NFL Combine: Defensive Backs to Watch

Coach Gene Clemons has a preview of some defensive backs Giants fans need to be aware of.

Author:
Gene Clemons
Publish date:
Mar 3, 2023 2:12 PM EST

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There is a deep group of defensive backs, and we know that the New York Giants will be in the market for back-end help, specifically at cornerback, a position widely regarded as deep in this year's draft.

The defensive backs in this year's class will put their athletic abilities on display Friday afternoon when they take the field for workouts. Expect some really fast times from a multitude of players.

Giants fans should pay particular attention to those corners that man the outsides. Although there are good safety prospects in the draft this season, the Giants will most likely not have them high on their priority list (general manager Joe Schoen hinted that he was anticipating the release of some veterans around the league that he might look at).

Cornerback is a completely different story. There are several players that the Giants could target throughout the draft who could man the field side or the boundary side, so this should be an interesting day at the combine.

Here's a look at some names to watch.

CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Forbes is a long, athletic corner with a knack for intercepting and taking the ball to the house. He had six career pick-sixes during his three-year career with the Bulldogs. At 6-foot and 170 pounds, he embodies the look of the modern-age corner and has been compared to Eagles cornerback Darius Slay.

CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Witherspoon is another example of former Illini head football coach Lovie Smith not leaving the cupboard bare. Some consider Witherspoon to be the best cornerback prospect in the draft. He is 6-foot and 180 pounds and knows how to keep completions to a minimum. He may not compete in the combine, but if he does, Giants fans should keep an eye out for him.

CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State

Porter is another name that people believe is the best prospect in the draft this season. He has elite-level size at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds. He has a professional pedigree as the son of former Steelers star Joey Porter.

The younger Porter is on record saying he wants to “really fly” in the forty during the combine. If he turns heads with speed, he could be a top-ten pick.

CB Cam Smith, South Carolina

Smith has been battle-tested in the SEC and touts good ball skills as a boundary and field corner. He showed the ability to match up with elite-level speed and quickness while being put on an island.

He is a little more solid than some of the other top guys in the draft, and that will help him with run support. How he performs at the combine could go a long way toward solidifying his draft status as an early day two pick.

CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Ringo will most likely be the size and speed combo every front office desires. He is big and strong and comes with big play potential every time he touches the ball.

He is a former track star. As a boundary corner, he forces quarterbacks to look to the field. Usually, top 10 high school talents turn into talented pros, especially in the defensive backfield. All eyes will be on him to see how he performs on the field.

CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Gonzalez is another of these long cornerbacks with a lot of experience going against high-octane offenses. He thrived in Oregon after transferring from Colorado.

At 6-foot-1 and almost 200 pounds, Gonzalez brings a level of physicality that projects him to be a Day 1 starter for a team. A superb combine performance could propel him into the conversation for the best prospect in the draft.