Mario Goodrich was ranked as the top 20 cornerback in the nation by numerous outlets coming out of high school in Missouri. He played in 14 games during his freshman season of 2018 and recorded a tackle in the National Championship Game against Alabama. In 2019, Goodrich recorded 13 tackles and two pass breakups in 13 games before coming up with 16 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in eight games during the 2020 season.
The 22-year-old was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2021, with his teammate Andrew Booth, Jr. getting the other first-team honor at cornerback. That was after he was credited with 48 tackles, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 12 games. Goodrich also earned third-team All-America honors from PFF and was the MVP of the Cheez-It Bowl, with an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble in the bowl game.
Be sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft scouting reports.
Player Bio
Name: Mario Goodrich
Jersey: No. 31
Position: Cornerback
School: Clemson
Class: Senior
Height: 6’0” (not 6-2)
Weight: 190 lbs
Games Watched: Virginia (2020), Wake Forest (2021), Georgia (2021)
Major Injury History: Bruised and Broken ribs at 2021 Senior Bowl (fully cleared)
Player Breakdown
Man Coverage (12.5/15)
Goodrich does a good job of getting his hands on the receiver to disrupt their route and is able to stay in phase throughout the route. There are times he can slip up and lose his man if they use head nods and shakes to get separation. He is also a little too reliant on using his hands and can get a little grabby on deep routes.
Zone Coverage (13/15)
With his great vision, Goodrich processes plays well while in the zone and keeps the correct spacing. He is a solid anticipator who can read the eyes of the quarterback and enter the throwing lane to make a play on the ball. The Missouri native stays true to his technique and squeezes routes while consistently reading the backfield.
Instincts (7/10)
This area is something that has improved over his career and was a strong suit in his senior season. Goodrich showed the ability to pursue the ball and with his vision was able to help with that. He can sometimes get too focused on reading the ball and take his eyes off his receiver.
Ball Skills (7/10)
With his limited experience as a starter, Goodrich didn’t have the crazy statistics to back up his ability to crash to the ball. He has a nose for the football and is willing to work towards the throwing lane. With more exposure, he will continue to show off solid ball skills as he was experienced as a receiver in high school and has a good awareness of the ball in the air.
Press/Physicality (6/10)
Goodrich isn’t too physical of a cornerback, but he can get leverage off the line and frustrate receivers. But when it gets to the top of a route, more physical receivers can beat him with hand-fighting. Thus, pushing him off the route. He rarely gets flat-footed and is able to disrupt routes early on, which is where he’s at his best. The physicality is something that could be developed more as he fills out and only improve his press ability.
Long Speed (7/10)
Goodrich has quick feet and short-area burst, on top of having solid long speed. Running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he has the long speed to stay with a route downfield on the perimeter. If his physicality, or lack thereof, gets him slightly knocked off a route, his speed can get him back into the play. Even just to make a touchdown-saving tackle.
Tackling/Run Support (8.25/10)
With his vision and instincts, Goodrich is able to help with any play. In the run game, he is excellent at crashing to the ball carrier and making a wrap-up tackle. There can be times when he misses a tackle on a more physical back, but most of the time he will get his arms around the ball carrier and finish the play. Goodrich has one of the better tackling traits for a cornerback, as he is not afraid of contact and has solid body control.
Athleticism (6/10)
There are some areas here that are sufficient for Goodrich, but he doesn’t have an elite athletic upside. He keeps his body under control but can get stiff at times. As mentioned, he has solid short-area quickness and is comfortable in one-on-one situations.
Change of Direction (2.5/5)
Goodrich has trouble keeping up with shifty route runners and doesn’t always have fluid hip movements. He will bite on head fakes and his turns aren’t strong enough to keep him attached to the receiver. On top of that, he also takes too many steps to transition from backpedaling to forward moving and make a play on the ball.
Length (4.5/5)
With an arm length of 30 5/8 inches, Goodrich has the proper reach and length for a cornerback. This length shows up in his tackling, press coverage, and pass breakup abilities. Several teams look for the extra length as it gives them an edge in coverage and helps to push receivers off the line of scrimmage.
Player Summary
Being a player that was a five-star recruit, Goodrich didn’t fully live up to that as he wasn’t able to lock up a starting role until his senior year. The Missouri native is a lanky and long cornerback with solid coverage abilities. He is constantly pursuing football and is versatile, with experience playing man, zone, and press coverage. He has solid traits that can be further developed, so a team in need of cornerback depth would be a good fit.
Rookie Projections: Developmental zone cornerback
Third Year Projections: Rotational press/zone cornerback
Final Grade (73.75/100): Fourth-Round Pick
Player Comp: Avonte Maddox
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk
Follow Alex Kielar on Twitter @AlexPTST
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
