2014 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions Draft Prospects Top 5 Cornerbacks (Video)
By Tony Fischer
Feb 25, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Bradley Roby jump in the air before running the 40 yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Bradley Roby – Ohio State
Bradley Roby had an excellent combine. Good thing, because it may help teams forget about his July 2013 arrest for misdemeanor battery after a bar fight in Indiana. character questions aside, Roby has all the skills needed to become the shut-down corner the Lions need. After being projected as a late first round pick, Rody could be the steal of the draft for the team who picks him up. Another late round solution to the Lions cornerback position.
Combine Results – 6.0
40 Yard Dash – 4.39 (Top Performer)
Vertical Jump- 38.5 inches
Broad Jump – 124 inches
Scouting Report
"Above average tackler for position. Squares up and willing to sacrifice body to make the play. Doesn’t always fly up field when reads run but doesn’t shy away from contact either. Struggles to shed once reached but flashes strong punch and the ability to keep blockers off frame."
"Gifted defender with all of the physical tools scouts covet at the position. However, scouts would like to see Roby play with more urgency and aggressiveness on the edge."
Mock Draft
Todd McShay: Not a projected 1st round pick
"It wasn’t their undoing in the Super Bowl — that would be Seattle’s defense — but the Broncos need to add talent and speed in particular to their defensive backfield. In terms of raw speed, you won’t do much better than Roby in this draft, and he’s physical despite being slightly less than ideally sized. Roby is a quick-twitch athlete with fluid hips, can press or play off and can recover on any separation to make plays on the ball. Denver needs help, even with Chris Harris coming back."
Fansided: #22 Philadelphia Eagles
"A year after picking fourth in the draft, the Eagles pick at 22, following an extremely successful first-season under Chip Kelly. Besides Kelly’s fast paced offense, lead by LeSean McCoy, first-year defensive coordinator Billy Davis’ defense, can largely be attributed to the Eagles massive turnaround. This defense embodied the “bend-but-don’t-break” philosophy, which was enough to win a weak NFC East, and make a playoff appearance. To go beyond that and become a Superbowl contender, the defense needs to bend even less, and just make stops. First-year Eagles’ Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher were physical corners, who played at a solid level, and were a drastic improvement over Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Still, they aren’t by any means elite corners, which is why I see the Eagles selecting Bradley Roby of Ohio State, to hopefully be a long-term shutdown corner. That is assuming guys like Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert are off the board at this point (which they are in this mock-draft) and they Eagles don’t fall in love with another corner like LaMarcus Joyner. Expect the Eagles to go defensive with their first pick, but don’t be surprised if general manger Howie Roseman trades into the back-half of the first-round to select a physical receiver like Allen Robinson to compliment DeSean Jackson."