Name: Channing Stribling
School: Michigan
Position fit: Outside cornerback
Stats to know: QBs had a rating of 22.7 when throwing at him, the second-lowest mark in the country among CBs targeted at least 40 times. His rating-against over three years was 32.3.
What he does best:
- Outstanding production in 2016; gave up completions on just 21 of 65 targets and gave up just one touchdown with 15 total passes defended.
- Uses his length well to reach around receivers and break up passes.
- When he’s physical at the line of scrimmage receivers struggle to separate from him in press coverage.
- Locates the ball in the air extremely well; knows when to cut his man off to go for the pick, but can also play off his man’s eyes and hands to knock the ball out as it arrives.
- While he lacks make-up speed, can use his height, length effectively from a trail position to shrink passing windows.
Biggest concern:
- Speed, agility questions likely to drop him to the bottom of this class despite college production; ran a 4.60 40 at the combine with a 4.56 short shuttle, the latter being the slowest mark among all DBs at the combine by a full 0.20.
- Appears high-cut (long-legged in proportion to his torso), which likely plays a part in his struggles to maintain when flipping his hips in transition.
- Gets too aggressive in press coverage at times, will jump his man’s first move and leave himself vulnerable to doubles.
- Poor feel for the run game; needs to improve tackling technique and do a better job of maintaining containment responsibilities on the edge.
- Once beaten off the break he struggles to close the gap without the QB making a throwing error.
- Weighed in at 188 at the combine; needs to add 5-10 lbs. to his wiry frame.
Player comparison: Brandon Browner
Browner at his peak was an effective cover-1 CB because of his physicality and size. Was susceptible to taking penalties because of his over-aggressiveness at times.
Bottom line: Stribling isn’t going to be drafted until Day 3 because of his athletic measurables, which are noticeable concerns on film. He also struggles to play the run, as he needs to show the same level of physicality and awareness that he does in coverage. With these things being said, his height, competitiveness and ball skills at the catch point are outstanding, and extremely valuable in today’s NFL. If he adds bulk to his frame becomes more disciplined in terms of not jumping first movement, he can develop into a starter despite not being a 4.4 guy.
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