DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk 2024 NFL Draft Rd 7 pick 227 Myles Harden CB South Dakota

ST

We all pretty much knew Berry couldn't make it through a draft without picking a Cb

lol. I just said that to my wife.

Rating: 81.23 (Starter)
Pro Comparison: Nate Hobbs
Summary
Myles Harden is a physical cornerback who is willing to play downhill in run support. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in instincts and physicality. Harden is better served in zone coverage where he can capitalize on his spatial awareness and closing ability.

About
2023: Team captain and first-team All-MVFC
Career: 6 INT in 29 games
Strengths
Good click and close
Willing to help in run support
Good eyes in zone coverage
Great job breaking feet down in space and playing with balance
Weaknesses
Average athleticism
Suffered season-ending injuries in the sixth week of his sophomore and junior seasons
Below-average arm length
Struggles to get his eyes back in man coverage
Combine Data
40-yard dash: 4.5 seconds
Bench press: 13 reps
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
20-yard shuttle run: 3.98 seconds
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
3-cone drill: 6.88 seconds

ST guy obviously

j/c...

From Dane Brugler:

STRENGTHS: Fluid and balanced in his backpedal and coverage transitions (elite three -cone and short-shuttle results back up the tape) … properly tracks and balances
himself between route combinations in zone … plays with the awareness to track the throw and the aggressiveness to play through the hands of receivers … has a
“my ball” mentality and is slick working around targets without drawing flags … quick to trigger and chop down runners … stro ng finishing hands as a tackler, and
there weren’t many misses on his film (ranked top five on the team in tackles in 2023) … voted a 2023 team captain … described as an “old soul” by South Dakota
defensive coordinator Travis Johansen and is receptive to hard coaching … forced 11 turnovers (six interceptions, five forced fumbles) in 29 games played.

WEAKNESSES: Average size with shorter-than-ideal arm length … really smooth mover but can get beat deep when late to hit the gas … burst at the break point is
mediocre; gives up too many front-facing catches … feet are quick but can get tied up matching releases … gives up inside position too easily and needs to be more
calculated with risk-taking … most inconsistent outing of 2023 was vs. Missouri (only FBS opponent) … back-to-back season-ending injuries: broke the fibula in his
right leg midway through his sophomore season (October 2021) and missed the second half of the season; injured his foot (October 2022) and was unable to return.

SUMMARY: A four-year starter at South Dakota, Harden was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Travis Johansen’s zone -heavy scheme. Although his
college career was marred by back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022, he was a starter the moment he arrived and was consistently productive when
on the field (forced eight turnovers in his final 19 games). Harden is a smooth athlete with the physical mentality that show s at the catch point and in run support. He
has the mentality for press man, but NFL athletes will present a substantial leap in what he saw over his career in the FCS. Overall, Harden doesn’t offer ideal length
or long speed, but he plays quick, confident and is a roughneck competitor in both coverage and run support. With NFL-quality fluidity and ball skills, he can
handle coverage duties from multiple techniques (inside or outside) and has the traits to earn a starting nickel job as a rookie.

GRADE: 5th Round

Probably, but he could be more than that. In the box corners will always have a place, especially in todays game, but no doubt the odds are pretty long.

The Burden nugget is interesting. Could be WR1 in next year's draft, though he'll have some competition.

Good post. Has Harden had any experience at safety? Could he be used as an extra center fielder type? With teams dropping so many into coverage, this might be an option for us. That room is getting full. Still, I don't think you can ever have too many CBs.