Michigan State’s Trae Waynes appears to be the top cornerback in this year’s draft after following up a very good college career with a big showing at the Combine today.
Waynes ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds, which makes him the fastest cornerback at this year’s Combine. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock already had Waynes as the top cornerback on his draft board, and said that at the Combine today, Waynes “showed more athletic ability than a lot of people thought he had.”
The 6-foot, 186-pound Waynes has the kind of build NFL teams are looking for in a cornerback, and Mayock said Waynes is looking like a high pick.
“I think, right now, long corners are in, and it makes sense when you’re drafting Kelvin Benjamin and you’re drafting Mike Evans and all those big wideouts who are making immediate impacts,” Mayock said. “You’re looking for longer corners; Trae Waynes is a longer corner. He comes out of a program that I have a lot of respect for on the defensive side of the football. You know what you’re getting. I felt the same way about [former Michigan State cornerback Darqueze] Dennard last year, except this kid’s longer. So I think you know what you’re getting.”
Things can change in two months, but all indications right now are that Waynes will be the first cornerback drafted.