Grade
?- 5'11" Height
- 32 3/4" Arm Length
- 189LBS. Weight
- 9 5/8" Hands
Overview
Thurmond has adequate size with excellent athleticism and deceptive strength for the position. He had been the Ducks most active coverage defender over his career before a season-ending injury (after four games) in 2009. Thurmond is a tough, competitive cornerback that has the speed, quickness and agility to be effective in man schemes as well as combination zone coverage’s. He can transition well out of his peddle and can flip his hips quickly to run with speed receivers. Thurmond is an aggressive perimeter defender that can re-route receivers off the line of scrimmage as well as leverage the ball effectively as a run defender. Thurmond is an instinctive player with good ball skills and brings an added dimension to his game as a return specialist. He should be a highly valued cornerback in this year's draft if his knee is completely healthy.
Analysis
Weaknesses
Despite a quality frame, Thurmond lacks a little bulk and needs to improve his hand use to ward off blockers when coming up in run support. Durability is another possible area of concern as he’s coming off season-ending knee injury.
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| Grade | Title | Draft (Round) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96-100 | Future Hall of Famer | Top Pick | A once-in-a-generation type prospect who could change how his position is played |
| 85-95 | Immediate Starter | 1st | An impact player with the ability/intangibles to become a Pro Bowl player. Expect to start immediately except in a unique situation (i.e. behind a veteran starter). |
| 70-84 | Eventual Starter | 2nd-3rd | A quality player who will contribute to the team early on and is expected to develop into a starter. A reliable player who brings value to the position. |
| 50-69 | Draftable Player | 4th-7th | A prospect with the ability to make team as a backup/role player. Needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category might have long-term potential. |
| 20-49 | Free Agent | UDFA | A player with solid measurables, intangibles, college achievements, or a developing skill that warrants an opportunity in an NFL camp. In the right situation, he could earn a place on a 53-man roster, but most likely will be a practice squad player or a camp body. |
