New York Giants Draft Preview: DB Renardo Green

Continuing our look at prospective cornerbacks who could be fits for Giants.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Apr 17, 2024

In this story:

Renardo Green

NFL Draft

New York Giants

Renardo Green, DB

Height: 6’0
Weight: 186 lbs
Hands: 9 ⅛”
Arms: 31 ¼”
Wingspan: 74 ¾”
Class: 5th Year Senior
School: Florida State
STATS

MEASUREMENTS

40-yard dash: 4.49
10-yard split: 1.53
Vertical Jump: 37.5”
Broad Jump: 10’10”

A former three-star recruit out of Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida, where he was the 56th prospect from the state of Florida and the 54 cornerback in the 2019 recruiting cycle. He started 32 of 52 career games and was Honorable Mention All-ACC in 2022 while landing Second Team All-ACC in 2023.

Green led the ACC in passes defended and ranked fifth in the entire FBS. Green has experience playing both safety and cornerback. He was moved to safety during the 2020 and 2021 seasons and returned to CB for his final two collegiate seasons. Green opted out of Florida State’s bowl game and was a stand out during the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl week.

Strengths

* Good size with adequate length
* Changes direction well
* Physical press man coverage cornerback
* Impressive balance and control when turning and changing direction
* Very good combination of physicality + fluidity
* More than held his own vs. Malik Nabers (LSU, Week 1)
--Great coverage vs. Nabers in RZ, INC (Q1 12:03)
* Solid job overall on Nabers as a CB - more than held his own
--INT and physical vs. Nabers on curl (Q4, 15:00)
* Uses the sideline well in coverage - provides little space on vertical outside releases
* Smooth with good reactive quickness in man coverage
* Disciplined with good eyes to handle double moves
* Good zone eyes and understanding of route concepts
* Good spatial relationship with assignments when midpointing
* Disruptive at the catch point with his hands/body
* Toughness as a secondary contain defender
* Solid ability to stay low as a tackler into contact
* Solid wrap up tackler who latches on - did have a few big hits on tape
* Will expand, absorb lead block, and quickly get lateral to cut RBs angle off
--Miami Q1 7:13
--Florida Q3 8:20
--Pitt Q2 00:30
--Virginia Tech Q2 2:59 (didn’t defeat block, but great on edge)
--Clemson Q4 14:55 HUGE hit on RB behind LOS
* Has the physical temperament - and experience - to play safety
* Backside pursuit on tackles when blitzing - motor!
* Versatile on defense (can play safety) with special teams experience

Weaknesses

* Is light for the safety position
* Only modest overall athlete for the CB positon
* Disruptive ability at the catch point but only had 1 career interception
* Gets way too handsy in coverage - nine penalties over the last two years
* Propensity to get handsy at the WR’s break will likely get flagged in the NFL
* Could do a better job turning and locating the football when for INT opportunity

Summary

Renardo Green brings a physical and tough mindset to the CB position, with the ability to dictate plays at the line of scrimmage with an impressive overall press package. He’s a man-coverage cornerback who exercises discipline and smoothly changes direction to match the break of wide receivers. He also has good eyes and an understanding with zone concepts while being a sound tackler in run support.

He can be too physical and grabby at times and must do a better job of turning his head around at the catch point. He’s only a modest athlete for the CB position and would likely need to add mass to play safety in the NFL. Still, his combination of fluidity, footwork at the LOS, press ability, and coverage awareness/skills veils his modest overall athletic ability. He would have been a great fit with Wink Martindale's defense, and an NFL defensive coordinator will likely fall in love with the temperament Green embodies when he buckles his chin strap and gets to work.

GRADE: 6.23