Chamarri Conner NFL Draft Profile and Scouting Report
Chamarri Conner Scouting Report: Virginia Tech Hokies, Cornerback, #1
2023 NFL Draft Measurements
6’0″ / 206 lbs.
Chamarri Conner 40-Time – 4.45 (estimate)
Chamarri Conner Draft Profile
Conner is a former 3-star recruit out of Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. According to 247sports, he was the 52nd-best player in the state of Florida Additionally, they had him as the 27th-best safety in the nation. Some fellow prospects that he was ranked behind include DeMarvion Overshown, Jevon Holland, and Josh Proctor. While achieving this status, Conner received 13 Division I offers. This number would have been higher, but he committed to Virginia Tech in 2016 when he was a sophomore. Although he committed early, he still received offers from Michigan, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia Tech.
During his first season for the Hokies, he was very limited on the snaps he played. According to ESPN, he played in 4 games and had 8 solo tackles. Although this wasn’t the season Conner wanted, he turned it around in the following seasons. In the next four seasons he had 240 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 15 PBUs. After seeing what he has done in college, I am excited to see how he performs at the NFL Combine.
Chamarri Conner Strengths
Play Strength
Conner plays his best ball when he can use his play strength to his advantage. In man coverage against tight ends, he has shown that he can hold his ground. If the ball is thrown in his direction, he can work through the tight end and make the deflection. Conner is also very physical when jamming receivers at the top of their route stem. He has a strong two-hand punch that can neutralize his target and take away their momentum. When defending against deep balls, Conner does a good job of using his strength to disrupt the pass at the catch point.
Versatility
Throughout his career with the Hokies, Conner has played all over the field. In his first four seasons, he primarily lined up in the slot. According to PFF, he had 1,836 career snaps in the slot. Then as a redshirt senior, he began to rotate between the slot and free safety. Shortly after making the transition, it became very apparent that this is the role meant for him. During his final season with the Hokies, he only allowed 263 yards which is significantly less than the seasons prior. He is also very familiar in the box and on the defensive line where he can blitz the QB or stuff the run.
Mental Processing
The one aspect of his game that stood out to me the most was his football IQ. Prior to the snap, he is solid at diagnosing the offense and communicating with his teammates. This gives him a leg up on the receiver he is in charge of. When in zone coverage, he does a good job of keeping his eye on the QB when working toward his zone. He is also aware of his surroundings so he can pick up a receiver if they enter his zone. But, he really shows this off when defending the run. After the snap, he uses his speed to quickly close out on the line. He then relies on his vision to find the ball carrier and track them down. Due to his amazing vision, he rarely gets faked out by option run plays.
Athleticism
To be honest, I was hesitant to put this as a strength. When watching his film, his athleticism looked pretty average. But more often than not, it was enough to get the job done. He does a good job of staying light on his feet and keeping his pad level low. This allows him to close out on players very quickly and minimize yardage gained. In man coverage, he also has good acceleration in short-field areas to catch up to his target if beaten off their break.
Chamarri Conner Weaknesses
Production
When I watch film on a player with his skill set, I expect to see them be very productive. Unfortunately, that is the biggest area of concern for Conner. He is very gifted in coverage and has the instincts needed to be a ball hawk. It is really puzzling to see because he is often in the right position to make a play on the ball. But, as I alluded to earlier, he rarely comes down with that ball. I also have concerns surrounding the number of tackles he has missed in his career. Conner has a tendency to get too aggressive and fall for jukes and cuts in open space. As a safety, this is not something you want as a weakness because you may be the last line of defense.
Hip Mobility
The biggest reason why I don’t believe that Conner should primarily play the slot in the NFL is due to his below-average hip mobility. When lined up against quick slot receivers, he showed that he cannot mirror them during their route stem. This can make him a liability all over the field because if his hips are too tight, he will get left in the dust a lot in the NFL. If he can work on this, there is no reason why he can’t be a nickel at the next level.
Chamarri Conner Draft Stock
Prior to the NFL Combine, nflmockdraftdatabase has Conner ranked as the 198th best prospect in the draft. After reviewing his film, I would have to agree with that ranking. He is very versatile and can defend against tight ends. But he lacks the skills needed to be a slot corner at the next level. So, the highest I see him getting drafted is the 6th round.
Final Thoughts on Chamarri Conner Scouting Report
Chamarri Conner is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has a very high football IQ and can effortlessly read the offense and what they are going to do. His play strength also allows him to lock down NFL-caliber tight ends like Zack Kuntz from Old Dominion. Although he has been versatile in the past, for his first few seasons, he should strictly play on special teams for his rookie season. If necessary, he could also come into the game to lock down a dangerous tight end. But, unless he works on improving his agility, I don’t see him getting significant snaps anytime soon.
Chamarri Conner Player Comparison
Current Washington Commanders safety Percy Butler. If you want to see the comparison between the two, watch both of their final college seasons.
Chamarri Conner Scouting Report and Player Profile Analyst – Matthew Lewis
