Player: Kyler Gordon

School: Washington

Height and Weight: 6’0”, 200

Combine/Pro Day Results:

• 40: 4.52
• Bench: DNP
• Vertical Jump: 39.5”(Pro Day)
• Broad Jump: 10’8”(Pro Day)
• 3 Cone: 6.67(Pro Day)
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 3.96(Pro Day)
• Other Notes: Gordon only ran the 40 at the combine, and ran an okay time; it was middle of the pack. His pro day numbers are pretty impressive though. His jumps would’ve been top 3 at the combine, and his agility drills are a little surprising given his 40 time, but really solid. 

Strengths: Zone coverage, tackling, run presence, physicality 

Weaknesses: Good route runner, looking back in man

Projected Draft Day: Day 1

Player Comparison: Mike Hilton 

Player Summary: Kyler Gordon is not being talked about enough in this year’s corner class. Gordon unfortunately is being overshadowed by his Washington counterpart Trent McDuffie. Although McDuffie is a fine corner with great upside, he is not ready in the way that Gordon is. Gordon is a good overall corner prospect. As I spoke about in my McDuffie profile, Gordon comes from a Washington defense that plays like 90-95% zone coverage. Although having to play primarily zone, I really like Gordon’s play style. He wasn’t afraid to play up and press the receiver. I feel like he has really good awareness of his zone and his assignment and what to do in different situations. Gordon, unlike most of the corners I’ve scouted so far in this year’s class, is an impact player in the run game. Gordon is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s an aggressive player against blocks and wants to go make the tackle on the running back. He understands that he as the corner is the last line of defense on the edge, and he does a great job setting the edge as a corner. The other note that I took, that was really interesting was that Washington liked to blitz him a lot in the red zone and on the goal line.  They would line him up off the edge like a nickel back/OLB, and would blitz him and have him set the edge.

Gordon’s biggest weaknesses showed up in man coverage, and for obvious reasons. It looked like good route running could give Gordon an issue. The other issue was that he needs to learn how to turn his head quicker. He was so focused on his man that he forgot to look back at times and it got him in trouble. I feel like this has to do with a comfort or confidence issue because he doesn’t play man as much, but he should be able to fix this issue through good coaching and lots of reps.

Gordon is much bigger than Mike Hilton who is more balanced in coverage than Gordon, but I think Gordon could live up to the caliber of player that Hilton has turned into. Gordon is as big of an impact in the run game as Hilton is. Gordon was an outside corner for Washington, but I could see a situation where he kicks into the slot in the pros or at least sees some slot snaps. Like I said I like the way Gordon sets the edge as a corner, but I also think that his impact in the run game and as a blitzer could be utilized to a much greater effect in the slot at the pro level. Gordon could definitely use some time working on his man coverage, but should be serviceable right away. Gordon is ready to play now and in the right system certainly has the potential to improve overall and possibly become one of the best from this class.