Cowboys 2021 draft prospects: Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley scouting report

Name: Caleb Farley

School: Virginia Tech

Height: 6-2

Weight: 197lbs

Class: RS Junior

Position: CB

Jersey: #3

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Strengths:

Extremely fluid, long-limbed corner with the ideal mix of size, speed, athleticism, and length to succeed as a lockdown corner on the boundary. Can’t highlight enough just how good of an athlete Caleb Farley is, along with an impressive physical build as well. Ball-hawking mentality when in coverage forced quarterbacks to look in a different direction when targeting the Virginia Tech secondary. Patient when he needs to be, but showed excellent read and react skills when driving on the football in off-coverage. Mirroring skills are impressive for someone so new to the position. Crowds throwing windows and release packages with length and violent hands at the point of attack. Does an excellent job of running route’s for receivers, putting himself in favorable positions to make plays on the football. Very clean back-pedal when in man-coverage on the boundary allows for fluid transitions. Caleb Farley is an ascending player, who has yet to play his best football, and has CB1 traits in Dan Quinn’s defense.

Weaknesses:

Still needs to develop is instincts in zone-coverage, as he has been caught guessing more often than you’d like to see. Angles, toughness, and tackling technique against the run will need to be developed as his career progresses. Medicals will be huge for Farley, and with the Covid offseason, teams could be scared off (2019 back spasms, 2017 ACL), paired with the fact that he did opt out in 2020, Farley has very little tape to evaluate. Still very new to the position, so there is a chance his first and second year could have some peaks and valleys.

Overall Summary:

Though the injury history and lack of experience at the position can be a bit concerning, many of those concerns are eased when turning on the Virginia Tech Hokies tape. At 6’2” 197lbs, Farley possesses elite size, length, and athleticism at the cornerback position. In today’s NFL, the faster/shiftier receivers are who are taking over as the league’s best, and Farley is the ideal fit to combat that style of receiver, while also possessing the physical traits and toughness to succeed in contested catch situations and in the red-zone. His ball skills, route-recognition, and man-coverage skills are what should have Farley’s named call in the top 10 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and the Cowboys should be hoping he slides to the 10th overall pick. Farley is ready to contribute on day one, while also possessing one of the higher ceilings out of any player in the 2021 draft class.

Round Grade:

1st (#8 Overall)

Video Breakdowns: