Raising Zona
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Hits or Misses? Grading the 2021 Arizona Cardinals draft class

By Sion Fawkes

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Zaven Collins #23 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane celebrates after intercepting Noah Johnson #0 of the South Florida Bulls and running in a 38-yard touchdown during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Zaven Collins #23 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane celebrates after intercepting Noah Johnson #0 of the South Florida Bulls and running in a 38-yard touchdown during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 14: Tay Gowan #23 of the UCF Knights looks to take the field during the first half of a football game against the Stanford Cardinal at Spectrum Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 14: Tay Gowan #23 of the UCF Knights looks to take the field during the first half of a football game against the Stanford Cardinal at Spectrum Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Tay Gowan, CB/UCF

Gowan sat at the 2020 season, but he has the size and athleticism NFL teams look for. At 6’1 and 185lb, he also has the size to become a tweener and convert to safety if needed. This is especially true because many reports state that Gowan lacks speed.

An instinctive corner, Gowan has enough length to recover when beat deep, and he has the strength to shed receivers’ blocks when defending the run. There’s a lot of potential with Gowan, and at 223rd overall, he’s a likely special-teamer during his formative seasons.

He has a lot to prove, however, with his best production coming during his junior college days. Gowan also has just one year of starting experience at the FBS level, and he must improve his mechanics. But with no real depth at corner, the Cardinals may have to thrust him into the starting lineup sooner than later.

Grade – B: Gowan is another candidate to fill a need at corner and he has the size to stick around. However, he lacks experience and speed. He may, in the long run, project better as a safety than a corner.

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