Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
Size:
Height: 6’1” | Weight: 190 lbs
Accomplishments:
Five-star recruit
“Daylen Everette has the adequate length and athletic profile to be utilized in a primarily zone scheme.”
Strengths:
Good length
Instincts as a zone defender
Make plays on the ball/PBUs
Concerns:
Hip tightness
Speed to carry receivers vertical
Lack of presence in the run game
Man-to-man coverage
Film Analysis:
Daylen Everette, a former five-star recruit, entered the Georgia program as one of their most highly touted prospects. Everette got his first action as a starter in 2023. He plays within a multiple defense which asks him to play both man and zone defense. He profiles as an athletic corner who plays best when he can get in the face of receivers and disrupt them using his length at the line of scrimmage.
As a zone defender, Everette uses his length in press coverage to be disruptive at the line of scrimmage, throwing timely punches and disrupting the receiver in their releases. Everette has strong punches and adequate length to force receivers off of their path and have to adjust their route stem. This directly affects the timing that receivers have with the quarterback and affects the opportunity for a completion. Into the route, Everette does a good job of staying in phase and uses his length to give himself an opportunity to break up a pass or even get the interception.
Everette has an above-average understanding of timing and when to punch through the receiver's hands to make a play on the ball and break up a potential completion. Everette has above-average ball skills and can make a play on the football to force a turnover for the defense. Everett’s best play appears to be as a zone corner where he can play Cover 2 or Cover 3. In Cover 2, he can fully commit to being disruptive at the line of scrimmage, and in Cover 3 he can mix up different looks, either pressing or showing press-bail at the snap. Everette is best utilized when he can keep the receiver in front of him dropping in coverage while also keeping his eyes on the quarterback while being in position to plant and drive and make a play on the football.
In the run game, Everette has a presence and will step up to shed the blocks of receivers who are attempting to block him. Everette can quickly disengage from receivers, which proves to be beneficial on plays such as quick screens and bubble screens where offenses are trying to utilize the perimeter of the defense to pick up yardage.
The concerns about Everette as a cornerback are multifaceted and have to deal with his overall athletic ability. First, it appears that Everette has some hip tightness which leads to him struggling to transition with receivers in and out of breaks and staying in phase with them. This shows up in man-to-man coverage, where receivers can create separation and distance, catch the ball, and continue to create separation and distance from Everett. Also, it appears that Everette lacks explosive ability. His ability to carry receivers vertically up the field after the 30-yard mark appears to be susceptible. Everette’s athletic ability lends toward him being a zone corner where he can have a safety over top or he can have the potential for help from other defenders.
Overall, Everette’s best opportunity at contributing early in the NFL would be in a primarily zone defense where he can use his natural instincts to make plays on the football in the passing game.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific Contributor
Written By: Keith Sanchez
