The New York Giants may add a cornerback in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft.
Per their agent, Ron Butler, the New York Giants spoke with two cornerbacks at last month’s Senior Bowl, Miami’s Corn Elder and San Diego State’s Damontae Kazee.
An All-ACC team member, Elder started every game last season for the Hurricanes. He finished his senior season tied for third on the team with 76 tackles and lead his squad with 12 passes defended. The Tennessee native also added three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble to his 2016 stat line. Elder’s draft stock is further improved by the value he adds as a dynamic kick returner. He took back 12 career kickoffs for 333 yards and one touchdown on a 27.8 yards per attempt average.
Meanwhile, Kazee displayed lethal ball hawking abilities during his collegiate career. The 2015 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year recorded 17 career interceptions, including seven this season and an FBS second best eight picks the year prior. He knows what to do once he gets the ball in hands as well, totaling 214 interception return yards with two scores.
During his senior campaign Kazee racked up 67 tackles, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble. Though not the experienced return man Elder is, Kazee can also field punts for a team in a pinch. In 2015 he took back five punts for 70 yards and one touchdown on a 14 yards per return average.
Despite taking cornerback Eli Apple with their first round pick in last year’s draft, adding more reinforcements to the secondary could be a worthwhile move. While the trio of Apple, Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the best in the league, their options past that remain thin. at best. When backup Trevin Wade had to play in a pinch he was extremely inconsistent and it often cost New York.
Drafting either Kazee or Elder would be an excellent upgrade to their secondary depth, especially if either is available in the third-fifth round range.