Buccaneers land potential sleeper QB and more in latest 7-round NFL Mock Draft
By Brad Smith
Round 3, Pick 89: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB/Missouri
Outside of Winfield Jr., the Buccaneers were forced to rotate a number of different cornerbacks on a game-by-game basis. To clarify, seven different cornerbacks and safeties played in at least 12 games and started in two or more outings. Whether this was due to injuries or poor performance, adding young and durable talent at cornerback isn't a bad option with one of their first three round picks.
To do so, the Buccaneers opt for Abrams-Draine, who is a true ball-hawking cornerback that excelled in most situations last season. While at Spanish Fort High School, Abrams-Draine was a four-star recruit at wide receiver and quarterback, and totaled 2,648 scrimmage yards and 30 touchdowns at both positions.
With that, Abrams-Draine committed to Missouri as a wide receiver, but was used in a reserve role as a Freshman. In the next season, Abrams-Draine switched positions to cornerback and enjoyed a solid first season at the position, finishing with 37 tackles, seven passes defended, and three interceptions in 13 games.
Abrams-Draine signed with Missouri. And his experience as a WR and QB has helped him climb the ranks early. After sitting as a reserve WR in 2020, Abrams-Draine switched to CB in 2021 and took a major leap, accounting for 37 tackles, three picks, and seven deflections in 13 games.
As a Junior, Abrams-Draine would continue to improve after his debut season at cornerback, with 48 tackles and 14 passes defended in 12 games. In his Senior season, however, Abrams-Draine was exceptional with 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles, 13 passes defended, and four interceptions, and was later named on the All-American second team and All-SEC first team.
Standing at 5'11" and 179 pounds, Abrams-Draine is an effortless accelerator who flashes elite explosive capacity tracking receivers up field, and has the quick strides and agility to prevent separation over the top. To top it all off, Abrams-Draine's ball skills are elite, in large part of being a converterd wide receiver. Regardless, Abrams-Draine is an intriguing cornerback prospect with the tape and stats to back up his solid production.