Washington Huskies: NFL mock draft consensus on Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon
Trent McDuffie
Defensive Back, 5-11, 195 pounds
- Highest Draft Spot – Round 1, New York Jets, 10th overall.
- Lowest Draft Spot – Round 2, Tampa Bay, 59th overall.
- Most Common Draft Spot – Round 2, Houston, 37th overall.
Scouting Report
There isn’t one scouting report that doesn’t praise McDuffie’s speed, athletic ability, and toughness. Additionally, certain buzz phrases like explosiveness, fearless, and elite athleticism are attention-getting. Those are skills that are natural, not coached up. Throw in strong instincts, intelligence, and physicality, and it’s a recipe for success.
In the NFL, if a defensive back can cover man-on-man, he generally has a job. McDuffie is fantastic in coverage and rarely loses his assignment. Aside from defending the pass, he can also get to the line quickly to stop the run, and this is a player who likes to hit.
Aside from his height, the biggest knock on McDuffie is that he doesn’t jam his man on the line. At the next level that one step can make a big difference. However, he has the speed and agility to stay close in coverage.
Draft Prospectus 1.0
Most mock drafts have McDuffie going in the first round, although there are some outliers. He’s projected to go on Day 1 in 18 of 25 mock drafts. As of now, McDuffie is most likely low-first. If he were 6’1” with the same skills, that’s Top-15 territory. Depending on how well McDuffie tests at the combine, he could force teams into changing their notions about how tall an NFL corner should be.
Three-year starter whose average size is overshadowed by skillful ruggedness, allowing him to contest throws from a variety of coverages. He’s an elite competitor with a route-hugging mentality fueled by body control, foot agility, aggression, and burst. (McDuffie is) a pesky press-man defender with the tools to excel in zone. He’s willing to fly downhill and hit anybody near the football. – Lance Zierlein, nfl.com.