Kyler Gordon CB Scouting Report

[Jets Global]

Kyler Gordon NFL Draft Profile Position: Cornerback School: Washington Current Year: RS Junior Height: 6'0" Weight: 200 pounds
Kyler Gordon Scouting Report Gordon is an extremely explosive and twitchy athlete who accelerates quickly and emanates energy in coverage. He’s a fluid mover with smooth hips and easy change-of-direction ability. Moreover, the Washington CB possesses impressive agility in short ranges. He can get low in his stance and stack quick direction changes while keeping his balance. Gordon has exceptional long speed in pursuit. He can track down plays from across the field and from non-ideal angles. The Washington CB can flip his hips and double back across the field in an instant. His twitch allows him to adjust tackling angles on short notice. In a similar vein, Gordon has the explosiveness and recovery athleticism to close ground quickly after initial losses. Gordon is able to read keys and recognize distinguishing play concepts as they develop. He has good awareness in zone coverage and has shown he can manage and manipulate spacing in two-on-one situations. Additionally, Gordon has an eye for route concepts, which helps him quickly adapt when reading plays. Gordon processes well, but beyond that, he plays with inspiring physicality and proactivity. He has a larger, stronger frame than McDuffie. But even then, Gordon doesn’t shy away from bigger opponents. He willingly uses physicality at the line and can also use that physicality to engage and shed blocks. Gordon is an effusive tackler who brings an intense closing burst at the contact point. He has the capacity to dish out hard hits and force the ball loose. He appears to have a good mix of patience and aggressiveness as a defender. Nevertheless, his most enticing executional trait is his ball skills. Gordon flashes excellent ball skills, an area in which he clearly exceeds McDuffie. He can track the ball in the air and rise, contort, and extend to convert on opportunities that come his way.
Areas for Improvement Gordon is sometimes late to react to route breaks, and he can smoothen his weight transfers when responding to in-breaking routes. He can occasionally be a bit quicker reacting to plays like screens and outside runs. While his trigger is good, the Huskies CB can engage a bit quicker. Like many DBs, he can be indecisive when there’s a lot of sensory information to sift through. He has visibly improved there since 2020, however. Gordon sometimes gives too much of a cushion off of route breaks. The Washington product also has minor hiccups with tackling angles at times. In run defense, these plays are more prevalent. Gordon can be more consistent in disengaging blocks in a timely manner. He can also wrap up and use his strength more consistently as a tackler. While he’s solid in this area, there are some missed tackles on tape. Gordon can still be a bit more controlled at times. With his athleticism, he sometimes plays himself out of leverage. Additionally, he has room to play the ball more consistently at the catch point. And while his length is solid, it may not be proportionally elite.
Kyler Gordon Career at Washington Gordon was primarily a reserve in 2018. He preserved his redshirt and started off slow, but that gradual start would yield exciting results in the 2019 season. In 2019, Gordon played in 13 games and started four, amassing 32 tackles, a tackle for loss, and 4 pass deflections. Despite starting just four games, Gordon earned honorable mention recognition in the Pac-12. Gordon was once again a rotational starter in 2020, but the truncated four-game season stymied a lot of growth that would’ve taken place. Luckily, Gordon has caught up and then some in 2021. Through 10 games in 2021, Gordon is having a career year. The Washington CB has 33 tackles, a tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, and 6 pass deflections. Gordon has always had the traits, but now he’s converting on plays and generating a greater impact. All the while, his NFL Draft stock is soaring through the roof.
Kyler Gordon NFL Draft Player Profile Gordon is an exciting prospect with a relatively high floor and a sky-high ceiling. There aren’t any red flags, either. He doesn’t have an injury history, and he’s set to be 22 years old at the start of the 2022 season, so age isn’t a concern. And in interviews, Gordon comes off about how you’d expect a player of his caliber. He’s focused, with small glimpses of levity — but in truth, he lets his play on the field do the talking. This year, Gordon’s play has been loud. In every phase, he’s making things happen, and he’s finally realizing the full extent of his physical upside. Between the tape and the testing that’s to come, there isn’t much stopping Gordon from rising into the early rounds — so long as he stays the course.