4.4 speed always helps (yes, speed isn’t everything but his techniques have also improved dramatically over the last couple years)

by js1987 on Nov 18, 2011 12:28 PM EST reply actions

I really like Stephon Gilmore for the Colts on the second round!!

Vamos Colts!!!

by COLTS_CR9 on Nov 18, 2011 12:43 PM EST reply actions

Trent Baalke said there was a CB that on tape looked like a first rounder but when he saw them in person he was amazed by how bad he is.

I dunno which one it can be.

We have our foot on their necks now stomp on it.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
When Jim Harbaugh says "more is more" I think he is trying to say Moore is more.

by manraj7 on Nov 18, 2011 12:45 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

CB Ratings

I think Jonathon Banks is a better CB prospect than Kirkpatrick. In 2011 Banks: 5INT’s, 2Sacks, 8PD’s 1FF, 42 TKL’s, and 1 INT TD ret. At the 4 spot I would place Casey Hayward above Alfonzo Dennard. Hayward: 5 INT’s, 1, FF, 2 PD’s 1 TD INT ret 7 PD’s.

by ValdezY on Nov 18, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions

Tru

I think Trumaine Johnson should be much higher.

My top 15:

Claiborne
Kirkpatrick
Dennard
Hosley
Jenkins
Rhodes
Minnifield
Gilmore
Heyward
Judie
Johnson
Fletcher
Boykin
Harris
Menzie

by BlueVol03 on Nov 18, 2011 12:54 PM EST reply actions

Really Like your list of DB's

I would agree with your list too as well

by Touhue Cha on Nov 18, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

i think he should even be a couple names higher than that

by boomsauce on Nov 18, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

Johnson was recently arrested wasn't he?

Probably why he drops so much

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me." Dudley Field Malone

by Jesse Bartolis on Nov 18, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

If he just got arrested, then he’s got to be a bengals pick.

"A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week." -- George S. Patton
Joe Thomas is his name when he comes down from heaven...

by J. W. on Nov 18, 2011 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

My top 12 right now

Kirkpatrick
Claiborne
Dennard
Jenkins
Harris
Rhodes
Gilmore
Boykin
Hosley
Minnifield
Johnson
Trufant

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Nov 18, 2011 6:26 PM EST reply actions

Just for discussion, the Browns have two picks in the first, should they be used on the CB, DE, LB positions to finish fleshing out a promising young defense? Or get a WR & OL? Whats the best use of these picks? do they try to trade down again from an obvious top ten pick again and load up more draft picks?

"A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week." -- George S. Patton
Joe Thomas is his name when he comes down from heaven...

by J. W. on Nov 18, 2011 9:30 PM EST reply actions