With the 31st pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Vikings added a relentless secondary presence with TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney.
Spending five years at TCU -- he was a redshirt freshman in 2016 -- Gladney improved as time went on and was able to record his career high in passes defended in 2019. All in all, he defended 37 passes and picked off five in his college career, becoming a lockdown corner by his senior season.
Here's everything you need to know about Gladney.
Measurables: 5'10"/191
School: TCU
2019 Stats: 31 total tackles, 1 interception, 5 passes defended, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks
Accolades: 2019 second team All-American (FWAA, Phil Steele), 2019 first team All-Big 12 (AP, coaches), 2018 first team All-Big 12 (PFF), 2018 second team All-Big 12 (AP, coaches)
Strengths: Gladney is as competitive and pugnacious as any defender out there, making up for his smaller frame with incredible instincts and urgency, as noted by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein. RADIO.COM Sports NFL insider Brian Baldinger lauded Gladney as perhaps his favorite player available at the cornerback position, comparing him to a pitbull due to his aggressiveness and unrelenting speed.
Weaknesses: The downside is obvious, as Gladney is not the size of most of his NFL counterparts and could struggle on the outside against bigger receivers. Although he's as determined as any to make the play, his size is one of those uncontrollable factors that puts him at a natural disadvantage, and it's worth wondering how he would possibly fare if a play led him to cover a guy like Mike Evans or Julio Jones.
Player Comparison: Cortland Finnegan
Undersized. Tenacious. Physical. Good ball skills. Did I mention tenacious? Gladney's play style seems reminiscent of Finnegan's, as the former Titans Pro Bowler weighed in at 190 pounds and hovered around 5'10". Gladney isn't going to fall to the seventh round like Finnegan did, though, as teams won't make the same mistake just because Gladney is undersized.
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