Speed, quickness and injury are issues for midround cornerback prospects

Originally Published: March 25, 2008

Finding the right fit is key for midround draft picks. Scouts Inc's Steve Muench has identified four potential midrounders who could become contributors with the right teams.

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By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.

Scouts are weary of small-school prospects for obvious reasons: They don't face topflight competition on a weekly basis, so it's impossible to tell how inflated their numbers are or whether they will be able to adjust to the much-elevated level of play in the NFL. Inexperience also raises red flags for NFL front offices because a smaller body of work makes it harder to evaluate the player.

Considering Ike Taylor attended Louisiana-Lafayette, didn't play football there until his junior season and moved from running back to corner as a senior, the cards were stacked against him leading up to the 2003 draft. However, there was a lot to like about the big corner's ability to redirect receivers, change directions in space and help out in run support, so the Steelers took him late in the fourth round.

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