DEPARTURE: Kalen DeBoer ON CORNER BACK, Terrion Arnold MAY BE HEADING OUT OF THE TEAM AS A RESULT OF…
Could the Broncos pair the former Alabama corner with Pat Surtain II in their secondary?
Terrion Arnold, a former Alabama cornerback, is a prospect the Denver Broncos might be interested in drafting in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. This 6-0, 189-pound cornerback is predicted to go undrafted in the first round of the NFL, if not first overall. Daniel Jeremiah, the head draft analyst for NFL Network, rates Aaron as the eighth overall talent in the 2024 NFL Draft and believes he is the best cornerback available.
Only the latter two seasons were spent on the field by Arnold, who spent a total of three seasons at Alabama. In that time, he developed into one of the nation’s best cornerbacks and an essential component of the Alabama defense. Arnold recorded 108 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 20 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble in those two seasons. He finished the previous season with 63 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 12 pass deflections, 5 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.
Profile of the Player
Height: 6-0
189 pounds in weight
40-second time: 4.5 sec
Length of Arm: 31 5/8 inches
Size of Hand: 8 7/8 in.
Leap vertically: 37 inches
Length of Jump: 10’9″
Strengths of the Film Room Scouting Report
possesses the perfect length, structure, and size for a CB.
Has good foot speed, good short-range quickness, and is an erratic athlete.
He has fluid, smooth hips that are easy for him to flip.
His long speed is evident on tape despite a 4.5 40-time, and he can recover and undercut passes.
thrives in defensive press-man tactics
Excellent intuition and rarely falls into double moves
outstanding ball skills and fierce competition
a physical corner capable of jarring the ball free
incredibly cooperative tackler who isn’t frightened of contact and will drop his shoulder
A prospect with good character who will impress coaches and teams in interviews
Plans to become a CB1 and later All-Pro corner rather rapidly
Limitations
need development as a zone cover corner.
Overly generous with cushion while playing cover 3 or off-man
Needs to get better at wrap-up tackling
Plays a bit too aggressively at times.
can find it difficult to high-point the ball against larger receivers in 50/50 ball scenarios.
Arnold Terrion RAS
What other pundits have to say about Terrion Arnold, the cornerback for Alabama
Daniel Jeremiah, lead draft analyst for NFL Network – Link
Arnold is the perfect stature, play speed, and natural instinct for the role. He performs at the nickel both indoors and outdoors. He works well both on and off camera. He is able to mirror and open up while under pressure. He can stay in phase on deep balls because of his great speed. He possesses a smooth and rapid pedal from off coverage, and he doesn’t squander steps in his plant drive. He can also play with a side turn and anticipate routes before shutting them off with effectiveness. His production—five interceptions and 17 passes defensed in 2023—reflects his exceptional ball skills. He tackles with force, face-up. In space, he never misses a tackle. Despite his inexperience at the position, Arnold came to Alabama as a highly regarded safety prospect, so I didn’t find much in his performance to critique overall. He possesses every quality and ability needed to be a cornerback in the Pro Bowl.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com’s draft analyst – Link
Angry man-cover corner with exceptional physical attributes and the ability to produce balls at a professional level. Despite his average size, Arnold plays with the appropriate amount of aggressiveness and competitiveness in each of his roles. He can match up against a range of receiver flavors in the slot or on the outside thanks to his quickness and agility. Arnold might use a somewhat different strategy to reduce the yards after catch and tighten up routes from off coverages. He can meet throws at the catch point with a good feel for playing angles and attacking the receiver’s hands thanks to his closing burst. Although Arnold will occasionally lose his concentration and make mistakes in positioning, his physical attributes and keen sense of the ball offer him a good chance of being a CB1 in a few years.
Is Terrion Arnold, an Alabama cornerback, a good fit for the Broncos at number twelve overall?
In the event that the Broncos decide against drafting a quarterback, Arnold might be the best player still available. He is a top-notch cornerback prospect with all the qualities and abilities needed to establish himself as one of the league’s best starting corners. In the Broncos secondary, he would develop a strong tandem with fellow former Alabama corner Pat Surtain II, making them one of the best corner tandems in the league. You need a great secondary when you have to play Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes four times a season.
Arnold even mentioned at the Combine how much he would love to play with Surtain II in Denver.
Though I believe it is unlikely, this would be a great addition to the Broncos secondary. The quarterback is the big, unavoidable elephant in the room, as I shall continue to repeat. They’re going to pursue that person aggressively, probably passing over other excellent candidates in the process. It doesn’t seem likely that they would stay at 12th overall and instead try to trade back to get more selections if they can’t get one of the top players. Arnold would no longer be in the conversation because it is anticipated that he will be chosen among the top 15.
He becomes a viable option for the team if the Broncos decide to hold at 12. It’s true that they may try to recruit a playmaker or blocker and strengthen their pass rush, but facing Mahomes and the other elite passers in the AFC requires a good secondary.
Although I wouldn’t mind this selection, the Broncos’ pressing need at quarterback casts doubt on any prospects who aren’t quarterbacks.