2022 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Washington CB Kyler Gordon

The Cincinnati Bengals want long-term solutions on the cornerback place. Chidobe Awuzie offered a stable marketing campaign final yr for the workforce, however he has two years left on his deal, with the ultimate being an opt-out season.

Cincinnati additionally re-signed Eli Apple to a different one-year rental deal this offseason after he performed a number of the greatest soccer of his skilled profession. Nonetheless, along with his contract up after this season, Trae Waynes being launched and Darius Phillips going to the Raiders, the Bengals want cornerback assist.

One of the crucial intriguing choices on this yr’s class is Kyler Gordon of Washington. A part of a Huskies defensive again duo that might sport two first-round picks this yr, Gordon provides each quite a lot of upside and a few questions.

Profile

Top: 6’0”

Weight: 200

Place: Cornerback

Age: 22 (23 in December 2022)

12 months: Redshirt Junior

Projected Spherical: Mid-First to Mid-Second

Background

Gordon got here to Washington as a relatively-highly-ranked highschool cornerback in 2018 (twenty fifth nook in rivals.com). A mixture of earlier roster depth, the COVID-19 pandemic and Gordon’s personal inconsistencies led to him enjoying simply 21 video games in his first three years (5 begins; had a redshirt season as a freshman).

Even with the restricted video games and begins these first three campaigns, Gordon obtained Honorable Point out All-Pac-12 nominations in 2019-2020. However, it was final season whereby he gained quite a lot of draft momentum.

Taking part in each as a slot nook and out of doors, Gordon logged two interceptions and 7 passes defended (workforce lead), en path to a First-Workforce All-Pac-12 nomination. Hello immense athleticism teamed up extraordinarily effectively with Trent McDuffie to create the most effective defensive again tandems within the nation.

Strengths

Fluidity and athleticism are two of Gordon’s greatest belongings. Whereas his 40-yard sprint time doesn’t wow people, the remainder of his athletic profile ought to.

If considerations a few blase resume courting earlier than 2021 is regarding, the RAS numbers from Kent Lee Platte ought to quell a few of these. Stable dimension and excellent motion expertise from a nook prospect? Sure, please.

And, the flexibility gene is one thing that may have groups intrigued. As talked about above, Gordon successfully performed each inside and out of doors final yr, which is now a coveted ability on the NFL stage.

If there are questions on Gordon contributing straight away as a boundary nook (there are), the flexibility to probably contribute as a slot nook early in his NFL profession helps add to his pedigree. As well, the Huskies have been a little bit of a defensive again manufacturing unit, placing out abilities just like the Trufant brothers, Marcus Peters, Kevin King and even former Bengals participant and coach, Ray Horton.

Weaknesses

As John Sheeran famous in a current Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcast episode, there are some considerations with Gordon falling sufferer to double-moves. That’s a regarding sufficient difficulty on its face, as these are part-and-parcel of NFL offenses. Add in a sub-optimal 40-yard sprint time (4.52) to this concern and a perceived lack of restoration pace has to linger in scouts’ minds.

Now, look: a 4.52 40-yard sprint isn’t “gradual” for the place per se, however when different prospects like Kaiir Elam are operating 4.39 in the identical drill, individuals take discover. It’s not an enormous distinction, thoughts you, however within the vein of recovering from getting beat, it’s value noting.

And, in relation to the advantages of the aforementioned versatility, a premium decide on a participant who might not have the ability to instantly play a outstanding position—significantly as a boundary nook—groups might shrink back from choosing him on Evening 1.

Outlook

Gordon is a little bit little bit of a wild card on this yr’s class, however quite a lot of the drained cliches apply. “Upside”, “high-end athleticism”, “scheme numerous” and different adjectives will be utilized with the Huskies defensive again.

“One yr marvel” is one other, although it’s not completely correct. Like a number of the different prospects we’ve checked out for the Bengals, Gordon appears to be an ascending participant, who received higher with a higher-profile position final yr.

If the RAS numbers above didn’t impress you, then maybe an 89.6 protection grade from Professional Soccer Focus final yr would possibly. The child can play.

The difficulty is in how instant an in depth position might come and if he’ll attain the ceiling. In a single odd means, an absence of instant enjoying time might resemble the early profession arc of one other former first spherical Bengals cornerback in Dre Kirkpatrick (though the RAS scores are VASTLY different).

Nonetheless, in one other odd flip, the slot/boundary versatility and RAS profile resemble one more Cincinnati first-round nook in Leon Corridor.