Arizona Cardinals 7-round mock draft, including one massive trade

Round 2, Pick 43

After signing Robert Alford the Arizona Cardinals have bigger needs than cornerback, but it doesn’t hurt to get excellent value in one in the middle of the second.

Once a highly coveted wide receiver recruit, Layne converted to the other side of the ball as a freshman and never looked back. In his three seasons as an outside cornerback, the Michigan State product tallied 126 total tackles, 15 pass deflections, and three interceptions. Per Pro Football Focus he allowed just a 67.9 passer rating in coverage, 78 receptions, 805 yards, and five touchdowns.

The 6-2, 197-pound corner may not have ideal long-speed (4.5 second 40-yard-dash) but he makes up for it with his athleticism and sticky man coverage. At the combine, he recorded a 37.5-inch vertical, 134-inch broad jump, and 6.9-second three-cone-drill, all top-ten in the class.

Layne is a lengthy cornerback who excels in man coverage as a physical and handsy defender. His length is an asset in press-coverage. As a tackler, you’d be hard-pressed to believe he was once a receiver. But, those receiving traits are apparent when tasked with playing the ball.

However, as a converted receiver Layne isn’t a complete cornerback. While he’s fantastic in man, his zone coverage intelligence is lacking. So is his footwork, as his game lacks fluidity. But, he has the potential to be a very good cornerback in the NFL. He’s ready to start now in a man coverage scheme and has shown the potential to develop quickly.