Main as much as the 2021 NFL draft, which begins April 29, Yahoo Sports activities will rely down our high 100 total prospects. We’ll rely them down in teams of 5 for Nos. 100-51, adopted by extra in-depth studies on our high 50 gamers, with assist from our scouting assistant, Liam Blutman. We reserve the correct to make adjustments to gamers’ grades and evaluations based mostly on damage updates, pro-day exercises or late-arriving data from NFL groups.

Earlier prospect rankings: Nos. 100-96 | 95-91 | 90-86 | 85-81 | 80-76 | 75-71 | 70-66 | 65-61 | 60-56 | 55-51 | 50. OT Liam Eichenberg | 49. WR Terrace Marshall Jr. | 48. LB Chazz Surratt | 47. EDGE Joe Tryon | 46. OT-OG Alex Leatherwood | 45. CB Asante Samuel Jr. | 44. DL Levi Onwuzurike | 43. LB Jabril Cox | 42. DT Daviyon Nixon | 41. EDGE Ronnie Perkins | 40. LB Nick Bolton | 39. CB Ifeatu Melifonwu | 38. WR Elijah Moore | 37. OT Jalen Mayfield | 36. EDGE Carlos Basham Jr. | 35. CB Elijah Molden | 34. RB Travis Etienne | 33. WR Kadarius Toney | 32. EDGE Jayson Oweh | 31. LB Zaven Collins | 30. DT Christian Barmore | 29. QB Mac Jones | 28. CB Caleb Farley | 27. RB Javonte Williams | 26. C-OG Landon Dickerson | 25. TCU S Trevon Moehrig

24. Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II

6-foot, 192 kilos

Yahoo Sports activities draft grade: 6.04 — attainable speedy starter

TL;DR scouting report: Cocksure cowl man who dominated for a stretch however carries sturdiness considerations

Video games watched: Purdue (2020), Wisconsin (2020), Michigan State (2020), Ohio State (2020)

The thin: A 3-star Rivals recruit, Newsome enrolled early at Northwestern and began 4 of six video games as a real freshman, making 23 tackles and 4 move breakups. An ankle damage inflicting him to overlook eight video games. 

He missed the ultimate three video games of the 2019 season with an undisclosed damage after making 36 tackles (one for loss), 11 move breakups and one fumble restoration in 9 video games (eight begins).

In 2020, Newsome was named third-team AP All-America and first-team All-Huge Ten in making 12 tackles, one interception and 10 move breakups in six video games earlier than struggling a groin damage within the first half of the Huge Ten title recreation. He skipped Northwestern’s bowl recreation and declared early for the 2021 draft.

Story continues

Upside: Fast-twitch athleticism and terrific velocity apparent on tape — and his vertical leap (40 inches), broad leap (123 inches) and 40-yard sprint (4.38 seconds) again that up. Fluid motion abilities and free hips. Mild on his toes and able to pounce.

Pure protection abilities to reflect and glue himself to receivers — shut sufficient to call the model of cologne by recreation’s finish. Breaks onerous and quick on routes and may achieve this with out the good thing about a velocity flip. Glorious click-and-close means. Will get good physique place on 50-50 balls.

Robust playmaking instincts — 25 passes defended in 21 profession video games. Anticipates when the ball is coming his approach. Allowed just one 7-yard catch in his ultimate three-plus video games — was taking part in the very best ball of his profession when he bought harm vs. OSU. Opponents principally ignored his facet of the sphere the ultimate 4 video games he performed.

Allowed solely 11 of 34 targets (zero TDs) accomplished final season. Stepped on cash downs in 2020, permitting zero third-down completions on 9 targets (with 4 move breakups). Didn’t permit a reception longer than 19 yards final season — did a greater job of staying on high of receivers and preserving his man from stacking him.

Performed each side in protection roughly equally in his profession. Dealt with regular food plan of man and zone coverages and was adept in each — confirmed persistence and recognition in zone and didn’t look panicked in man. Approach not often regarded clunky or unnatural.

Hitter who comes downhill quick — keen, aggressive tackler. Performs a bit larger and longer than his body would recommend. Glorious quantity on the bench press (18 reps).

Cocksure defender who likes to get into receivers’ heads and beneath their pores and skin. Trash talker who can again it up. By no means backs down from a battle and asks for the hardest assignments. Quick reminiscence — will permit a catch and transfer onto the following battle. Movie-room junkie who takes notes on each receiver he faces. Robust soccer instincts and competitiveness.

Draw back: Seldom was wholesome in faculty — season-ending accidents three years operating, together with a number of lower-body accidents. Slight, lean physique body is worrisome for long-term sturdiness. Wants so as to add extra musculature.

Quick arms (31 1/8 inches), small arms (8 7/8 inches) and slender wingspan (73 3/4 inches). Can battle to interact and battle with longer, extra bodily receivers and may get boxed out on the catch level.

Comparatively inexperienced — solely 21 faculty video games (18 begins). Didn’t face a slew of high expertise in 2020 outdoors of Purdue’s David Bell and was robbed of greater than a half of soccer in opposition to Ohio State and a doubtlessly good WR matchup vs. Auburn within the bowl recreation.

Not but a confirmed finisher. Just one profession interception regardless of all of the balls he deflected — arms won’t be elite. Common to below-average numbers within the quick shuttle (4.26 seconds) and 3-cone drill (6.90 seconds). Lack of high-end suddenness happens on the tops of routes, when he can get circled and off-kilter.

Will get further handsy and may play hyper-aggressively. Excessive penalty whole — 16 flags in 21 video games, together with seven pass-interference calls in opposition to him in his ultimate 14 contests. Play energy seems common regardless of a very good BP whole — stays caught on receivers’ blocks.

Finest-suited vacation spot: Newsome profiles as a super CB2 for a workforce that works in press- and off-man coverages, in addition to some zones (cover-2/4/6). He’s bought the temperament to carry as much as robust assignments and but is likely to be greatest if not placed on an island weekly vs. the league’s greatest wideouts. If Newsome can keep wholesome and add energy, he ought to be a match for many defensive schemes, however particularly these of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Payments, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Inexperienced Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Do you know: Newsome has a regular greeting for the person he’s assigned to cowl at first of a recreation.

“After each first play, I inform the receiver: ‘I’m in your hip all recreation,’” he stated, in line with the Chicago Tribune.

Participant comp: Marlon Humphrey

Anticipated draft vary: Late first-round decide

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