NFL Draft Profile: Riley Moss, Cornerback, Iowa Hawkeyes
#33
Pos: CB
Ht: 6010
Wt: 193
Hand: 0948
Arm: 3000
Wing: 7418
40: 4.45
DOB: 3/3/2000
Hometown: Ankeny, IA
High School: Centennial
Eligibility: 2023
Riley Moss
Iowa
Hawkeyes
One-Liner:
Really smart cornerback, who lacks the traits to be a starter in the NFL.
Evaluation:
One area that Moss really excels at is his discipline and patience on the field. Moss has a great feel in zone coverage and is consistently in the right position. He also has solid hands. That in combination with his ability in zone coverage led Moss to be an interception magnet this past season. When it comes to tackling, Moss is pretty solid and is willing to try and make a play. When receivers take Moss vertical in man coverage, he has good enough foot speed to stay with them. In terms of his athleticism, Moss is going to have a tough time transitioning to the next level. His hips are stiff, and he really struggles to change direction. Quicker receivers will make it very difficult for Moss to stay in phase with them in man coverage, most likely making him scheme-specific at the next level. He isn’t very aggressive in coverage. He can be passive and let receivers make plays on the football uncontested. His tackling technique needs to improve, as his poor technique will cause him to miss players when he is coming downhill or in open space. The intrigue with Moss is that he is very smart and a disciplined player. He also has really solid size and length for a defensive back. His lack of athleticism and man coverage ability will make him scheme-dependent, hurting his value. A switch to safety could be in the works, as he has solid range and is a willing enough tackler. Right now as a cornerback, he is a back end of the roster kind of player.
Grade:
4th Round
Quotes:
“That (outside attention) can affect how you play mentally. I started to figure that out early in my career,” Moss said. “I think that’s why I’ve excelled, because I kind of forgot about the outside noise and played football.” -- Riley Moss
Background:
The Hawkeyes have helped place a plethora of defensive backs into the NFL in recent seasons and Moss is the next in line. There were thoughts that he could enter the draft last year after he accepted his invitation to Reese’s Senior Bowl. The local product possesses the versatility to play cornerback or safety but Iowa coaches prefer his ball-hawk instincts at corner, where he can use his deceptive instincts. Despite missing three games a year ago due to a knee injury, Moss still managed to record four interceptions and owns three pick-six returns for touchdowns during his collegiate career. His eye discipline and patience allows him to thrive in zone coverage. In addition, he’s willing to come up and make the tackle against the run. The cerebral element of his game, combined with his great athleticism could see Moss rise as a top 100 prospect.
