2012 NFL Draft rankings: Cornerbacks

by Dan Kadar on Jun 27, 2011 11:49 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

Janoris Jenkins may have earned the top rating from National Scouting for senior cornerbacks, but to me he's not the best senior corner in the nation.

That would be Virginia's Chase Minniefield. Forget what you know about Jenkins' off-field troubles. As a corner, Minniefield is a bigger and more physical player. He's ready for the pros right now as long as he's put in the right scheme.

Neither, however, is as good as Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. He combines Minniefield's physical play and Jenkins smoothness as a cover man.

After the jump, check out my preseason cornerback rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft. On Tuesday, safeties.

1. Chase Minniefield | 6'0, 185 pounds | CB | Virginia

2. Alfonzo Dennard | 5'10, 195 pounds | CB | Nebraska

3. Janoris Jenkins | 5'11, 186 pounds | CB | Florida

4. Brandon Boykin | 5'10, 184 pounds | CB | Georgia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Charles Brown | 5'10, 205 pounds | CB | North Carolina

16. Tashaun Gipson | 6'0, 208 pounds | CB | Wyoming

17. Asa Jackson | 5'11, 188 pounds | CB | Cal Poly

18. Leonard Johnson | 5'10, 196 pounds | CB | Iowa State

19. Trevin Wade | 5'11, 192 pounds | CB | Arizona

20. Emanuel Davis | 5'10, 188 pounds | CB | East Carolina

JUNIORS

1. Dre Kirkpatrick | 6'2, 190 pounds | CB | Alabama *

2. Cliff Harris | 5'11, 180 pounds | CB | Oregon *

3. Stephon Gilmore | 6'1, 190 pounds | CB | South Carolina *

4. Morris Claiborne | 6'0, 177 pounds | CB | LSU *

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

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

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

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

Tweet Comment 12 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would be able to live with Dre Kirkpatrick coming to St. Louis...

the man is a beast!! And since CB is a position that is usually drafted later in the first round and my Rams are gonna have a good season and thus a lower pick, this might be a possibility. Especially because CB is somewhat of a need.

Go RAMS!!

by Rams_4_ever on Jun 28, 2011 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

Good stuff

How would you rate Xavier Rhodes right now?

Follow me on twitter
Scalp Em.com, a Florida State blog
Jagsonville, a Jacksonville Jaguars blog

by Jonathan Loesche on Jun 28, 2011 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

It is unbelievable to me how most of these draftniks are completely oblivious to Xavier Rhodes

He is easily the best CB on Florida State. I would even say that Mike Harris is better than Greg Reid which is no sleight to him by any means. Mark Stoops is putting in work!

With the 15th pick, the Miami Dolphins select John Stamos....'s brother

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jun 28, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t have any redshirt sophomores ranked anywhere yet. It’s June. They’ve played one season.

But as I told Jon on Twitter earlier today, if I were rating Rhodes, I’d have him ahead of everyone but Dre Kirkpatrick. Hopefully this appeases you, Noles fan.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jun 28, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Weird, you didn’t show up on my replies list

Follow me on twitter
Scalp Em.com, a Florida State blog
Jagsonville, a Jacksonville Jaguars blog

by Jonathan Loesche on Jun 28, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That is because I’m an idiot. Proof:

http://twitter.com/#!/MockingTheDraft/status/85821186029793281

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jun 28, 2011 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Well if Rhodes has another year like last year he will be leaving early

Well you still left off Mike Harris? He was the top rated JUCO corner last year before joining the Noles. He played behind Greg Reid but pretty much outplayed him imo.

With the 15th pick, the Miami Dolphins select John Stamos....'s brother

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jun 29, 2011 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

No Josh Robinson?

My Seton Hall blog: http://thesetonhallblog.blogspot.com/
My Steelers blog: thenewsteelcurtain.blogspot.com
My Draft Blog: draftdatabase.wordpress.com

by seton hall and steelers on Jun 29, 2011 12:20 AM EDT reply actions

Crap! I knew I missed someone in the juniors. I’ll redo this later. He’d be No. 6.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jun 29, 2011 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you got Hosley low

but a lot of people do. Is he a 1st round grade in your opinion? (before you answer, I may veer into deep insurmountable depression if you say Hosley’s not a 1st rounder and Minnefield is…)

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.
-Mark Twain

by kinzav29 on Jun 29, 2011 1:13 AM EDT reply actions

Actually, most draft people have him far higher than I do. His size is a concern for me. He’s listed at 170, but that might be generous. Same with his height of 5’10.

But to tell you the truth, he’s probably the player I’m most eager to follow this season. I want to figure out where I may wrong on this guy.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jun 29, 2011 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions