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With the 94th-overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected a productive but potentially risky cornerback from Virginia Tech, Jayron Hosley.
Once thought to be a late first-round prospect, the former Hokie slipped after failing a drug test at the NFL Combine. The Giants loved what they saw from Hosley during his time at Virginia Tech though, and did not shy away from snatching him off the board with unbelievable value at the end of the third round.
Hosley did not have an ideal rookie campaign. He struggled in just about every facet of the defense, getting beat in coverage and displaying an expected — but unacceptable — inability to tackle.
Primarily used to cover opposing slot receivers, Hosley did improve as he saw the field more often. However, his 1.52 yards-per-cover snap rating ranked 33rd among the top-40 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. Projected as a slot cornerback coming out of college, he did not show a ton of promise after surrendering a 139.0 quarterback rating from the slot — the worst in the NFL.
The rookie cornerback also had some trouble staying healthy. Various injuries caused him to miss two preseason and four regular season matchups, stunting his development and adaptation to the Giants’ defensive scheme. This was a concern as he also battled through injuries during his junior season at Virginia Tech, despite playing in all 13 games.
If he can remain healthy, Hosley has the tools to get better as he sees more playing time. Despite his struggles, the Giants’ coaching staff clearly saw enough in him to keep him on the field, trusting him to get the job done.
He has great speed and quickness, with fluid movement in and out of his backpedal. He is physical at the line of scrimmage, but his lean frame puts him at a disadvantage against the more physical Calvin Johnsons of the league. His ball skills might be the most desirable trait for a Giants defensive unit that depends heavily on the turnover. In 2010, Hosley had a nation-leading nine interceptions for the Hokies.
The 22-year-old cornerback had just one interception in his rookie season. It’s obvious he’s going to need time to progress and mesh with the defense. Not yet ready to step in and be a starter, the addition of former Giant Aaron Ross suggests the team may not believe he can be depended on to be the third cornerback either.
This upcoming season will be a better indicator of what Hosley can be in the NFL. With the experience of a whole year to learn the defense under his belt, 2013 is Hosley’s opportunity to show the Giants what he’s got.
Grading the Selection: B-. Hosley was a third-round pick and third-round picks generally require time to develop. He showed flashes, but he will clearly need to improve if there’s any promise of him becoming a serviceable cornerback at the pro level.
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Louis Musto is a writer for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.
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