Josh Newton 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For TCU CB

NFL TRANSITION

Newton aligned from both sides of the field, playing primarily as the boundary CB, and moved into the slot, depending on the personnel/scheme and offensive formation. He has solid size and physicality, allowing him to excel from press alignment. His skill set is best suited for Cover 2 schemes where he can disrupt WRs at snap and then read the QB and route combinations.

He is a handsy CB who likes to jam WRs release at snap to disrupt the timing of the play. He committed multiple penalties between Oklahoma and Texas games for holding WRs off LOS and down the field. This helps him mask his questionable vertical speed to run with speedy WRs. Xavier Worthy from Texas beat him a go route for a big gain. Newton struggles more in space due to upright play and tight hips, causing problems redirecting and changing direction vs. quicker WRs.

Overall, Newton's size and skill provide position versatility to align outside and in the slot. He is best suited in press coverage schemes (man and Cover-2), allowing him to use his aggression and size to be disruptive at the snap (style of play could result in a lot of penalties in the NFL).

Limited explosiveness and top-end speed make him a late-round Pick on Day 3. He provides secondary depth and special teams potential and could become a subpackage contributor and solid backup in a few years.

OTHER NOTES

Newton is from Monroe, LA, and was a two-star recruit. He was the nation's 479th-ranked WR coming out of high school, where he played both WR and DB. He switched from WR to DB in his second season at ULM and played the rest of his collegiate career at CB. Newton played in 59 games in the last five seasons.

Newton was named first-team All-Big 12 in 2022 and second-team All-Big 12 in 2023. He finished his career with 152 tackles, 8 TFLs, 7 INTs and 36 PBUs.

In 2022, Newton had 491 coverage snaps and was targeted on 61 pass attempts, allowing only 21 completions (34.4 percent) for 321 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions and had 10 PBUs. He played from press alignment on only 162 of his 491 coverage snaps (33 percent of his snaps). Newton played more zone coverage than man (57 percent zone and 43 percent man).

In 2023, Newton had 389 coverage snaps, and he was targeted on 44 pass attempts, allowing 16 completions (36.4 percent) for 213 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded one interception and 14 PBUs (tied for fourth in the nation in PBUs).

He played from press alignment with 111 of his 389 coverage snaps (28.5 percent of his snaps). Newton again played more zone coverage concepts than man (56 percent zone and 44 percent man.)