D.J. James, CB Auburn: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

James was a three-star recruit from Spanish Fort High School in Spanish Fort, Ala. in the class of 2019

Auburn cornerback D.J. James impressed in his first season with the Tigers. The fifth-year cornerback already has an interception this season as he makes his case for an All-American selection. James projects as a day three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

D.J. James, CB Auburn: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year senior outside corner from Mobile, Ala.

Background: James was a three-star recruit from Spanish Fort High School in Spanish Fort, Ala. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 625 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 622 for On3.com. James was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 74 grade out of 100. He lettered four times at Spanish Fort. Along the way, he earned Class 6A First Team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was invited to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. James was a member of AL.com’s Coastal Alabama All-Region Team. He wrapped up his career year with six interceptions, 16 passes defensed, and 43 tackles. James was also a member of AL.com’s All-Coastal Alabama Team as a junior when he intercepted three passes on an 11-2 Spanish Fort team. He received Class 6A Second Team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association and Second Team All-Coastal Alabama honors from AL.com as a sophomore. That year, he produced three pick-sixes, five interceptions, eight passes defensed, and 34 tackles. James and Spanish Fort went undefeated and won a 6A State Championship during the cornerback’s freshman season.

Injuries & Off-Field: Suspended for fall camp and season opener vs. Fresno State in 2021 after facing two counts of reckless endangering, two counts of disorderly conduct, and one charge of unlawful discharge of a firearm after an incident with an airsoft gun

Awards: 2022 Second Team All-SEC

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, poised when faced with complex releases, plays with excellent leverage and locks down outside releases, mirrors receivers well at the intermediate level from the trail position, quick feet to gear down on comeback routes and contest at the stem, reads the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate throws, times pass breakups at the catch point well, works well with the safety to bracket slot receivers up the seam, long strides help him carry receivers vertically, sorts through multiple threats in zone, capable tackler when the action comes to him

Cons: Seven combined penalties committed in 2021 and 2022, limited to no experience in the slot, lean and light frame for an outside corner, arm length will raise concerns, not a sudden or twitchy athlete, suffers from some hip tightness, lacks the agility and speed to mirror and match receivers, high backpedal, sudden receivers gain a step against him in press man, very grabby against Alabama (2022) to maintain tight coverage, gets in trouble on inside releases, allows significant separation on inbreaking routes like slants and posts, needs more urgency on crossers, allows too much cushion at the top of the stem in off-man, lacks closing burst to close windows at the top of the stem, too willing to turn his back to the receiver, gets turned around by allowing receiver into his blind spot, doesn’t play the ball from around the receiver, limited play strength to defeat blocks, easily removed from plays by blocking wide receivers or tight ends

Overview: James has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. The Oregon transfer’s frame is lean and light for an outside corner, and his arm length is questionable. He’s not a sudden or twitchy athlete and suffers from some hip tightness. James is poised when facing complex releases. He plays with excellent leverage and locks down outside releases and routes along the sideline. James mirrors receivers well at the intermediate level from the trail position. His quick feet help him gear down on comeback routes and make a play for the ball. The All-SEC selection reads the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate throws and times pass break ups at the catch point well. He works well with the safety to bracket slot receivers up the seam. James’ long strides help him carry receivers vertically, but he lacks elite deep speed and recovery burst. The fifth-year cornerback thrives with his eyes on the quarterback and sorts through multiple threats in zone, which is his best coverage option at the next level. Alabama frequently played James in soft-shoe press, off-man, and zone with very limited true press. His primary assignments shifted from game to game. Sometimes he primarily played along the boundary (Western Kentucky, 2022) or to the field (Georgia, 2022). James is a capable tackler when the action comes to him, but he hesitates to come downhill and shows little interest in pursuing the ball carrier. This lackadaisical approach hurt his team several times. James is too easily removed from plays by wide receiver stalk blocks because of his lack of play strength. He lacks the agility and speed to mirror and match receivers in man coverage. Sudden receivers gain an easy step against him in press coverage. James was very grabby against Alabama (2022) and struggled to maintain tight coverage without holding onto the receiver. The Alabama native allows significant separation on inbreaking routes like slants and posts. He needs to show more urgency on crossers in man coverage. Receivers cross his face with little resistance at all levels of the field. James allows too much cushion at the top of the stem in off-man and lacks the closing burst to close windows at the stem’s peak. He is too willing to turn his back to the receiver and gets turned around by allowing pass catchers into his blind spot. James needs to be more imposing at the catch point.

Overall, James uses leverage well and excels at reading and anticipating throws from zone coverage, but his average-at-best physical traits allow receivers to generate significant separation. James lacks the drive, size, and strength to contribute at a high level in the run game. He projects as a day three depth player.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside corner in a cover 3 or cover 4 system

Round Projection: Fifth Round

Size: 6'1", 164 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-17-23