Scouting Profile: Michigan State CB Trae Waynes

Get an in-depth look at the top prospects in this year's draft class leading up to the NFL draft, which takes place from April 30 to May 2 in Chicago.

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Trae Waynes 

Position: CB
School: Michigan State 
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 186 lbs.
Age: 22

Combine Results

Strengths 

• Does an excellent job forcing receivers to beat him inside. 
• Excellent closing speed and acceleration. Can recover against wide receivers even if he's a step behind. 
• Has the ability to lock down larger receivers due to excellent leaping ability, speed and physicality at line of scrimmage.
• Seldom gets beat on deep routes. 

Weaknesses 

• Will rely on his speed to track the ball at the last moment possible, missing key interception chances. 
• Struggles as a downfield tackler, relying on safeties and linebackers to approach ball-carriers first. 
• Doesn't turn hips well and will get beat on slant routes at the NFL level. 
• Will be penalized often at NFL level by remaining physically engaged with receivers downfield. 

NFL player comparison: Joe Haden

Waynes mimics Haden's ability to force receivers to beat him to the outside, and shares his tendency to take on larger receivers due to his recovery speed. Both players play in press coverage often, and Waynes may establish himself as a shutdown cornerback - as long as he isn't forced to be a slot cornerback in his rookie year.  

Ideal fit: St. Louis Rams 

Cortland Finnegan retired in the offseason, leaving a vacancy at cornerback for the Rams. Alongside the promising sophomore E.J. Gaines, Waynes would help form a quietly-strong cornerback duo, and would be an upgrade over the opportunistic Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, who can have trouble on intermediate routes. 

Draft projection: Round 1 (6-20)