The 2024 NFL Draft might be the most jam-packed class in recent memory. The offensive side of the ball is riddled with talent, but cornerback seems thinner than it’s been in recent campaigns. Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold could provide a spark after going through his scouting report.
Terrion Arnold Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 196
- Position: Cornerback
- School: Alabama
- Current Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Terrion Arnold, like Trevon Diggs before him, began life at Alabama as a safety. The athletic phenom was a five-star recruit according to On3 and 247 Sports and was a four-star by Rivals and ESPN. No matter where we looked, he was a top-five player at the position entering college.
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Like teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry, Arnold was originally set to try his hand at being a two-sport athlete at Alabama. But Arnold was one of the few Crimson Tide defensive backs to earn a starting role as a freshman, and basketball quickly became an afterthought.
He’s been on record saying that basketball was his first love and that football wasn’t the major focus until college. Given his rapid ascension from looking like a young freshman who needed to grow to what he’s been as a sophomore, that thought process makes sense.
Terrion Arnold Scouting Report
Strengths
- Impressive frame (height/density/length)
- Confident, physical, and technical along the route stem when in man leverage
- Aggressive but patient at line of scrimmage when playing with inside leverage
- Efficient feet allow him to mirror effortlessly in man coverage
- Fluid hips and great explosion allow him to transition and recover well
- Good communication with apex defender when motion occurs
- Flies downhill against screens
- Good length and recovery on tackle attempts
- Consistent trigger improvements in zone coverage since freshman season
- Newer to the position and displaying rapid growth — he’s an ascending player
Weaknesses
- Needs to trust athleticism more in Cover 3 leverage — allows easy completions on stop routes by bailing on the vertical stem
- Can get to the post in C3 leverage but must process cross-field quicker when no threat in his zone
- Less comfortable in the slot but has shown growth when asked to play that role
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Considering how new Arnold is to playing cornerback and his rapid growth at the position as a redshirt sophomore, there should be little doubt that the Crimson Tide defensive back has the opportunity to hear his name called on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.
He has the entire package as a cover cornerback from a physical standpoint, and he has seemingly improved weekly while being thrust into difficult situations by coach Nick Saban, like frequenting the slot against LSU to defend Malik Nabers.
Although he’s still growing into his role as a cornerback, his natural physical ability in man coverage is conspicuous. He is a gnat in press coverage, and he already shows adequate patience and technical prowess in that role.
Although he’s young and could be considered the CB1 front-runner for 2025, playing cornerback is incredibly difficult. Striking while the iron is hot may not be the worst move in the world, especially when the fifth-year option is still a likely pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the redshirt sophomore.
NFL Draft Scouting Reports
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