New mock draft has Auburn corner picked in first round
Former Tigers cornerback Roger McCreary seems to have found his niche in most mock drafts. He’s typically pinned down as a second-round prospect.
A new mock from Touchdown Wire, though, has McCreary going in the first round. The mock, written by Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield, has McCreary going to the Buffalo Bills with the 25th pick. Here is what Schofield had to say about McCreary:
Roger McCreary is another member of this draft class that I absolutely loved watching, and that might leave me with a higher grade on him than consensus. But I love the way he plays cornerback, and his game against Alabama this past season was a fun watch, even with the way it ended for him. You do not step into the SEC as a young cornerback and play the way he did without bringing some upper-level traits to the table, and when you watch his first career interception — while covering Ja’Marr Chase on a double-move route — you can see NFL traits. Yes, the arms are undersized and make him an outlier. But I’m willing to place a bet on him, particularly at this point in the first round. Sign me up.
McCreary’s undersized arms have been a hot topic among NFL draft enthusiasts. McCreary’s arm measurement of 29 and 5/8 inches was the helped lend to a total overall wingspan that was the shortest among all corners at the NFL Combine. Despite this shortcoming, however, McCreary has excelled in press coverage, with PFF ranking him the number one cornerback in the nation for the 2021 season. His tape may be more important to look at than his measurables in this case, something Schofield recognizes.
On top of that, McCreary’s fit with the Buffalo Bills has also been noted. McCreary’s press skills and general ability to put himself around the football is a skill set reminiscent of Buffalo’s Tre’Davious White, although McCreary certainly has a long way to go before being put in the same conversation as the Bills defensive back. Nonetheless, McCreary could be a good option for Buffalo once the draft rolls around soon.
The NFL draft begins its first round on April 28 at 7 p.m. CT.
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