If any of you read my top 10 mock draft then you know that I was pretty confident that Barron was going to Tampa Bay and that the Cowboys wanted into the top 10 to get a cornerback. I have to admit that I thought the Stephon Gilmore talk was just hype to drum up interest in the pick. I will explain why.
The fact is folks, Gilmore is the 3rd best talent at corner in this draft. YES, if Janoris Jenkins had no off the field problems then he is easily ahead of Gilmore. They are not even close in terms of talent. The facts are the facts though and Jenkins cannot stay out of trouble. Now here is where it really gets fishy… Gilmore is the 4th best defensive back in this draft. Anyone with a reasonable football IQ knows Mark Barron is the second best DB in this draft. I understand that this draft does not have the high talent in the top of it but the 4th best defensive back at 10? Before you all point to youtube vids to prove that he can play now remember NONE not one of the QB’s in the SEC that he faced will be drafted above the 5th round if at all. If you watch his interceptions they are all on ridiculously thrown balls, they will not WOW you with his ball skills. The team is going to say all the right things as they should, but I will guarantee you that he was not the top talent on their board when they picked. There is considerable difference between him and a couple prospects that were still available.
I can’t question Nix pick though. You do not need Revis and Champ Bailey on the outside in coverage to win. This pick was about one thing. Gilmore is a liability in coverage at this point BUT he will beat the heck out of you inside 5 yards when he presses you. McGee, Florence and Williams are still going to be your top 3 corners after camp (baring no injury) still. In a year or 2 after Gilmore has learned how to stay in the hip pocket of a defender he could become a very good corner and i hope he does.
Another reason i can’t question Nix pick is because he has drafted average corners high before for this same reason. Antoine Cason was a first round pick cause of press skills and another pick Quinton Jammer the same. Jammer is a real nice comparison to Gilmore. It took Jammer a couple years to be solid in coverage but he could press from day 1. I understand some of you will not like this assessment but after training camp you will agree with me when you see Gilmore (the 10th pick in the draft) listed as the 3rd or 4th corner. Need came into play here friends. The Bills do not plan on picking high next year and McGee and Florence are both probably gone after this season. This was about getting the corner and being able to get a year under his belt now about the only position that the Bills can afford to draft a player and and allow him to come along a little slowly. Lets see what the rest of the draft brings!