2013 NFL Draft: Logan Ryan Prospect Profile
By John Carey
November 24, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Logan Ryan (11) in coverage against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Panthers won 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Logan Ryan is one of the top cornerbacks available in this years class. He is a very physical and aggressive cornerback who is great at man coverage but can also play zone coverage as well. He recorded 94 tacklees, 18 passes defended, and caught 4 interceptions as well in his last season at Rutgers. Most casual fans haven’t heard of Ryan as he is somewhat hidden in the late 1st to 2nd round tier of corners that includes Desmond Trufant, Jordan Poyer, Johnthan Banks, and Xavier Rhodes, but he is one of the best corners in the draft, and is even considered by some to be the 2nd best cornerback in this draft.
Measurables:
5’11” Height
31 3/8” Arms
191 lbs. Weight
9 5/8” Hands
Strengths:
Ryan has good size for a corner, and should be able to match up with most NFL wide receivers, in terms of size. He plays the game very aggressively and is a very physical cornerback. He is very active all around the field and if need be could probably even play safety, much like his former Rutgers teammate Devin McCourty, but will likely stay at corner. He is very good at using his hands to disrupt wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, and is able to turn around quickly and run up the field with wide receivers. During his time at Rutgers, he was used in both man and zone coverage, and played both effectively. He uses his eyes well in zone coverage to be able to break off one assignment to the next. He’s also very good at not staring at the quarterback’s eyes to the point where he gets off his assignment. Ryan is definitely the best run defending cornerback in this draft. He is phenomenal at taking on blockers, and getting to the ball carrier. His tackling form isn’t perfect, but he it’s very good nonetheless.
Weaknesses:
One thing that Logan Ryan lacks is blazing speed. This led to a lot of short completions in college, and will most likely occur in the NFL as well. His technique is still raw and needs to be developed, which will be something he will have to work on with his coaches. When he is playing off the line of scrimmage in man coverage he often struggles, and his back pedal gets very sloppy, which is one of my biggest knocks on him. He also has a tendency to get very grabby and forgets to turn his head around, which will lead to penalties in the NFL, which will hopefully be something he will get coached up on in mini camps and OTA’s.
Projection:
Ryan is very physical, and my best comparison in the NFL for him is Antoine Winfield. He will likely end up being a late first to early/mid second ound pick this April.
Grade: 7.5