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As we continue our 2015 NFL Draft coverage here at Acme Packing Company, we take a look at some of the most talented prospects available at positions of need for the Green Bay Packers. Today, we'll take a look at cornerback Trae Waynes from Michigan State University.
Background
Year: Junior (Redshirt)
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 186 pounds
2014 Stats: 46 tackles (34 solo), one sack, three interceptions, eight passes defended
Strengths
Like all MSU cornerbacks, Waynes was asked to play on an island in mostly man-to-man defensive schemes. Waynes excelled at bump-and-run coverage, only allowing two touchdowns over two seasons as part of one of the more dominant defenses in college football. He has excellent recovery speed (4.31 forty-yard dash time at combine) and solid arm length (31-inches), he plays with proper leverage, and he often uses his body positioning to pin receivers to the sidelines on deep passes.
Weaknesses
Waynes has a tenancy to grab opposing wideouts at the top of their routes at times (penalized nine times in last two seasons for holding). He sometimes struggles to match smaller, quicker wideouts on short or intermediate routes and has been slow to process combination moves at times.
Overview
Waynes has a very high ceiling due to his length, speed, and leverage. He'll have to shake his habit of grabbing jerseys as the NFL has already taken a strict stance on defensive holding over recently, but I believe he is the best cornerback in the draft by a sizable margin.