Concerns Swirl Around Cornerback Benjamin Morrison

First Round Mock’s NFL Draft Analyst Rajvir Bal has studied Notre Dame cornerback (CB) Benjamin Morrison and put a lower 2024 pre-season grade on him than consensus draft media.

I’m a defensive guy. I love strong defenses. When I sat down to turn on the game-film of Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison, I was hoping to find a defender I could fall in love with for his year’s draft cycle.

No luck.

Morrison shows inconsistencies at corner, and that’s tough to live with at such an important position, but he also demonstrated some positives that could help an NFL defense.

Background

His last name may also sound familiar to fans of the Washington Redskins back from 1993-1996, as his dad, Darryl, played for four seasons at safety.

This prospect attended high school in Phoenix, Arizona, and played CB, wide receiver, and kick returner. From there he was a 4-star recruit and committed to Notre Dame in 2021.

He has seen action for the Fighting Irish in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

2022:

• 13 games, 33 tackles (22 solo), 6 interceptions, and 4 passes defended

2023:

• 12 games, 31 tackles (25 solo), 3 interceptions, and 10 passes defended

Morrison’s current height places him in the 63rd percentile for height and 20th percentile for weight for the cornerback position according to NFLDraftBuzz.com.

#20 Benjamin Morrison 6-foot-0, 185 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Early Second-Round (I would select him)
Projected by 92.4% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 13, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film reviewed: Ohio State, USC, Duke, NC State, and Louisville (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

The Good

Instinctive. A natural football player with fairly refined technique. It stands out that he doesn’t give up on plays and he has a high motor. His passion pops on the film. This is a trait that NFL general managers and coaches will love. He demonstrates violent hands in press-man coverage and this projects as his best coverage scheme fit. He’s like glue on receivers in their route progressions when matched up one-on-one. He possesses top-shelf deep speed while showing he easily can recover if he’s burned by a receiver off their initial release. However, that doesn’t happen often. As the stats confirm, he shows good ball-tracking skills.

The Bad

He plays small. It seemed like he was “Getting Mossed” in every game. Despite the high motor he brings to the field, he tends to lack intensity and physicality while in coverage. He’s more of a finesse cover corner. If college receivers are consistently out-doing him at the high point of vertical routes, what will happen against a higher level of competition in the NFL? The lack of physicality also shows up when struggling to overcome blockers and when attempting to wrap up on tackles.

These are huge red flags and concerns, and even though he has “great raw coverage skills,” mistakes at this critical defensive position can and do cost teams in the NFL.

Final Thoughts For Now

Morrison is not the blue-chip prospect that consensus draft media wants to prop him up to be as we head into the 2024 college football season. Don’t get me wrong, he can be good in the NFL, but he’s not a surefire elite lockdown shutdown corner. I had trouble deciding between a late-first or early second-round grade on this Notre Dame defender. At this point, I’m just not completely sold he’s a first-round value.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.