2018 NFL Draft: New York Jets get their franchise quarterback in team mock

Round Five: Holton Hill, CB, Texas

Todd Bowles loves big cornerbacks for his defensive scheme. Bowles loves to blitz so big corners that can cover are at a premium. Therefore, when a cornerback who stands at 6-3 is available in the third round, the Jets should jump here. Behind Trumaine Johnson and Morris Claiborne the Jets don’t have a ton of depth and here is a guy that ran the forty yard dash in 4.49 seconds. He has steal potential in round five.

The numbers don’t necessarily portray great ball skills. In three years, Hill put up only three interceptions.. Someone of that size, you would think, would find himself around the ball more often. Let’s look at some tape:

The eye test gives a look at better ball skills than the numbers indicate. Hill challenges on the ball quite well when it is in the air. Texas plays a lot of one here so it’s difficult to address whether or not he could play man to man at the next level. Hill also is very quick to stick his head in and make a tackle, be it on a running play or in the passing game. He doesn’t give up on run plays when he is blocked either.

If anything he could close faster on the ball in the air. Hill could give himself a chance to make the interception more often if he closed quicker. Passes defended are good but they still give the offense another shot. Get their faster and he can generate more turnovers.

To me, however, we are nitpicking a bit. With some teaching, Holton Hill could work himself into quite the cornerback in the NFL. This would be an investment I would make and do it quickly if he were on the board.