USAT: Washington Wire audio clip

USAT: Washington Wire

Mar 27, 2022

The Commanders have the No. 11 pick, and former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen firmly believes in the pass-happy NFL, you can’t have too many good defensive backs. - Paulsen, a guest with Pete Medhurst and Chris Russell on the Team 980 Friday, provided his analysis from his film breakdown of the top defensive backs in this 2022 draft. - Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner: “Has great top-end speed to recover when beaten, knows how to use his length, and has nice hips. You can tell the game is important to him. Against screen passes he’s fitting off blocks, he’s fitting on offensive lineman. He’s trying to squeeze in there, he’s trying to make the tackle. If Gardner falls to No. 11, you have to take him. He is too good a talent to pass on.” - LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr:  “His film of 2019 is pretty spectacular. Has great feet, great hips. But when I watch the film I really question his love of the game, and where he is and how passionate he is. Is he going to make tackles? Is he going to give up on you? After watching his film, he is the fourth guy for me now.” - Paulsen said he now ranks the corners as Gardner, Andrew Booth (Clemson), Trent McDuffie (Washington), and Stingley. - This is quite interesting because former Washington CB Fred Smoot told John Keim this week, that if Washington drafts Stingley, he would be the number one corner on the team instantly. - Paulsen continued on Stingley, “Obviously he has tremendous ball skills and quiet, calm feet, the ease in coverage. But what happens when the ball is tossed to his side? Is he going to take on the tackle? Or is he going to let that go for 10 or 15 yards? Some people don’t think that is as important, but that is part of my evaluation. Stingley was maybe the best player in college football in 2019, but that player is two years removed now. Those things that Stingley struggled with Gardner did them quite well.” - Regarding McDuffie, Paulsen added, “He fits runs harder than Stingley.” - Paulsen quoted one of his NFL friends, “Everyone gets caught up in the measurables. But does the kid love football?” - Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton: “He’s an enforcer back there. If he’s there at 11 you make the pick and pat yourself on the back for a great selection. Makes plays, covers a ton of ground, on tape, he is running by guys to make the tackle. He could play Buffalo Nickel, linebacker or deep safety.” - “Jaquan Brisker (Penn State) and Jalen Pitre (Baylor), those guys are tackling Johnny’s; they love putting their face on people, they love defeating blocks.” Paulsen feels either of those safeties would be good picks for the Commanders in round two. - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Washington Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Washington Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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