[Remember to check the '2010 NFL Draft' section for all stories relating to the draft.]
Today let's look at one of those players who makes the NFL Draft a complete crap shoot -- no matter how much work NFL scouts and general managers put into talent evaluation.
That would be Wake Forest cornerback Brandon Ghee, the subject of today's Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profile.
Ghee is a gifted cornerback with loads of ability, decent size, good speed, a willingness to hit and the ability to cover in man-to-man and zone schemes. Yet, he is inconsistent and has a reputation for not making many big plays. He is one of those guys whose production has not matched his talent, which is why it makes it difficult to project where he fits in the NFL.
Anyway, let's take a closer look.
Brandon Ghee Scouting Reports
From Draft Countdown.
Terrific athlete ... Good size with long arms and big hands ... Excellent speed with a burst to recover and close ... Quick and agile ... Great leaping ability ... Can play either man or zone coverage ... Tough ... Physical at the line ... Not a play-maker, lacking great hands, ball skills and awareness ... Misses some tackles ... Tends to get tall in his backpedal --- Durability may be a concern ... A bit of an underachiever.
Looked like a future star as a sophomore but then regressed as a junior and senior ... Very talented with a well-rounded game but doesn't always play up to his impressive physical tools ... Has Boom or Bust potential.
From SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.
Ghee was a three-year starter for Wake Forest and at times looks like a very good cornerback. But at other times he looks more like a safety. It's this kind of inconsistency that drops Ghee's stock some.
From NFL.com.
Ghee has good size and excellent speed for the position. He has the quickness and burst to be a solid coverage defender but lacks the foot agility, pad level and body positioning to be consistent in this area. Ghee has long arms and flashes the ability to jam and re-route receivers off the line of scrimmage but lets receivers get too much separation downfield too often. He is a willing run support defender but isn’t physical enough to make plays on larger ball carriers and receivers. Ghee needs to be more physical warding off blockers as well as wrapping up when tackling. Ghee has been a durable productive cornerback that has the size and athleticism to be a contributor at the next level but isn’t talented enough to impact a club as a rookie.
Why Ghee fits with the Giants
Because the Giants could use depth at cornerback, and if Ghee is on the board in the third round or so he might provide incredible value at that point. He has the physical attributes to succeed.
Why the Giants should pass
Because when a player has been as inconsistent as Ghee reportedly has been, and has not produced up to his talent level, you have to wonder about his commitment and work ethic. Any team might be better served to go get a player you know will do everything to maximize his ability rather than one who has a history of under-achieving.
(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com. Follow Big Blue View on Twitter.)