Cornell Powell is going to be an interesting evaluation for the 2021 NFL draft. On one hand, you have a former high-end recruit who just lit up the field with Clemson on their pursuit for the College National Championship. On the other, you have a fifth-year senior who produced more in his fifth season than the four prior combined years. Powell is going to get drafted, the question is when and how does his skill set translate to the NFL?
Cornell Powell College Statistics
Year Class Pos G Rec Yds Avg TD *2016 FR WR 5 12 87 7.3 0 *2017 SO WR 8 8 57 7.1 1 *2018 JR WR 4 5 63 12.6 0 *2019 JR WR 10 15 122 8.1 2 *2020 SR WR 12 53 882 16.6 7 Career 93 1211 13.0 10
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/13/2021.
Cornell Powell size and athleticism
Traits that Cornell Powell possesses that can translate to the NFL
Powell was a top recruit who went to Clemson and he looks like it. Cornell Powell is built with a combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He shows off most when being targeted down the field and has an average depth of target of 13 yards per PFF.
Powell does well at creating separation deep into the route to get the last step on deep passes, and also has a strong ability to track the football and haul it in. He also showed off that physical profile with strength at the catch point in contested catches, as well as shrugging off defenders when working for yards after the catch.
When Trevor Lawrence was targeting Cornell Powell in 2020, big plays were coming.
Questions for Cornell Powell that may cause him to fall in the 2021 NFL Draft
Powell has been at Clemson so long that he was a freshman playing with Deshaun Watson. Yes, Mike Williams, Tee Higgins and more were in his way, but still, 40 catches in four seasons is a bit worrisome.
Overall, Powell still does win based on his physical profile. At age 23, it would make sense that he is able to dominate the 20-year-olds that he faces. In the NFL, he is not seeing developing young men. Powell was able to create separation on deep passes, but with subtle moves that may throw off young cornerbacks, but that experienced veterans have seen before. Overall, he does not have a rounded route tree and relies on getting separation deep down the field or at the catch point. You will not find him working over the middle.
NFL Comparison for Cornell Powell
Cornell Powell worked out his Pro Day recently. You were able to see the physical profile as well as his athletic testing. He came in at 6′, 204 pounds. You can see his testing numbers here.
When combining his physical profile and athletic testing, we can find a list of players who have a similar type coming into the NFL. When combining this with how he plays on tape, the best NFL comparison for Cornell Powell is Demarcus Robinson.
The two are similar in how they win deep down the field but do not have blazing speed. They are able to create that deep and late separation and both of them find ways to win in the air. However, with Robinson, you have a limited player with an incomplete skill set. The boom that you get in big plays from Robinson is enticing, but like Powell, too many long stretches without a peep from him are also a part of the experience.
Does Cornell Powell fit the Chicago Bears?
Even with franchise tagging Allen Robinson, the Chicago Bears need a wide receiver. When looking at Ryan Pace, and Matt Nagy, they both could be interested in what Powell brings. Pace drafted Javon Wims and Riley Ridley. Both were older prospects who were in crowded wide receiver rooms at big conferences. Pace thought he was getting a discount with these players due to this. However, he liked that they came into the NFL with experience, pedigree, and a football mind.
He did not mind that Anthony Miller was an older prospect either, so Powell will clearly not be crossed off of the board for Pace. When Nagy was OC with the Chiefs they drafted Demarcus Robinson, who has a similar athletic and physical profile to Powell. They also both win down the field in similar ways.
Between Pace and Nagy, Powell does check some boxes for the type of player they look for. The question will be the round. Riley Ridley and Demarcus Robinson were drafted in round four, and that is about where you could expect to see someone take a shot on Powell. It is possible that Powell could walk in and step ahead of Wims and Ridley on the depth chart. Overall, for a day three pick, Powell could very well be on the Chicago Bears radar.