The Cornerback Conundrum

I've mentioned the great job that DeMeco Ryans did in San Francisco in 2021 and how that defense was able to succeed without star power in the secondary, and having a really strong Front 7 is a major reason why.

And when I was researching the "Shanahan Coaches" (Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor) over the weekend putting together that new Draft thread, it was interesting that they did draft DL in Round 1 more than any other position. Collectively since they've been in the Head Coach position, they've only taken a CB once in their 14 total Round 1 picks, whereas they've drafted 4 DL prospects. The lone CB that the "Shanahan Coaches" have drafted in Round 1 since 2017 was Green Bay selecting Eric Stokes in last year's Draft.

Also, it's interesting that if you include CB Jaire Alexander, who Green Bay took in Round 1 in 2018 the year before LaFleur took over has HC, in all three instances of Green Bay selecting a DB in Round 1 since 2018 (Alexander, Savage, Stokes), they were at the backend of Round 1 and not in the Top 15. Alexander was taken 18th overall in 2018; Green Bay moved up in Round 1 take Savage 21st overall in 2019 and the Packers drafted Stokes 29th overall in 2021. There are many factors that go into those DB's "sliding" down to where they were drafted and each Draft Class is certainly unique, but it is an interesting trend.

So if O'Connell and Kwesi took a CB within the Top 15 picks, they would "buck" the trend of Shanahan Coaches not placing a heavy emphasis on DB's in Round 1 and if they do, not drafting them within the Top 15 picks.