TJ Tampa has been one of the most polarizing prospects throughout the 2024 draft process. There are now only two weeks until the first day of the draft. Here we will discuss if he makes it into the first round of the NFL draft.
TJ Tampa
Tampa played all four seasons of his colligate career with the Iowa State Cyclones. Tampa is a physical and lanky corner who likes to attack the ball. He is at his best within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage where he can press the receiver. TJ lacks the top-end speed that he will see in the NFL and can sometimes struggle against slippery route runners. Tampa is also a massive help in the run game and put up similar stats to Cooper DeJean last season. He accounted for 44 tackles and 2 interceptions to go along with seven passes defended in 2023.
TJ Tampa seems to be a mix of all the other corners in this year’s draft. He has the run support of Cooper DeJean, the lack of top-end speed similar to Terrion Arnold, the aggression of Quinyon Mitchell, and the coverage skills of Kool-Aid McKinstry. Tampa has all the traits to be a successful NFL corner but most of it is going to depend on good coaching.
2024 NFL Draft
TJ Tampa has had a quiet offseason since the Senior Bowl. At the 2024 NFL combine he measured in at 6’1 189 pounds. Tampa ran a 4.45 40-yard dash which was a little slower than NFL scouts would have liked. With only two weeks until the NFL draft, Tampa has been selected around the 25th to 40th overall range in the latest mock drafts.
Where TJ Tampa is selected is going to heavily factor in where other corners go in the NFL draft. Tampa is regarded as the sixth or seventh-best corner but could go as high as the fifth. The higher that the top corners are drafted, the more likely it is that Tampa sneaks into the first round.
Three of the final four picks of the first round are held by the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs who could all be looking to get another young corner in their secondaries. The Lion’s biggest need throughout the offseason has been corner and with the loss of Cam Sutton, Dan Campbell could be looking to get another aggressive defender to add to the Lion’s secondary.
The Ravens have a lot of needs heading into the draft, one of them being cornerback. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey who is one of the best corners in the NFL when healthy, but across the field, the Ravens have a hole at corner and could use a player like TJ Tampa. After the trade of L’Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs also have a hole at outside corner. Kansas City could also be in consideration to take Tampa with the final pick of the first round.
With three teams at the end of the first round needing cornerback, there is a very good chance that Tampa could sneak into the first round. If TJ Tampa can go to a team where he can develop there is no reason, he can’t be a successful NFL cornerback.
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