Trae Waynes is a physical and aggressive cornerback; what else would you expect from a Michigan State cornerback? Waynes is the No. 1 cornerback in the 2015 NFL Draft. He is 6’1″ and 182 pounds. Most teams try not to test Waynes too much, despite their respect for his skills, he had 3 interceptions in the 2014 season.
Waynes will probably hear his name called early in the first round of the draft. It is not unimaginable that he could be a top 10 or even a top 5 selection. Waynes excels in man coverage. He has a high football IQ and he has the ball skills to turn defense into offense.
GMENHQ Big Board Ranking: 10th Overall Prospect
Strengths:
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- Good bump and run defender
- Physical at the line of scrimmage
- Not afraid to jump routes
- High football IQ
- Ball skills
- Fluid mover
- Recovery speed
- Turns his head at the right time
- Good build and length which helps him disrupt passes
- Good tackler
Concerns:
- Prone to too many pass interference penalties due to aggressive play style
- Struggles against quick route runners
- Actually better against the deep routes than the short routes
Should the New York Giants draft Waynes?
If the New York Giants feel that Waynes is the best player available at the 9th overall pick, I’d have no qualms with that. The Giants have more pressing needs but it would be a good draft pick. Waynes is a safe pick. His big concern is penalties, something every rookie corner is going to have troubles with.
Overall, Waynes is a very strong NFL draft prospect.