Roger McCreary NFL Draft Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5’-11”
Weight: 190 pounds
School: Auburn
Roger McCreary 2022 NFL Draft Profile
In what looks to be another strong cornerback prospect draft class, Auburn corner Roger McCreary ranks near the top in the players available for needy NFL teams. The battle-tested, experienced cornerback could move right into the professional game and within any defensive scheme after going up against some of the top talent in the college game while playing in the SEC.
McCreary wrapped up his fourth season in Auburn in 2021, building off of a strong 2020 campaign where he probably could have declared for the NFL Draft after before deciding to return for one final year as a senior. In his final season, McCreary finished with a career-best 49 combined tackles, 41 solo tackles, 14 passes defended, one sack, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Strengths
- Exceptional in man coverage while oftentimes not giving up much separation to opposing receivers.
- Can play in both man coverage and zone coverage, showcasing his versatility on defense.
- Has very good body control and is an all-around athletic cornerback.
- Great ball skills and doesn’t collapse or panic under pressure in the big moments.
- Is battle tested against some top-notch competition having played in the SEC.
- A smart player with a good IQ that could translate well to the NFL.
- Versatile cornerback who could defend both on the outside and against slot receivers.
- Tends to have opposing quarterbacks target receivers who he is not guarding, showcasing his lock-down abilities.
Weaknesses
- Not a large cornerback which has led to some taller receivers having an advantage.
- Lacks some playmaking and tackling length which impacts his ability in defending.
- Ball skills could still use some work and he lacks elite speed in the open field.
- Needs to improve his reaction and anticipation in the passing game.
- Tends to gamble while being overaggressive, leading to giving up big plays.
NFL Comparison: Davon House
Teams With Need At Position: San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders.
Projection: Second round
Bottom Line on Roger McCreary
It speaks to the level of potential and the skillset of McCreary to see him ranked near the top of a solid cornerback prospect draft class this season, and he does have the potential to be an above-average cornerback in the NFL following some development. Given that potential, McCreary will likely hear his name called on day two of the draft and somewhere around the second round, although a team could surprise us and take him near the end of the first round if they are high on his talents.
McCreary is a solid man coverage corner who doesn’t panic under pressure and doesn’t shy away from the challenge put in front of him. Although there are some consistency issues that will need work early on in his career, McCreary has shown the ability to defend both the passing game and the rushing attack and possesses a solid tackling ability, among other characteristics.
McCreary would likely come into the NFL in more of a backup role during his rookie campaign but could establish himself and develop into a starting-caliber defensive back at the professional level. Given his battle-tested history, productivity and potential, McCreary is arguably a top-five cornerback who could be a prime prospect for a team with their second selection in the draft.
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