STRENGTHS
Quinyon has all the athletic talent and the high football IQ to be a shutdown cornerback for the team that selects him. Because of his talent, size, length, and excellent tackling, Quinyon can play more than one position in the defensive backfield. He does a good job playing in any style of defensive system, zone, matchup zone, off coverage, and up tight on the receiver in man coverages. Quinyon has the speed and agility to be used as a single free safety because he can cover sideline to sideline, and tackle in the open field. He also shows leadership skills through his play on the field. Quinyon has the maturity in his play, and confidence in himself, to turn the page after he gets beat or commits a penalty. He looks on film, to have excellent mental strength and work ethic, along with the high football IQ needed to be a coach on the field for the team that selects him. He might be one of the safest and most talented picks in this draft at any position.
CONCERNS
Despite his athletic talent, high football IQ, size, length, and overall football maturity there will be teams that will downgrade him because of a lack of perceived level of competition. Quinyon will have to be more patient reading the receiver’s hands in single coverage better. He does get into the receiver’s body a little too quickly at times and will be called, during the season, for penalties that in the playoffs, will not be called.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.45
I’m sure Quinyon will want to stay at one of the corner positions because that’s where the money is but the truth is I think he is too valuable as a leader and coach on the field to just play on the outside. That being said, my advice is to select him early in this draft because this type of talent, size, high football IQ, maturity, leadership potential, and coach-on-the-field potential, does not come along often, in just one player in any draft. Personally, unless you need a quarterback I think it’s a big mistake to let Quinyon out of the top five slots and I’ll be very surprised if he is not selected in the top ten. That being said…I’ve been wrong before and my evaluation really doesn’t mean anything to the teams in this draft…or does it? I’ve been involved in the draft for a long time and the truth is I’m not sure I have ever seen a player with this type of athletic talent and size along with the character traits and high football IQ that Quinyon seems to possess. If a team wants to downgrade him because he went to Toledo instead of Alabama…so be it. Nevertheless, I think that speaks to why there are so many 1st round players who never live up to being selected in the 1st round. I think it’s called paralysis by overanalyzes. Or as I like to say…when you see the obvious, draft the obvious.
