Top Cornerback Options for the Buccaneers in First Round of 2024 NFL Draft
"You can never have enough corners".
We've heard this statement from Todd Bowles on numerous occasions over the years, and there's no question that the defensive minded head coach of the Buccaneers places great value on the position.
Technically, the Buccaneers already have two above average outside corners under contract in Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis. However, both players are coming off a season that saw them in and out of the lineup due to nagging injuries. To further complicate matters is the fact that Dean and Davis combined for just two interceptions all of last year (and a total of five over the past two seasons). Generating turnovers is supposed to be a staple of any Todd Bowles' defense, and he expects his cornerbacks to make plays.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been happening.
As a result, there's been steady speculation that Carlton Davis is a candidate to be cut or traded this offseason in order to create some additional cap space. If that happens, or even if it doesn't, there's a strong possibility that the Buccaneers could look to find their next cornerback early in 2024 NFL Draft. This could happen as early as round one, if a player they love is still on the board.
Let's have a look at some of the prospects who might fit that bill.
Cooper DeJean, Iowa
6'0 1/2", 203 lbs, 31 1/8"
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Cooper DeJean is a versatile, fundamentally sound, and supremely athletic defensive back. Not only is he the best run-defending corner in this entire class, but DeJean's combination of athleticism, aggression, and high IQ make him a dynamic pass defender as well. He is a scheme-proof chess piece with the ability to excel at any position in the defensive backfield — he could play safety, outside corner, or nickel at the NFL level.
So exactly how athletic is Cooper DeJean? Check out this clip from Frank Hrelja summarizing some of his accomplishments:
There's a very good chance that DeJean is off the board by the time the Buccaneers make their pick. But with a draft class that is stacked at several premier positions, it's possible that he could slip to the back end of the first. If that happens, you can bet that Todd Bowles will be salivating as he envisions the creative ways DeJean's skillset could be utilized within his defensive scheme. Similar to how Antoine Winfield Jr. has been used in so many different roles and alignments, the possibilities that would exist by simply adding Cooper DeJean to this defense are tantalizing.
Nate Wiggins, Clemson
6'1", 173 lbs, 30 1/2"
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Wiggins is a natural corner with great length. He is a smooth glider with the ability to change directions effortlessly at high speeds. Speaking of speed, that's his trump card. Wiggins ran a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash in his sole attempt at the combine (he was forced to withdraw after injuring his hip flexor during that run). The biggest question about Wiggins is whether or not his slight frame will be able to sustain the rigors of an NFL career. Wiggins weighed in at just 173 pounds in Indianapolis.
Still, Nate Wiggins' athletic ability and feel for the position is special. He's going to be drafted at some point on Day 1, and if he's there at 26, there's a good possibility that he'll be under consideration by Jason Licht and company.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
5'11 1/2", 199 lbs, 32"
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
As far as cornerbacks go, Kool-Aid McKinstry is a name we've heard in draft circles since before the 2023 college football season even began. And that's not just because his first name is a nostalgic reminder of the popular beverage so many of us enjoyed during childhood — It's because McKinstry has excelled in the SEC while showing off his NFL-ready skillset with great consistency over the past three seasons. Though he isn't an athletic marvel like the two corners mentioned above, McKinstry is an intelligent and disciplined player with enough short-area quickness and fluidity to make up for his lack of raw speed. He can read and react as well as any defensive back in this class, and he's very patient and calculated when it comes to timing his pursuits.
McKinstry isn't being talked about as much these days, partly due to the fact that a foot injury was discovered at the combine, but also because of 'prospect fatigue'. Leadership, maturity, intelligence are many of McKinstry's greatest qualities as a prospect, and sometimes they simply aren't as exciting to discuss as the draft cycle moves along. Especially when he's been on the radar as one of this draft's top corner prospects for so long. Still, McKinstry is expected to be drafted in the late first or early second round. Assuming his injury recovery goes smoothly, McKinstry has the ability to step in and contribute on an NFL field right away, and he'd be a 'high floor, lower ceiling' pick for the Buccaneers in round one.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
5'11", 183 lb, 32"
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is a unique style of cornerback compared to the other prospects we've covered. He's long, rangey, and he plays with physicality and aggressiveness in all areas. He excels most in press-man coverage and does a great job supporting the run with his hard-nosed style of play. Rakestraw is unafraid to take on blockers or shed defenders in order to pursue the ball at any level. Concerns regarding his handsy, highly aggressive style of play do exist, as those traits have the potential to draw flags in the NFL. It also doesn't help that he lacks the top-end speed you expect from most first-round corners, or that his comfortability/experience playing in zone coverages leaves something to be desired.
Overall, Rakestraw was a very impactful defender last year, which is especially impressive when you consider the quality of players he had to match up against in the SEC. I expect a number of coaches to fall in love with him based on the tape. That said, his poor combine performance — although it's been reported he was fighting through a groin injury — likely hurt his stock. I would be shocked if Rakestraw Jr. was selected before the Buccaneers are on the clock at 26. It's much more likely that he'll hear his name called at some point on Day 2.
Final Thoughts
When discussing the top of the 2024 cornerback draft class, it's worth mentioning that there are six different prospects with a legitimate chance at being drafted in the first round. In addition to the players profiled above, Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Terrion Arnold round out the group, but neither player will be available beyond the first 15 picks.
Whether or not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are willing to address the cornerback position with their top pick in this year's draft remains a mystery. But if the team does decide to move on from Carlton Davis before Thursday, April 25, it will become that much more likely. And if that is ultimately the path the Bucs choose to take, I would be shocked if one of Cooper DeJean, Nate Wiggins, Kool-Aid McKinstry, or Ennis Rakestraw Jr. were not the pick.
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