2017 NFL Draft prospect profile: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA

An injury to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie revealed a weakness in the New York Giants’ defense against the Green Bay Packers. While lesser quarterbacks might not have been able to exploit it, Aaron Rodgers was able to pick on and expose the coverage of Trevin Wade and Coty Sensabaugh on the slot receiver. While it might not be as pressing as many of the Giants’ needs, upgrading the depth of their secondary and increasing competition could only help their defense.

The last two years the Giants have selected a player out of UCLA. In 2015 it was Owamagbe Odighizuwa, and in 2016 it was Paul Perkins. Could they go for the three-peat and draft cornerback Fabian Moreau? The Giants were seen talking to him after practice at the East-West Shrine Game, so we know he is on their radar.

Measurables

Height - 6-feet

Weight - 205 pounds

40 Time - 4.52s (projected)

Pros

• Experienced cover corner. Earned the starting job his sophomore year, has 36 games of starting experience.
• Low, compact backpedal, quick feet, and smooth hips let him stick with receivers in coverage.
• Great hand-eye coordination to break up the pass.
• Voted co-captain in 2015.
• Physical player who is willing to get his hands dirty in run support or rushing the passer.
• Able to play in man or zone coverage, frequently lined up on an island with the offense’s best receiver.

Cons

• Missed all but three games of the 2015 season with a Lisfranc injury.
• Breaks up passes, but rarely hauls them in for interceptions - just three picks in four years.
• Quick feet, but lacks long speed.

Does He Fit With The Giants?

I would say that he does, but only as a slot corner.

While Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has the third cornerback position locked down for now, it might not hurt to bring in competition for Sensabaugh and Wade. The Giants are sure to like Moreau’s toughness -- despite suffering a broken bone and two torn ligaments in his left foot in UCLA’s 2015 game against BYU, Moreau fought his way back on to the field for the final defensive series.

Well versed in both man and zone coverage, and a physical defender with solid size, Moreau looks like a good fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense

Prospect Video

Big Board Rankings

Big Blue View - N/A

Mocking The Draft - N/A

CBS Sports - 189th overall

Draft Countdown - N/A

Draft Tek - 265th overall

Final Thoughts

Moreau doesn’t come up with turnovers all that often, which keeps him off the national radar, but he is a talented cover corner. UCLA head coach Jim Mora once said that Moreau has first-round talent, and while he is obviously biased with regards to his player, he isn’t entirely wrong. Moreau probably isn’t a first-round talent -- especially in a draft that has both talent and depth in the defensive backfield -- but he is an underrated prospect who is going to make some defensive coordinator very happy.