2017 NFL Mock Draft: Christian McCaffrey in Top 10

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 15, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) breaks up the pass intended for Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Robert Wheelwright (15) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) breaks up the pass intended for Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Robert Wheelwright (15) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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Gareon Conley

CB | Ohio State
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Former Ohio State CB Gareon Conley is accustomed to getting picked on, playing with a shutdown CB. In the process, he showed that he can be a shutdown CB himself. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 14 receptions for 159 yards, and an NFL passer rating of 14.0, in 2016.

The 14 receptions he gave up were just 37 percent of the passes the went into Conley’s coverage. At 6’0″, 195 pounds with 33-inch-long arms, he’s a natural for holding WRs up in press coverage. He also has great instincts to go with his 4.44 40 speed to break on the ball in zone coverage.

There’s been a lot of talk about the Arizona Cardinals taking a QB to groom for the future. Guys like DeShone Kizer, who visited, are rumored to be among the targets for the Cardinals in this year’s draft. But when healthy, the Cardinals are a win-now team so they should make a win-now pick.

And a CB capable of playing on the other side of Patrick Peterson would help them win now. There’s a strong class of QBs coming out in 2018 so they can go ahead and pick one then. Conley can make the Cardinals defense a Super Bowl caliber defense immediately.