Draft Analysis: Cornell Powell

April 1, 2021 /
  • Height: 6’0″
  • Weight: 205lbs
  • College: Clemson
  • Tape watched: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Virginia
  • NFL Comparison: AJ Brown

Pros

  • Physicality
    Cornell Powell plays no games. He is physical with every aspect of playing wide receiver. He has a violent punch against press, he is strong at the catch point, and he looks to run over people after the catch. He is a solid blocker and sets up a strong base that is hard to move. His pro-day physique can be described as Clemson Thanos.
Powell bullies Shaun Wade through this whole game. Most notably on this touchdown.
  • Body Control
    Powell has shown the ability to catch passes outside of his frame. He is fantastic on the sidelines catching back shoulder throws and staying in bounds. He excels at using his big frame to protect passes over the middle of the field as well.
  • Blocking
    Cornell Powell has the tools and tenacity to become a dominant boundary blocker. Powell set up big plays to happen through outside run and screen plays on the perimeter.
  • YAC
    There aren’t many NFL corners that will want to, or can tackle Powell in open space. He isn’t just a physical runner, he has good lateral movements and deceptiveness with the ball. Good acceleration allows him to carry momentum faster and break into seams.

Cons

  • Route Running
    Route running is Powell’s greatest area for improvement. He tends to rely on winning with his size and athleticism more often than being a technician in his routes. He doesn’t look to stack defenders on deep balls, and instead tries to outrun them, or beat them on 50/50 balls. He can make life easier on him and his quarterback by working to stack defenders and allowing the quarterback an easier throw into space where only Powell can catch the ball. His horizontal breaking routes are far from smooth, but he doesn’t project to be that type of receiver anyways. He is very good through route stems altering his tempo and bursting into route breaks.
Powell wins this rep easy if he works to stack the corner. He stays on his release line and allows the corner a better angle to the ball.
Here is improvement in Powell’s ability to stack. He hides the shoulder and dips around the corner.
This is a perfect rep from release to catch point.
  • Hands
    There were no drop issues on tape, however Powell relies a lot on basket catches that work into his body. He plucks balls out of the air very well, so his hands are not an issue. This is more of a consistency problem and something he can work on at the next level.
  • Body of Work
    Powell has virtually no stats outside of his breakout 2020 season. Clemson is perenially loaded with talent, so I tend not to worry that Powell saw no significant playing time until his senior year. Tee Higgins had a similar play-style in 2019 and likely ate up a large portion of would-be snaps for Powell. It is important to note Powell will be 24 in October, not exactly the age you want a rookie receiver coming off his first breakout year.

Overview

Cornell Powell’s limited tape is fantastic. He bullied corners at all levels, including highly regarded OSU defender Shaun Wade in their CFB playoff game. He has excellent burst off the line of scrimmage and through his route breaks. He is a monster in terms of physicality, through blocking, route running, and his catch point aggression. He will have to show NFL teams he is ready to make an impact immediately or his draft stock will drop into the developmental rounds of day three in the draft.