LA Chargers: Patrick Surtain II is a better draft prospect than Jaycee Horn

He can fit in a Staley scheme on the LA Chargers

Brandon Staley’s press conference led a lot of people to believe that he would prefer Horn over Surtain, but I don’t think that’s necessarily what was said. Let’s have a full look at Staley’s quote on cornerbacks.

For us it’s being able to play man to man, that’s where it starts, you have to be able to cover man to man. We kind of evaluate that in two phases, how they play man to man from bump and how they play man to man from off. So, we evaluate that first and foremost. The second thing is what is their movement? Like at level two? When they are off? What is their movement like?

Surtain’s man to man coverage ability speaks for itself. He was graded by PFF as having the highest coverage grade in the country with an 88.6. Over the last two seasons combined, he has a 91.7 coverage grade.

Surtain also got a lot better at the second level. Only one reception in 2020 beat him for 25+ yards. On a 1000 snap sample, it proves he can move pretty well for his size. Analysts will talk about the lack of a quick twitch because he’s 6’2″, but he can move effectively at the first or second level.

MORE: Did Brandon Staley reveal who the LA Chargers are picking in the first two rounds?

Another thing to remember is that the Chargers do have Michael Davis. Neither Horn or Surtain can keep up with Tyreek Hill in a footrace. Only Farley can probably do that in this draft and he has serious injury concerns. Having a cornerback that can handle burner receivers for basically the duration of a cornerback’s rookie contract is a crucial point that isn’t talked about enough.