2017 NFL Draft: Florida Jalen Tabor Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Florida’s Jalen Tabor is a highly rated cornerback prospect eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jalen Tabor is a long and lean cornerback prospect. His skills allow him to play all over the field and generate game-changing plays. However, he’s more of a zone cornerback than a lock-down defender which means he won’t fit every defensive system.
Tabor’s top attributes are his ability to read the quarterback, click and close on the football and make a play on the ball. He features excellent awareness in that he’s able to read developing routes and anticipate throws.
His quick-twitch ability allows him to break on the ball and get in position for either an interception or pass breakup. Tabor has good ball skills and is a constant threat to create a turnover. His click and close skills are present because of his burst but also because he plays with excellent balance.
Tabor keeps his pads down and head on a swivel which keeps him in proper position to make a play on the football.
Florida has moved Tabor around the field giving him time working out of the slot, on the outside and in the middle of the field. However, in each of these cases he still works in zone coverage. His work in the slot also includes blitzing off the edge.
Tabor is successful blitzing off the edge because of his quickness and snap awareness. He just has a knack for timing the snap and getting into the backfield.
Supporting the run is an area where Tabor needs to improve. He isn’t afraid to make a tackle, but struggles working off blocks. There are too many situations where he’s driven several yards down field allowing space on the edge.
Tabor brings added value on special teams thanks to his experience on the kick coverage team and as a gunner on punts.
Overall, Tabor’s playmaking ability makes him an attractive prospect. The issue is that teams that like to run man coverage will need to project how he’d fit in that defense. This will put him lower on some draft boards where evaluators see him as a zone-only corner.
Current Draft Status: Top-25