As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Christian Gonzalez.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)
Christian Gonzalez (CB – Oregon)
6’2″ – 201 lbs.
Background:
Four-star recruit who originally attended Colorado, starting every game as a freshman, totaling 391 snaps and allowing 20/36 (55.6%) for 239 yards, one touchdown, and four breakups. Graded out better during his sophomore campaign there (30/55, 54.5%, 320 yards, three touchdowns, four breakups) before transferring to Oregon this past year. Has made this season his best despite being targeted at a higher clip, finishing with quarterbacks going 39/64 for 495 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions while breaking up six more passes.
Positives:
Three-year starter with experience both outside and in the slot (predominantly on the boundary) and an escalating level of play. Has
excellent size and length for the position and knows how to use it. Typically aligned in press coverage, with nice knee-bend and leverage, but also does some off/shuffle. Clean footwork to match releases at the line. Long strides to get depth when shuffling. Uses his length to pin opponents to the sideline when working against outside releases on the short side. Gets physical against inside releases on routes further downfield, effectively jamming opponents. Feels routes developing and stays connected through the stem. Patient with solid route anticipation/awareness; keeps the play in front of him and has smooth transitions to driving on a spot. Does a good job of getting his head around to locate, and uses his impressive length to break up targets. Has solid leaping skills to climb the ladder and compete for the ball. Good technique to go for the breakup. Overall flexibility is above-average, especially for his size. Maintains outside leverage to funnel when taking on blocks.
Negatives:
Teams felt more comfortable testing him than usual for a potential high draft pick. Slightly hunched backpedal. Doesn’t bring quite the same level of physicality to disrupt opponents as some of his peers in the class. Relies on anticipation/recognition to break up underneath throws, rather than an elite burst. Active, but not quite as powerful or effective at taking on blocks as his size would suggest. Not a consistent form tackler; lots of torpedo attempts, although he only missed 4.9% of tries this past year. Didn’t make many plays on the ball prior to this past season.
Summary:
A big, long cornerback who plays with the polished technique and feel for the position you’d expect from a three-year starter, anticipating routes well from his typical press-man alignment and diagnosing route combinations from zone/shuffle. May lack some of the disruptive physicality of other bigger cornerbacks in this year’s class, but limits penalties better than most and is a more pro-ready prospect who should be able to step in relatively soon and offer solid play on the boundary.
Projection: Round 1
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