STRENGTHS
Eric is that long, lengthy, corner with excellent speed and overall cover skills that teams are looking for in every draft. He is a quick/twitch athlete that plays his position with such ease because of his athletic talent. There is no effort to his movements, there is no stress to catching up to a player, there is no panic to his ability to cover any size receiver he goes up against. In most cases, Eric has more athletic talent than most receivers he goes up against at the college level. He has the size, speed and quickness to be considered as a possible shut down corner at the next level in the right defensive system.
CONCERNS
Eric has such a slight build, and although he never shy’s away from tackling in open space, it does make you wonder if he can stand up to the more physical receivers at the next level for a 16-game schedule? He does a good job playing some zone coverage but he is definitely a better fit for man-to-man coverage, and that makes him more of a one-trick pony… so to speak.
BOTTOM LINE 2.67
Eric’s body type does not look like it could add more bulk without it affecting his speed and quickness. Until he proves he can handle more physical receivers and plays a 16-game schedule, every team will be concerned about his size and if he can stay on the field. He does have that wiry strength and is fearless on the field and plays with the passion you look for in a cover corner but, because of his slight build, playing zone coverages and tackling in the open field without getting injured is a concern, and like I stated before that makes Eric more of a one-trick pony, that not every team will be willing to select as early as his talents suggest. He reminds me a lot of former Cardinals, Eagles, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, Redskins, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie who was the 16th pick of the 2008 draft. When Dominque came out he was 6’2” 205 lbs and ran a 4.33 with a 1.41 ten-yard split and 17 reps, at the combine. Eric is 6’1” 194 lbs and ran a 4.25 and a 4.30 in a “comfortable” Georgia pro day, and to my knowledge did not lift. I don’t like nit-picking a player because of some possible injury concerns that could happen in their future. That doesn’t make much sense to me, nevertheless the fact that he will struggle physically in certain styles of defenses is what I’m looking at as the biggest concern, and for me, I like to rate players higher if they can play more than one position in different styles of defense, and right now I see Eric (even with all of his talent) as a one-trick pony who fits and can impact in a certain style of defense.
