The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine concluded Sunday as the defensive backs and place kickers took center stage on the final day of workouts. This year looked a bit different compared to years past as players completed measurements, bench press and on-field workouts all on the same day.
This defensive back class has the potential to be the best in years, as there are plenty of talented ball hawks and tacklers in this secondary crop. Among the top defensive back prospects in the 2022 draft class are LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie, and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
Below are all the official measurements for the defensive backs at the combine, in alphabetical order (*denotes that the player is a safety; all others are cornerbacks).
Defensive back measurements
| Player | Height | Weight | Hand Size | 40-yard dash time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tycen Anderson (Toledo)* | 6' 2" | 209 | 10 1/8" | 4.41 |
Jalyn Armour-Davis (Alabama) | 6' 1" | 197 | 9 1/4" | 4.39 |
Kalon Barnes (Baylor) | 5' 11 1/2" | 183 | 9 7/8" | 4.23 |
Markquese Bell (Florida A&M)* | 6' 2" | 212 | 9 3/8" | 4.45 |
Dane Belton (Iowa)* | 6' 1" | 205 | 9 1/8" | 4.49 |
Bubba Bolden (Miami)* | 6' 2" | 209 | 9" | 4.53 |
Andrew Booth (Clemson)* | 6' 0" | 194 | 9 3/8" | Didn't run |
Jaquan Brisker (Penn State)* | 6' 1" | 199 | 9 7/8" | 4.53 |
Montaric Brown (Arkansas) | 6' 0 3/8" | 196 | 9 1/2" | 4.55 |
| Coby Bryant (Cincinnati) | 6' 1 3/8" | 195 | 9 3/8" | 4.54 |
| Percy Butler (Louisiana)* | 6' 0" | 194 | 9 1/8" | 4.39 |
Tariq Castro-Fields (Penn State) | 6' 0 5/8" | 197 | 8 3/4" | 4.38 |
| Lewis Cine (Georgia)* | 6' 2" | 199 | 9 3/8" | 4.38 |
| Qwynnterrio Cole (Louisville)* | 6' 0" | 206 | 10 3/8" | Didn't run |
| Bryan Cook (Cincinnati)* | 6' 1" | 206 | 8 1/2" | Didn't run |
| Yusuf Corker (Kentucky)* | 6' 0" | 203 | 9" | Didn't run |
| Nick Cross (Maryland)* | 6' 0" | 212 | 9" | 4.40 |
| Cobie Durant (South Carolina State) | 5' 10" | 180 | 8 3/4" | 4.38 |
| Kaiir Elam (Florida) | 6' 1 1/2" | 191 | 8 7/8" | 4.39 |
| MJ Emerson (Mississippi State) | 6' 2" | 201 | 10 1/8" | 4.53 |
| Akayleb Evans (Missouri) | 6' 2" | 197 | 8 3/4" | 4.46 |
| DaMarcus Fields (Texas Tech) | 5' 11 5/8" | 193 | 9 1/8" | 4.48 |
| Sauce Gardner (Cincinnati) | 6' 2 3/4" | 190 | 9 5/8" | 4.41 |
| Mario Goodrich (Clemson) | 6' 0" | 176 | 9 1/8" | 4.52 |
| Kyler Gordon (Washington) | 5' 11 1/2" | 194 | 9 1/4" | 4.52 |
| Vincent Gray (Michigan) | 6' 2" | 192 | 9 1/4" | 4.54 |
| Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)* | 6' 4" | 220 | 9 1/8" | 4.59 |
| Kolby Harvell-Peel (Oklahoma State)* | 6' 0" | 213 | 9 3/4" | Didn't run |
| Dax Hill (Michigan)* | 6' 0" | 191 | 9 1/2" | 4.41 |
| Jack Jones (Arizona State) | 5' 11" | 171 | 8 7/8" | 4.51 |
Marcus Jones (Houston) | 5' 8" | 174 | 8 7/8" | Didn't run |
| Kerby Joseph (Illinois)* | 6' 1" | 203 | 10 1/4" | Didn't run |
| Derion Kendrick (Georgia) | 6' 0" | 194 | 9 1/8" | Didn't run |
| Quentin Lake (UCLA)* | 6' 1" | 201 | 9 1/8" | 4.64 |
| Chase Lucas (Arizona State) | 5' 11" | 180 | 9 1/4" | 4.48 |
| Damarri Mathis (Pittsburgh) | 5' 11" | 196 | 8 1/4" | 4.39 |
| Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston State) | 6' 2" | 199 | 9" | 4.33 |
| Roger McCreary (Auburn) | 5' 11" | 190 | 9" | 4.50 |
| Trent McDuffie (Washington) | 5'10 3/4" | 193 | 8 3/4" | 4.44 |
| Verone McKinley III (Oregon)* | 5' 10" | 198 | 9 1/8" | Didn't run |
| Smoke Monday (Auburn)* | 6' 2" | 207 | 9 1/8" | 4.58 |
| Leon O'Neal (Texas A&M)* | 6' 0 1/2" | 204 | 10 1/4" | Didn't run |
| Jalen Pitre (Baylor)* | 5' 11" | 198 | 9" | Didn't run |
| Chris Steele (USC) | 6' 0 3/8" | 187 | 8 3/4" | 4.48 |
| Derek Singley Jr. (LSU) | 6' 0" | 195 | 9 5/8" | Didn't run |
| Alontae Taylor (Tennessee) | 6' 0 1/8" | 199 | 9 1/8" | 4.36 |
| Cam Taylor-Britt (Nebraska) | 5' 10 5/8" | 196 | 10" | 4.38 |
| Isaac Taylor-Stuart (USC) | 6' 1 1/2' | 201 | 9" | 4.42 |
| Juanyeh Thomas (Georgia Tech)* | 6' 1" | 212 | 9 3/4" | 4.67 |
| Josh Thompson (Texas) | 5' 11 1/2" | 194 | 9 3/8" | 4.40 |
| Delarrin Turner-Yell (Oklahoma)* | 5' 10" | 197 | 10" | 4.51 |
| Jermaine Waller (Virginia Tech) | 6' 0" | 180 | 9" | 4.68 |
| Jaylen Watson (Washington State) | 6' 2" | 197 | 9 5/8" | 4.51 |
| Sam Webb (Missouri Western State) | 6' 2" | 195 | N/A | 4.48 |
| Joshua Williams (Fayetteville State) | 6' 3" | 195 | 9 1/2" | 4.53 |
| JT Woods (Baylor)* | 6' 2" | 195 | 8 1/2" | 4.36 |
| Tariq Woolen (UTSA) | 6' 4 1/8" | 205 | 9 1/8" | 4.26 |
| Mykael Wright (Oregon) | 5 '10 1/2" | 173 | 9" | 4.57 |
Defensive back winners
Kyle Hamilton's measurements are similar to an impact rookie from the 2020 season -- Jeremy Chinn. Hamilton was 1 1/4 inches taller than Chinn (Hamilton is 6-foot-4 1/4), but they both come in with similar weights (230 for Hamilton and 231 for Chinn). The top safety prospect in the draft, Hamilton has the looks of a perennial Pro Bowler.
Sauce Gardner stood at 6-2 3/4 and had a 33 1/2 inch arm length; only six cornerbacks have had similar measurements prior (per Warren Sharp). Gardner just added to his freak athletic ability as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft.
Tariq Woolen ran a 4.26 40-yard dash, adding to his already impressive profile at the combine (Woolen's time tied for the fourth-fastest in the history of the combine, while fellow cornerback Kalon Barnes ran the second-fastest combine 40 of all-time). Already at an impressive 6-4 and 205 pounds, Woolen's arm length was measured at 33 5/8 inches and he is one of the most athletic cornerbacks in this draft. His stock can rise even higher at his pro day.
Defensive back losers
Derek Stingley Jr. didn't run at the combine due to his LisFranc injury from last September; he won't participate in on-field workouts until his pro day in April. Stingley is one of the top cornerbacks in this draft, but could fall due to injuries and not having an interception since 2019 -- when he was a second team All-American as a freshman.
However, Stingley was only 1/4 inch smaller than Stephon Gilmore (Gilmore was 6-0 1/2 inches in 2012 and Stingley came in at 6-0 1/4). Both cornerbacks weighed 190 pounds when measured. Stingley didn't hurt his draft stock with his measurements. He just needs to show up at his pro day.
Smoke Monday is a concern in the passing game -- and his 4.52 40-yard dash time didn't help, either. His strengths will be stopping the run in the box and his leadership ability, but his stock may take a slight hit unless he is faster at his pro day.
