Cincinnati Bengals Select Dre’ Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama Live 2012 NFL Draft Grade
With the 17th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected Dre’ Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Here is our report on Kirkpatrick:
Pros
Kirkpatrick has excellent size for a cornerback to go along with plus length. He also has great strength for a cornerback and is a nightmare for WR if he gets the press on…great instinct….his versatile is best at press coverage, but can play zone coverage because of his plus awareness…Kirkpatrick is an effective blitzer….good tackler…hard hitter…no character concerns…well coached…fluid hips to turn and run with Wide receivers. Reportedly a film rookie junkie…team player
Cons
Not elite cornerback speed. Has great speed for his size, but his 40 his generally reported as 4.49, which is not elite, but still pretty fast….as had some shoulder injuries and will have to pass rigorous combine injury testing…doesn’t have the Patrick Peterson-like return ability…has adeqaute balance when adjusting to the ball in the air, but his ball skills are not at an elite level…may struggle with combination WR in the NFL (players with the kind of size/speed ratio he has, but who doesn’t?) He was less than impressive vs Alshon Jeffrey.
Despite the raised cons, I’m only nitpicking. Kirkpatrick is an awesome cornerback prospect.
Player comparison: The easiest comparison is Nnadmi Asmougha formerly of the Raiders, currently of the Eagles because of his similar length and speed and his ability to press wide receivers. He also is a better coverage corner and tackler than he is a ball hawk. Not saying he won’t get his hands on passes, but he’s not Asante Samuel intercepting passes.
He also has a skill set of a player like Terrell Thomas of the New York Giants, though he’s bigger and a more fluid athlete. Thomas is an excellent tackler, has scheme versatility, runs about the same 40 yard dash, is a plus blitzer. Kirkpatrick he has better hips than Terrell Thomas which will allow him to stay with the speedier WR a little more in the N.F.L. But Thomas is a good player in his own right (pro bowl caliber cornerback) and while Kirkpatrick has a higher ceiling he has a similar skill set.
Round Projection:
1st round, top 15
Sayre’s initial Kirkpatrick scouting report (click on the link to see all Crimson Tide Scouting reports)
Let the comparisons of Dre’ Kirkpatrick to Nnamdi Asomugha begin. Speed, agility, shut-down coverage ability–you name it, and Kirkpatrick has it. Not only is he a physical specimen, he is quite possibly a better cornerback prospect overall than Patrick Peterson was in 2011. Kirkpatrick is a top notch player on the field, and will have to do some serious damage personally to prevent himself from being a top 10 pick in next year’s draft if he declares. He was a top rated recruit coming out of high school, and he has not disappointed since becoming a full time starter in 2010. Two time high school All-American, will be one of the front-runners for the Thorpe Award in 2011
Live Pick Grade: A
Kirkpatrick is an excellent talent who will give the Bengals an even deeper defensive backfield. I think Kirkpatrick has shut-down potential, and he’s a great value in the middle of the first round. The Bengals get a significant upgrade to their defense here.