Here is the PFF draft profile for Houston cornerback William Jackson III, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.
Position fit:
Outside CB in a man-heavy scheme, with ability to play zone but a slower adjustment.
Stats to know:
Had second-highest coverage grade in the nation and allowed just 47.4 percent of targets to be caught in 2015
What he does best:
• Smooth athlete that can match receivers and run with them down the field when needed.
• Has ball skills. Picked five passes off this season and got his hands to another 13 to break them up
• Wasn’t shied away from in college, and despite 97 targets, allowed only 46 catches and two TDs all season
• Excellent recovery speed. Plays where he misses his jam at the line but still recovers to close the window and make it very difficult to complete a pass on him
• Competes for the ball. Is actively fighting to force the ball out at the catch point rather than just make the tackle and give the reception up for lost
Biggest concern:
• There are mental lapses on his tape, and motion in particular seemed to cause major issues for the Houston defense. Could translate to a bumpy transition learning a new defense at the next level.
Bottom line:
With Ramsey more of a moveable chess piece on defense, William Jackson III may be the best pure cornerback available in the draft, and is one of the few top players at the position who ticks all of the boxes for some teams when it comes to measurables and size as well as play. Last season he graded outstandingly well and he seems to have everything teams want in a top cover guy with room to get even better.
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