#Texans #1 CB Draft Target should be Damon Arnette. Arnette is ELITE in press man. He's amazing at playing the ball or the WR's hands. He's also got great instincts in zone. He's my CB3 and worthy of pick #40 but he should be there at 57 and would be a steal.

Breakdown below:

Up against one of the top WRs in the country, Justyn Ross, Arnette handles him perfectly. He fights Ross' hands at the LOS, then notices Ross look at the QB. He anticipates the back shoulder fade and looks for the ball. He times it perfectly, boxes out Ross and has a near INT.

Now up against my guy Quintez Cephus, Arnette handles him well too. Arnette is great at defending slants while in press. He misses his initial punch but recovers well. Cephus tries to box out Arnette, but he manages to undercut the route and make a play on the ball. Easy PBU.

Here's another rep in press vs a slant. He buys the outside fake, getting in poor position, but Arnette has such fluid hips he's able to flip them and recover quickly. He gets into the WR's hip pocket, gets physical at the top of the route and undercuts it to break up the ball.

Arnette gets beat here because he has to run around the pick the offense set. But he quickly gets back into the play and gets his hands into the WR's catch point. He never gives up and gets rewarded with the PBU. More great evidence of him playing the ball well.

Defenses teach to play the ball or the WR's hands, and we don't know what Weaver will want but Arnette can do both. Arnette jams the WR at the LOS, then once the WR jumps and puts his hands up, Arnette does the same and gets his hand right into the catch point. Another PBU.

Here's another example. Arnette punches the WR with his inside hand, then keeps his feet moving while he is still being physical. He looks back to find the ball and while hes not in position to get an INT, he puts his hand right in between the WRs hands and makes the catch tough.

Arnette does a great job at using the sideline as an extra defender. In press here he uses his strength to push the WR towards the sideline. The throw doesn't come his way but if it did it wouldve had to be perfect. Its little things like this that make Arnette so good at his job

Here's another example, this time against Tee Higgins. Arnette punches him and then uses his length to squeeze him to the sideline. Trevor Lawrence glances in Arnette's direction, but would rather test Jeffrey Okudah of all people. Arnette had Ross and Higgins in a BOX.

Arnette is also great at tracking deeper balls while staying in phase with the WR. You can see him watch the ball and track where it is going, while remaining physical and attached with the WR to feel any breaks. Looking back to the ball and tracking it like this is a RARE skill.

More great ball skills, this time in off coverage. He reads the play well and was in great position even if the throw wasn't underthrown. But it is, and the WR then becomes the defender and has to stop Arnette from making the catch. He's gonna get a lot of INTs in his career.

Arnette is great in zone too. He has great instincts, route recognition and reads the QB's eyes well. He notices the TE leaking out into the flat here and makes a hard break for it. He reads it quickly and is able to undercut the throw, leading to a 96 yard pick six. TOUCHDOWN

Here's another great read. The left side WR motions over so Arnette starts running with him. But then he notices a WR crossing over the middle and has Okudah beat. He helps out Okudah, undercuts the route and makes a clean play on the ball preventing the TD.

Arnette is in Cover 3 here and usually an out breaking route or a curl is an easy reception. But Arnette is so good he reads the QB and undercuts the route early. He would've had an easy pick 6 if the throw wasn't inaccurate. Great read and great job quickly closing on the throw.

Arentte's in man here, but it shows how easy and quickly he can push off his back foot and burst forwards towards the WR when needed to in off coverage or zone coverage. He baits the WR's hands here but then just flies forward for the tackle for just two yards gained.

Arnette improved drastically from 2018 to 2019, cleaning up penalties and technique in man coverage. It speaks to his work ethic and as a Senior, I think he will be ready day 1 to start on the outside. Arnette is so damn good and I'm confident we can steal him at 57.

Damon Arnette Grading (CB3)
Game Speed: 9
Acceleration: 9.5
Hips: 9
Ball Skills: 9.5
Hands: 9
Press Coverage: 9.5
Off Coverage: 9
Man Coverage: 9.5
Zone Coverage: 9
Run Defense: 8
Total: 91/100