With the 81st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Cor’Dale Flott out of LSU. While the Giants picked two blue-chip fan favorites on day one, this pick certainly left many fans scratching their heads. Even fans that did their homework on hundreds of draft prospects may have skipped over Flott.
It is evident that the Giants fell in love with Flott for his versatility. He has played both inside and outside coverage and has experience at Safety as well. This will be extremely helpful since the Giants’ defensive backfield is extremely weak at the moment. With Cornerback James Bradberry likely to leave the Giants this year if they can find a trade partner, Flott will be expected to play more than he was projected to.
Versatility:
However, while Flott has experience playing at different spots in the defensive backfield, the question is how consistently dominant he can play at any position. Flott misses too many tackles and overbites on fakes. He will have to work on his technique as well, and has yet to establish himself as a playmaker. Still, Flott’s strength is slot coverage and shows excellence in this spot. He has incredible athletic abilities and has a strong instinct for diagnosing routes and reading quarterbacks. As a strong man-coverage player, he should fit well in Wink Martindale’s defensive system. The hope is obviously that he develops into a player that can cover primary wide receivers.
Grade:
Draft Grade: C+ (Due to inconsistencies and experience, Flott can be deemed a project. The Giants have serious holes at cornerback, and there is minimal evidence to show that Cor’Dale Flott will be able to fulfill this expectation).
Fun Fact:
Cor’Dale played a pivotal role in helping Saraland High School reach the 2018 Alabama State Championship.