Scouting Report-I want Warren to be the 2nd best CB in this draft. It's an odd draft this year because Joe Haden has set himself apart by such a wide margin that there is a lot of discourse as to who is no.2. After the year Warren had, he should certainly be able to make a case. Warren is a man coverage player plain and simple. He's the kind of play who has that mentality that you stick him out on an island, you can forget about his guy. The reasons for this, beyond mental are a nice physique, with long arms, and really solid man technique. He keeps his butt low, hips turn quick and he has enough speed to break on the football. Warren also has excellent ball skills. Finds the ball in the air, and has good hands. Warren is also a smart player. He tracks the QBs eyes and makes nice reads. On the downside, he's not a great player in run support, preferring to hang back, but he's a good tackler so when it comes up, he can finish the play. He also isn't a great blitzer, but that could be about just how little he's asked to do it, and his problems with angles. His biggest shortcoming is his zone coverage. He prefers to man coverage where he knows who he's covering and plays read and chase. In zones he loses concentration, and will miss plays.
Draft Status-If Warren has good offseason workouts and runs a good 40, I can certainly see him as the no.2 CB and in the back half of the first round to a team that plays a lot of man. If he runs a slow 40, he'll probably end up the 4th CB, and be somewhere in the middle of the second round.
Final Analysis-I'm a fan. Warren impressed me all season long. And it wasn't because of the box score. Teams just didn't throw at his man. That's the sign of a great corner. Opposing offenses don't test you, and when you do you get the ball. Now, there are things that I'd love to see. Like improved zone technique, more interceptions and less PDs, and more involvement and intensity in the run game. But if you like your cornerbacks to cover first, Warren is the man.
Reminds me of: Leon Hall, Cincinnati Bengals-Both former Wolverines who excel in man coverage.
