Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 195 pounds
School: Central Michigan Chippewas
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds (fifth-best among cornerbacks)
Bench press: 14 reps
Vertical jump: 41.5 inches (second-best among cornerbacks)
Broad jump: 10 feet, 6 inches
Sean Bunting 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Central Michigan cornerback Sean Bunting is one of the most accomplished cornerbacks in program history and looks to bring his talents to the NFL. Only two cornerbacks from Central Michigan have been drafted since the 1985 season, but that should change come April.
Bunting spent the 2018 season as the top cornerback on the Chippewas defense. Starting in all 12 games, Bunting finished the year with two interceptions, five passes defended, and 37 total tackles. Bunting allowed a 39 percent completion rate when targeted while earning First-Team All-MAC honors and being named CMU’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Bunting first committed to Central Michigan prior to the 2015 season. After redshirting through his first season, the Mississippi native earned a regular spot on the defense in 2016. Appearing in 10 games, Bunting recorded two interceptions, five passes defended, and 18 tackles during his first season on the field. He built on that solid season by recording a career-high five interceptions, five passes defended, and 49 tackles as a redshirt sophomore.
Strengths
- hardly allowed any completions as a Junior;
- possesses ideal top-end speed to close gaps in coverage;
- above-average athlete across the board;
- long arms allow him to make plays on the ball and break up contested passes;
- a smart player capable of diagnosing routes as they develop;
- impressive ball skills as evidenced by his nine career interceptions.
Weaknesses
- lacks the physicality to consistently play press man coverage;
- game speed doesn’t match his testing speed;
- gets “handsy” when beat and doesn’t have the best recovery skills;
- needs to add strength at the NFL level;
- subpar run defender who occasionally makes “business decisions” and avoids contact.
NFL Comparison: Will Blackmon
Teams With a Need: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons
Projection: Round three
Bottom Line
Bunting will be a good NFL cornerback if he lands in the right situation. He has elite testing speed and is a well-rounded athlete who belongs in the NFL. He has good ball skills and is smart enough to see plays as they develop. When combined with his top speed, Bunting is capable to break up just about any pass thrown in his direction, as evidenced by his 39 percent completion rate in 2018.
However, Bunting is somewhat limited in what he can do. His play speed doesn’t align with his testing and he doesn’t have the physicality to consistently play press coverage. He struggles to recover when beat and plays in a way which could draw flags in the NFL. His lack of physicality carries over into the run game, where he contributes next to nothing as a tackler.
In a perfect world, Bunting would land with a zone-heavy defense in the NFL Draft. While he probably won’t be ready to start out of the gate, he should see the field as a third cornerback. He’ll need time to develop but has the potential to be a long-term starter in a zone defense.
Main photo:
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