Round 1, Pick #31 - CB Jeff Gladney

Only three FBS cornerbacks have played more coverage snaps (1,487) or seen more targets (232) over the past four seasons than TCU’s Jeff Gladney, PFF’s seventh-ranked cornerback and No. 34 overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former three-star recruit and New Boston, Texas, native practically never left the field after redshirting as a true freshman (2015) and will enter the NFL as one of the more battle-tested cornerbacks in the upcoming class as a result.

His career coverage grade (89.8) ranks ninth among all FBS cornerbacks with at least 1,000 coverage snaps played over the past four collegiate seasons (2016-19). He also ranks first in completion percentage allowed (47%), third in forced incompletion percentage (21.1%) and seventh in passer rating allowed (72.3) among the same group of cornerbacks.

Gladney’s high-end production and experience puts him in a league of his own in this class. He’s played over 250 more coverage snaps in the past four seasons than any of PFF’s top 10 cornerbacks in this class. He also has 42 more targets than any of the 10 cornerbacks in that span.

And he’s only gotten better with experience. Among the 143 FBS cornerbacks with at least 600 coverage snaps played in 2018 and 2019 combined, Gladney ranked sixth in PFF coverage grade (90.4). He allowed just 54 receptions for 690 yards, 27 first downs and four touchdowns from 130 targets. He ranked third in completion percentage allowed (41.5%), sixth in forced incompletion percentage (24.6%) and eighth in passer rating when targeted (59.5) in that span.

But that’s not to say Gladney’s trump card is that he’s played a lot of football. The former three-sport athlete (track, basketball, football) is an aggressive, physical cornerback prospect with uncoachable instincts, scheme versatility and raw athletic ability.

While his size (5-foot-10, 191 pounds) will concern NFL front offices, Gladney makes up for what he lacks in stature with straight-line speed and strength. His 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the Combine simply isn’t indicative of the speed on tape. Per Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Gladney clocked a 4.34 40-yard dash in the offseason prior to his 2019 campaign and squats 620 pounds, benches 400 and cleans 400.

Gladney’s top speed is best revealed when he puts himself in recovery mode. He’ll often squat on short and intermediate routes in front of him, bite on double moves or take chances on routes in front of his zone responsibility because he’s so confident in his ability to get on his horse and recover — calculated risks. His top-end closing and recovery speed have translated to significant ball production (PBUs, INTs, etc.) and success on downfield targets.

Gladney ranked tied for 15th in PFF coverage grade on targets of 10-plus air yards over the past two seasons. He allowed just 19 receptions for 470 yards and four touchdowns from his 78 (!!) targets of 10-plus yards in 2018 and 2019 combined. He also ranked second in completion percentage allowed (24.4%), tied for 11th in forced incompletion percentage (29.5) and 17th in passer rating allowed on those targets.

Also driving Gladney’s high-end coverage production in PFF’s grading and advanced data collection are his instincts and aggressive approach to the cornerback position. He tackles with mean intentions in run support and when flying to the football on passes near the line of scrimmage. He also possesses elite route recognition and attacks passing concepts with great anticipation and vigor in addition to plus ball skills.

Coverage is largely unstable year over year in the NFL and when translating from college to the NFL, but two of the more stable facets of coverage play are performance in single coverage concepts and performance in coverage without pressure on the quarterback — Gladney stands out in both areas.

He ranked 16th in PFF coverage grade (80.5), fifth in completion percentage allowed (28.1%) and 22nd in passer rating allowed among the 175 FBS cornerbacks with at least 50 targets in single coverage in 2018 and 2019 combined. And among the 188 FBS cornerbacks with 350 or more coverage snaps played without quarterback pressure, Gladney ranks eighth in coverage grade (88.8) on said plays. He also ranks fourth in completion percentage allowed (42.4%), third in forced incompletion percentage (26.3%) and seventh in passer rating allowed among the same group of cornerbacks.

STRENGTHS: Quick-footed pedal to match receivers from press…above average speed with the wheels to recover in a hurry…athletic in space, controlling his throttle to stay within arm’s length of receivers…doesn’t have great height, but he has long arms…competes with the “my ball” mentality…always ball searching and does an extensive job playing through the hands and arms of the receiver at the catch point…no questions about his physical nature, getting into the frame of bigger receivers to win body position…good close on the football and arrives with violent intentions…physical tackler, dropping his pads and slamming his body into ball carriers with force…compiled a strong resume with 42 career starts with steady ball production.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal height and bulk by NFL standards…prematurely opens his hips, creating more work for himself when attempting to redirect…route anticipation isn’t a strength of his game right now…late to adjust to route combinations, creating spacing issues…undisciplined with his downfield contact, making him an easy target for flags (drew three pass interference and two holding penalties in 2019)…kicked out of the Texas Tech game for targeting…usually gets his man on the ground, but not a fundamentally sound tackler…overemotional competitor, which leads to mistakes, especially in the heat of the moment…played through a meniscus injury as a senior, which required surgery (March 2020); tore his ACL and LCL in the first round of the playoffs his senior year in high school (December 2014).

SUMMARY: A four-year starter at TCU, Gladney was the starting left cornerback in head coach Gary Patterson’s press-heavy scheme, often trailing the opponent’s best receiver. He registered more passes defended (43) than starts (42) over his career and was one of only two FBS players (along with Amik Robertson) with at least 15 passes defended each of the last two seasons. Gladney has the athletic movement skills to pattern match from press and instinctively plays through the hands of the receiver. He isn’t a technically sound player with a bad habit of grabbing and gripping downfield. Overall, Gladney is a scrappy, quick-footed athlete with an ultra-competitive play personality and if he can improve his route anticipation and be more subtle with his physicality, he will be a decade-long NFL starter.

Jeff Gladney Scouting Report by Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Prevents separation
Runs the route; blankets receivers
Maintains tight coverage
Quality instincts
Closes quickly
Can play off-man coverage
Can play zone coverage
Able to move inside to the slot
Quality feet
Fluid athlete
Capable of flipping his hips and running
Gritty
Challenges receivers
Able to compete quickly
Speed to run vertically - 4.48 40-yard dash

Weaknesses:

Short
Struggles with big receivers
Allows receptions over him
Can get pushed around
Can get boxed out
Could end up being limited to nickel, slot corner
Has some off the field concerns

Summary: Gladney was one of the most steady and consistent cornerbacks in the Big XII over the past three seasons. After recording two interceptions as a sophomore, he had 41 tackles with two interceptions and 13 passes broken up in 2018. As a senior, Gladney had a quality season, including an impressive tape blanketing Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims. Gladney recorded 31 tackles with an interception and 14 passes broken up for 2019. At the combine, he helped himself with a good 40 time of 4.48 seconds.

Gladney projects to the NLF as a starting cornerback who could contribute with significant playing time even in his rookie season. Sources say Gladney has real cover skills to run with receivers and prevent separation. If he were a little bigger and didn't have off-the-field concerns, he might be a higher pick. Gladney has speed and athleticism to run the route, but big wideouts give him problems, making catches over him or walling him off on routine possessional routes. Thus, Gladney could be a better fit as a nickel corner in the NFL. If he proves that he can line up outside, Gladney could end up being a solid nickel.

In speaking to team sources, a number of them had Gladney graded in the third round, but the team that likes him enough to draft him might do it in the second round.

Player Comparison: Robert Alford. Gladney reminds me of Robert Alford coming out of Southeastern Louisiana. Gladney is almost identical in size to Alford (5-10, 186), and they have similar cover skills to run with receivers. However, that size is a weakness which teams can exploit. I could see Gladney being a solid pro corner comparable to Alford.