3 lower round cornerback draft options for the Patriots
2. Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
The next target on the lower-round list is Tariq Castro-Fields of Penn State. He was at No. 13 on the SI.com cornerback prospect list. Again, he has good size at 6-1 and 197 pounds, and great speed, having run a 4.38 40-yard dash. If you need speed, as the Patriots clearly do, Castro-Fields will bring it.
Here’s what Bleacher Report has to say about him:
"Standing at around 6’0″, Castro-Fields has long arms that he uses often. A long strider, he shows the ability to run well and quickly gets up to top speed; though he shows trouble changing direction and flipping his hips. He does a very good job playing routes in front of him and bursting out of breaks when he can see the route develop. With quick feet and above-average lateral movement, Castro-Fields is able to play well in press."
So Castro-Fields has good size, great speed, and can play press coverage. If the Pats can land him in the later rounds, he could be a late-round steal. He’s the kind of prospect that could help fill the void left at cornerback by the departures of last season’s starting two cornerbacks, Stephon Gilmore and Jackson.
Tariq Castro-Fields put his click-and-close ability on display with a big TFL. #WeAre #PSUnrivaled
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) September 14, 2019
Here’s our scouting report on the Penn State CB: https://t.co/D6cwl1YV6I
Castro-Fields started for four years for the Nittany Lions and racked up 100 tackles. Is he a finished product? According to Bleacher Report’s Scouting Report, hardly. Yet, no lower-round prospect is going to check all the boxes as a complete player. That’s why they’re lower-round picks.
Having the requisite speed and size to play in the NFL and a four-year track record for a top team is a good starting point.