2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 10 Cornerbacks

6

Shaun Wade 24

Scouting Report

The enigma of the cornerback group, Shaun Wade checks a lot of the physical boxes. His concerns come from a lack of reps as an outside cornerback, making him difficult to project. A player like him is one that you have to take him for what he is in order to fully grasp how excellent he is.

Wade has the ability to be the ultimate chess piece for a defensive in today’s game that is heavily based on matchups. He has very good athletic ability and hip fluidity to play on the outside as a corner. A lot of his tape is him playing in the slot which gives you very good insight into his ability to become an elite nickel in the NFL.

He shows the speed to run with smaller slots stride for stride. The strength and size aspects are there for him to be a guy who erases tight ends as well. The best part of his game is watching him being a force in run support. He consistently blows up blockers with a vengeance and showing the ability to be a consistent block shedder.

Wade sets the edge of the defense which is a necessity for a nickel defender and is a very good tackler in space. His ranking in the top 10 cornerbacks is lower due to lack of film as an outside cornerback. Wade is a guy whose versatility could eventually find him making a move to the top of my position rankings for nickelbacks.

Shaun Wade is an absolute first rounder in this 2020 NFL Draft class, who will change a team’s defense as a chess piece player that allows an elite defense to take shape.