The Denver Broncos have selected former Missouri defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Abrams-Draine emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the country this year, showing to be an excellent cover corner. He finished the season with 50 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions and 16 pass breakups.
His four picks were tied for second in the SEC this past season, and for his efforts was awarded First-Team All-SEC honors at cornerback. He was also named as a Second-Team All-American by the Associated Press.
For his career, Abrams-Draine heads to the league totaling 136 tackles, 33 pass breakups, seven interceptions and a forced fumble.
Prior to enrolling at Missouri, Abrams-Draine was a four-star prospect and the No. 371 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.
He also checked in as the No. 70 wide receiver in the class and the No. 18 overall player from the state of Alabama, hailing from Spanish Fort (AL) Spanish Fort.
What analysts are saying about Abrams-Draine
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein broke down how be sees Kris Abrams-Draine’s game translating to the professional ranks during his rookie season.
“Abrams-Draine is a talented prospect with good football intelligence and the versatility to fit in with teams desiring to mix up coverages. He’s on the slender side and will need to prove he can handle both man coverage and run-support duties against an upgrade in size. His confidence and cover skills improved last year, but his ball skills and instincts have always been good.
“He’s very poised in one-on-ones down the field and has the range and field vision teams look for. Abrams-Draine’s on-ball production and general consistency help mitigate concerns over size, and he could come off the board as a Day 2 selection, with the ability to compete for a role as a CB3.”
Zierlein broke Abrams-Draine’s strengths and weaknesses as well, citing his ability to play a variety of coverages, keeps eyes on the quarterback when carrying routes through his zone, hip dexterity and footwork, among others as positives to his game.
On the flip side, Zierlein sees more strengths in Abrams-Draine’s than weaknesses. Zierlein sees Abrams-Draine’s weaknesses to be having below-average size for an outside CB in the NFL, which could lead to struggles in 50/50 ball situations.
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