2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

February 7, 2012 @ 01:09:16

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick brings a fantastic size-speed combination to the 2012 NFL Draft. He leaves the Crimson Tide after his junior year and should be sought after by NFL teams early in the draft. 

Size and speed to get it done

Strengths

• Plenty of size to contend with large receivers (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) and win jump balls - large wingspan helps him break up passes
• Two-year starter - was tested considerably as a sophomore and quickly grew into the role
• Plays with a lot of confidence and earned the nickname "Swag" from his teammates
• Excellent man-to-man coverage skills
• Enough recovery speed to usually make up for being too aggressive
• Fluid hips to smoothly transition out of his backpedal
• Experience as a blitzer
• Willing tackler - excels against outside running plays
• Strong work ethic - respected teammate
• Special teams experience as an outside blocker
• Reasonable amount of upside

Weaknesses

• Gambles too much - gives up big plays as he tries to make them
• Cited for marijuana possession in 2011 but charges were later dropped
• Tries too hard to jam at the line and can easily be knocked off balance
• Has occasionally failed to locate the ball when tracking a receiver or coming into the fracas to make a stop
• Still raw in zone coverage

Expected draft placement

Kirkpatrick should be a top-20 draft pick, and it is highly unlikely that he will fall out of the first round. Teams that could select him include the Dallas Cowboys (No. 14), Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17, No. 21), Detroit Lions (No. 23) and Denver Broncos (No. 25). 

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

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1

Ekebebbe, at 01:08 on 03/02/12, says: YOU KEEP FORGETTING THE PANTHERS NEED A CB MORE THAN ANYONE! they have the league's worst in capt munnerlyn! Forget brockers as he has bust written all over him! if they are on the board the Panthers pick as follows: of course- Blackmon of course- Claibore next probable- Dre kirkpatrick slightly possible- Janoris (baby daddy) jenkins possible- with a trade to a philly the panthers may draft dontari poe at 15 and let philly have kuechly at number 9. with that said the Panthers would turn around and have a decent corner on the board or another decent wideout! only here do you get the inside facts.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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