Position:
Cornerback
School: Oklahoma
Status: Senior
Height:
5-11
Weight:
190
40-Yard Dash:
4.45 seconds
Positives:
Derrick Strait is a physical corner with good size and leaping ability. He has good speed and a nose for the ball, good cover skills, and is especially tough in tight man coverage. He is very aggressive and quick, making it tough for opponents to gain separation. and isn't afraid to support the run defense.
As a four-year starter, Strait is about as experienced as you can be coming out of college. He has very good technique. He has a strong backpedal and smooth hips... turns and runs very well. He has great ball skills and as a fifth-year senior, he is probably the most polished corner in the draft.
Negatives:
He can be too aggressive at times... tends to gamble a lot. Often bites on a receiver's first move. He also lacks elite speed and can't afford to make mistakes against the league's faster wideouts.
Projection:
Derrick Strait may not have the upside of a DeAngelo Hall or Chris Gamble, but he is probably more prepared than any of them to make a contribution early in his career.
He will probably be selected somewhere in the late-first to early-second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
