2022 Raiders Draft Prospect
Name: Coby Bryant
Position: Cornerback
School: Cincinnati
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 193 pounds
Stats
Ball Skills
Bryant, by his play and the way he lines up, firmly believes the ball will always be his. His late hands and positioning make him viable from snap to whistle. More importantly, the prospect doesn’t display stone hands which often plague corners. Bryant secures the ball, looking to end the drive. His nine picks may translate into Sunday success, provided that he doesn’t overcommit.
Coverage
While he won’t set Combine records in the forty, the prospect will stay hip to hip with most receivers. Furthermore, he will sniff out an in-breaking route to jump it. Next, Bryant doesn’t mind being left on the island against a wideout. His feisty demeanor translates into a competitive will. Furthermore, his feet, with quickness and positioning allow him to stay in the play longer.
Tackling
Bryant presents an intriguing base of this trait. First, he will hit the ballcarrier, striking them with force in the appropriate strike zone. An uncanny hitter with quick hands, the former Bearcat will attempt to dislodge the ball any way possible. His five forced fumbles signal a player at the next level will use this skill to change the course of a game. In contrast, Bryant needs to work on the technique part of this aspect. More of a wrap, less attempting to blow opponents up.
Aggression
Regardless of down and distance, Bryant lives for the physical part of the game. You can tell that he loves the contact of play. Whether he’s sifting through the wash to find the ball or punishing the receivers, the prospect elevates his play Like a boxer that wakes up when punched for the first time, Bryant responds to the pressure and circumstance of the game.
Raiders Need
Casey Hayward enters free agency with no certainty of returning. With a new coordinator, the veteran thrived in the Gus Bradley Cover 3. Now, that Patrick Graham will employ more of a man concept, the Raiders need to alter the position group. Heyward played well but doesn’t fit. Meanwhile, 2022 needs to be Trayvon Mullen’s prove-it year. Mullen becomes a free agent after this season. As a result, how he plays will dictate his future. When right, Mullen provides sticky coverage, isolated on an island. When off, he transforms into a penalty machine, grabbing opposing wideouts.
Raiders Fit
On the other hand, Nate Hobbs looks like a fit, but he can’t seem to avoid trouble off the field. Under those consequences, a low-cost, high-reward prospect could easily slide onto the depth chart. Moreover, the need for corners in the AFC West becomes even more of an issue with at least two quarterbacks in the top ten. Additionally, the wideouts catching the passes vary in skillsets. From the speed of Tyreek Hill to the route specificity of Keenan Allen, the need for backend depth has never been higher. In Bryant, the Raiders could deploy him as a second corner or a subpackage, while he gets his proverbial feet wet. With his ball skills and aggression, Coby Bryant could give the Las Vegas Raiders a quality defender on Day Two.
SB LVI: Cincinnati Keys to Victory: Super Bowl Edition
Super Bowl: Super Bowl LVI Preview: Scouting the Rams’ Defensive Line
Super Bowl: Climb The Ranks: Joe Burrow Continues To Ascend
More must-reads: