INDIANAPOLIS -- When Teez Tabor traveled to the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, he didn't forget to pack his confidence. The former Florida cornerback declared himself the best player in the 2017 NFL Draft Sunday.
"I feel like I'm the best overall player in the draft, not just the best cornerback. That's just the confidence I have in myself and my ability to play football," Tabor said.
Tabor's carried himself with an air of confidence ever since he arrived at Florida, where he earned playing time as a freshman in 2014 and emerged as an All-SEC stalwart for UF. He doesn't think he has anything to prove when it comes to game film -- in fact, the former Florida cornerback told College Football 24/7 there isn't a single tape in his UF library he wouldn't want scouts to see.
Analysts regard him highly at his position, but not quite as high as he does.
Tabor ranks as the No. 20 overall player in the draft, per NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah. Analyst Charley Casserly projects him to the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 15 pick in his mock draft, while analyst Bucky Brooks sees Tabor landing with the Baltimore Ravens at No. 16 overall.
If he's going to go any higher than that, he'll need to do more than just run a good 40-yard dash time at the combine. The former Florida cornerback acknowledged both a failed and a skipped drug test early in his Gators career, and said his history of trouble and suspensions is all NFL clubs really want to talk about in their interviews with him at the combine.
"(I want teams to know) that I'm a changed young man. A lot of these teams, they have a report on me, about my past. ... I just had some growing pains when I was younger. We all make mistakes in life, but it's never really a mistake unless you make it two times," Tabor said. "I don't feel like I made the same mistake twice."
Perhaps not, but he's made his share of them. Another incident NFL teams will ask about: his suspension over a reported scuffle with a teammate during fall camp last year. By itself, that might not have been a big deal to NFL clubs, but as part of a larger pattern of problems, the concern is more real. The skipped drug test from his sophomore year came with awful timing, as he was suspended for UF's game against rival Tennessee the ensuing weekend.
"Having my face in the media, and my name in the paper, it's embarrassing," he said.
The club that gives Tabor a chance will have to be convinced Tabor's trouble is behind him. And Tabor will tell you they'll be getting the best NFL player the draft has to offer.
Just ask him.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
