When the television cameras pan to the prospects sitting in the green room during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, there is an excellent chance you will see Kerry Coombs smiling ear-to-ear alongside Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley.
“I wouldn't miss it for the world,” Ohio State's cornerbacks coach said last week. “I'd drive them if they need me to.”
Both of those corners are projected to be top-20 or higher selections on Thursday night. Safety Malik Hooker is too but did not accept an invitation to the Draft. Coombs likened watching a player, or in this case, two, come off of the board as a first-round talent like seeing your child succeed in something they put their whole life and purpose into. So it makes sense the vibrant personality will be in Philadelphia "with bells on."
As the Buckeyes stake their claim as "DB U" with back-to-back great draft classes from the defensive backfield alone, there are multiple teammates of Conley, Lattimore and Hooker also set to realize their dream of getting drafted. Others, like Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith, are doing their best to catch on with a team either late in the draft or through free agency.
Raekwon McMillan, Pat Elflein, Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel and Cameron Johnston are also former scholarship Buckeyes who have worked to put themselves in a position to become pro players. As the draft rolls into Friday and Saturday, where those players fall are likely due to team needs or if a franchise feels like taking a chance.
Below we examine three places each Buckeye best fits at the next level. Not necessarily where they will go but where their skills best translate with what each team does.
Malik Hooker, Safety
Best Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
Why: Ever since the Chargers let playmaking safety and two-time first-team All-Pro Eric Weddle sign with Baltimore ahead of the 2016 season, the franchise has been struggling to fill his shoes. The Chargers did tie with Baltimore and Kansas City for the league lead in interceptions with 18 but only four of them were made by the revolving door of players at safety. Hooker might not be available for them when they pick seventh, though.
The Titans pick fifth and Jets sixth. Tennessee needs talent in its secondary with quarterbacks like Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and Blake Bortles in Jacksonville still in the division. Both are prone to turning the ball over, something Hooker excels at in his game. New York head coach Todd Bowles usually likes to pick the best player available and each team mentioned above finished in the bottom half of the league in defending the pass last season. The Titans picked off 12 passes a year ago, while the Jets only had eight. Hooker helps instantly helps that.
Others: Cleveland Browns (they need help everywhere), Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears
Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback
Best Fits: Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Chicago Bears
Why: Lattimore to the Titans and Jets have been trendy picks since he elected to turn pro in January. Along with the Bears, Tennessee and New York couldn't make too many plays in the passing game defensively last season (combined 28 interceptions between them).
Enter Lattimore. While it remains a debate if he is the top corner in a deep secondary draft, his size, length, speed and athleticism is rare. Provided he is past the constant questions that pop up about his hamstrings, Lattimore's work at the NFL Scouting Combine and Ohio State's Pro Day should all but cement him as a top-10 pick.
Others: Cleveland Browns (need help here too), Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints
Gareon Conley, Cornerback
Best Fits: Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
Why: Conley has shot up draft boards the last few months, with some team sources reportedly showing interest in him near the top-half of the first round. Others believe he can only sneak into the bottom of the first round.
That is where the Packers sit, at No. 29, who saw injuries to the back end of their defense ravage their chances against Matt Ryan and Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game. Arizona desperately needs depth behind Justin Bethel and an aging Patrick Peterson, so an influx of a talent like Conley makes sense there too. Philadelphia needs to add depth as well.
Others: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks
Curtis Samuel, Wide Receiver/Running Back
Best Fits: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins
Why: What to do with Samuel at the next level is the essential question for whatever team selects him this weekend. The Saints and Patriots are two of the league's best at utilizing hybrid players and Washington's two top receivers from a year ago — DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon — both left in free agency. The Redskins did sign Terrelle Pryor to a one-year, $8 million deal, however.
Drew Brees and Tom Brady can never have enough toys to throw or even hand the ball to and their wide open offenses support Samuel's skillset. Plus, Sean Payton and Bill Belichick have plenty of experience putting tweeners like Samuel in positions to make plays. James White caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and also ran for two more scores — including the game-winner — against Atlanta in Super Bowl 51. Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards in 2016 but his leading receiver, Brandin Cooks, was traded.
Others: Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
Raekwon McMillan, Linebacker
Best Fits: Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins
Why: McMillan's ceiling is late in the second round but the three teams above all need to address the second levels of their defenses this weekend. Washington and Arizona play a 3-4 while Detroit uses the 4-3, which McMillan obviously commanded during his three years at Ohio State. His abilities should translate as an inside linebacker in a 3-4, however.
The former Buckeye addressed questions about his athleticism and coverage skills in the pre-draft process but ran well at the Scouting Combine. That should help to show teams he can cover well enough to be on the field in passing situations but either way, McMillan is going to get drafted with the idea of providing depth at linebacker for his team. These three franchises need that.
Others: Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos
Pat Elflein, Center
Best Fits: Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
Why: Elflein's situation is somewhat like Samuel's, be it that he showed he could play both guard and center at an extremely high level in college. The 2016 recipient of the Rimington Trophy wants to play center in the NFL but both the Bengals and Jaguars have their guys at that spot — though they are inconsistent.
Minnesota needs help across the board up front as injuries destroyed the unit's depth in 2016. The Bengals lost two key contributors in left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right guard Kevin Zeitler, who signed with different franchises. Elflein isn't a tackle but could slide in at guard if asked to. Cincinnati, Minnesota and Jacksonville quarterbacks were sacked 41, 38 and 34 times last season, easily in the top half of the league. A smart, hard-working player like Elflein — who will benefit from there not being many centers in this draft class — will help from Day 1.
Others: Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions
Noah Brown, Wide Receiver
Best Fits: Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints
Why: Brown's decision to enter the NFL Draft came as a surprise to many, so his ceiling is a late-round choice. Like Jalin Marshall last year, Brown could be headed to free agency as a wide receiver should he not hear his name called Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
The Lions, Steelers and Saints all need to establish better depth at that position and have star quarterbacks in place who are more than capable of making things work as long as their receivers can catch. That is the best part of Brown's game, with his "suction cups for hands" as described by J.T. Barrett last year coming in handy as he used his body to overwhelm smaller defenders. He lacks explosiveness and speed, however, so his NFL hopes bank on what he has done since January to show teams that he is a worthwhile security blanket on the outside and a technician when it comes to route running. There is a place in the NFL for any player who can do that.
Others: Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
Cameron Johnston, Punter
Best Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals
Why: Punters don't normally get drafted (only 10 have since 2010) so the Ray Guy finalist is more than likely on his own to catch on with a team in free agency. Philadelphia's Donnie Jones will be 37 years old before the first game of the 2017 season and is entering the second of a three-year deal he signed ahead of last season. Punters play forever but could the Eagles bite and turn an eye toward the future and bring in Johnston for competition?
Green Bay's Jake Schum is in a contract year and struggled at times in 2016 while Arizona signed former CFL punter Richie Leone to a future contract on Jan. 5. He is in line to compete with incumbent starter Matt Wile for the job in 2017, in an attempt to improve upon the league's worst net punting average at 37.0 yards. Adding Johnston to the fray would incite even more competition.
Others: New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans
Dontre Wilson, Wide Receiver
Best Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers
Why: Andy Reid loves using just about anything except the "prototypical" wide receiver to move the ball through the air, as evident by Travis Kelce — a tight end — leading the team in receiving last season. Tyreek Hill is a nice gadget player that Reid put into great position to be successful on his way to a team-leading 10 touchdowns. Wilson isn't on Hill's same level but he could wiggle his way into the Kansas City offense if given the chance.
Philadelphia has a history of using smaller, multi-purpose players to create mismatches and the Chargers need to find someone to replace Danny Woodhead as Philip Rivers's go-to third-down guy out of the backfield. Wilson probably won't get drafted but if he proves he is healthy and can take care of the ball, he could find himself at least in a rookie minicamp somewhere.
Others: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Corey Smith, Wide Receiver
Best Fits: Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
Why: The least likely Buckeye to get drafted due to his injury history and lack of big plays on tape while still holding onto the football, Smith was probably best suited to tout his special teams abilities if/when he met with NFL teams before the draft. The Browns, Bills and Ravens all lack a considerable deep threat — Terrelle Pryor now plays for Washington, the Bills lost three receivers to free agency but added former Buckeye Philly Brown and Baltimore lacks talent outside of Mike Wallace.
Is Smith good enough to play in the NFL? Who knows. Crazier things have happened.
Others: Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings
