Could Morrison start opposite Deonte Banks for the Giants?
Cornerback is commonly cited as one of the New York Giants’ primary needs apart from quarterback and defensive tackle.
Whether or not the Giants themselves agree with the assessment largely depends on how they feel about the development of Cor’Dale Flott heading into his fourth year. If the Giants don’t view Flott as a starter, they’ll need another cornerback to play opposite Deonte Banks.
If so, Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame could be high on the Giants’ radar. Morrison was highly regarded to start the 2024 season and generally believed to be one of the very best cornerbacks in this draft class. Then his season was ended prematurely by a hip injury which required surgery to repair.
When healthy, Morrison is highly regarded for his football IQ, competitiveness, ability, and versatility. He could wind up being a steal for the team that drafts him.
Prospect: Benjamin Morrison (20)
Games Watched: vs. Ohio State (2023), vs. Louisville (2023), vs. USC (2023), vs. Texas A&M (2024)
Red Flags: Hip (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot (estimated)
Weight: 190 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Athleticism
- Versatility
- Football IQ
- Competitive toughness
Morrison is a good-sized corner at 6-foot, 190 pounds, who appears to have a good blend of length and athleticism for the NFL.
Morrison has experience in a wide variety of coverage schemes in Notre Dame’s defense. He’s played in press-man, off-man, and zone coverages, and executed all of them at a high level. Morrison has the quick feet and fluid hips to routinely play man coverage at the NFL level, as well as the awareness, football IQ, and communication skills to play zone coverage.
He’s a physical cornerback who has no problem matching up with X receivers in tight coverage, and understands how to use his hands to maintain contact without overtly interfering with the receiver. Morrison’s feet and hips are good enough that he can be extremely sticky in coverage and even run routes for average athletes at the receiver position. He also understands how to position himself and influence routes to use the sideline as an extra defender.
Morrison shows a solid understanding of offensive concepts and is generally able to navigate the schemed separation in most route concepts. He doesn’t give up much separation to traffic and has enough athleticism to recover and be a factor at the catch point. He’s physical at the catch point. His length and physicality allow him to disrupt catches.
He has a quick trigger to come downhill out of zone coverage. That makes him effective defending underneath passes from a zone look, as well as an effective run defender. Morrison is able to take on and shed blockers to make plays on the ball carrier and is a willing hitter.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Health
- Discipline
The biggest question right now for Morrison is in regards to his health after his hip injury. Hip fluidity is a big part of Morrison’s game, and any potential impact there could be a significant blow to his draft stock.
On the field, Morrison is prone to having “happy feet” prior to the snap in man coverage. He frequently takes false steps or stutter steps prior to the snap, shifting back and forth, or side to side. Not only can that leave him flat-footed at the snap, but there’s a clear tendency present that can serve as a context clue to an alert receiver or quarterback.
Morrison’s aggression as a defender can occasionally work against him. His physicality can cross the line into holding or pass interference when he’s in man coverage, which will be much more likely to draw flags in the NFL than in college. Likewise, he can either bite too hard on misdirection or take poor angles to the ball out of zone coverage. Either will take him out of position and allow for bigger gains.
Game Tape
(Morrison is the Notre Dame cornerback wearing No. 20)
Projection
Morrison projects as a starting cornerback with scheme diversity at the NFL level.
Where he’s ultimately drafted will likely depend on how his medicals check out, but he has first-round talent. There are still some wrinkles to be ironed out in his game, and he’ll have to work on controlling his aggression to avoid hurting his own team or giving up big plays.
That said, there’s a lot for coaches to work with. And while Morrison might not have elite physical or athletic traits, the sum of his parts is impressive.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, pending medical evaluations
Final Word: A first-round value