If it weren’t for his back issues, Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley would likely be a top 10 prospect in this week’s draft. But, despite the medical risk, agent Drew Rosenhaus insists that his client will be taken somewhere in the top 20. 
“I’ve had multiple teams tell me that in the middle of the draft, they are going to draft him,” Rosenhaus told NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). “I don’t expect him to make it to pick No. 20. I’m convinced, based on my discussions, that he’ll go in the first 20 picks.”
Farley hasn’t played since 2019 and he’s gone under the knife twice since then. His most recent operation came in March, but his surgeon has told clubs that Farley should be cleared before training camp in late July. Even though Rosenhaus’ estimation should be taken with a grain of salt, that’s excellent news for Farley in advance of Thursday night.
Originally a quarterback in high school, Farley committed to the Hokies in 2017 as a wide receiver. After an ACL tear wiped out his true freshman season, he was asked to change positions again — this time, he moved to cornerback. By 2019, he was a star for Virginia Tech, racking up four interceptions and 12 passes defensed en route to First-Team All-ACC honors. He also allowed a completion rate of less than 50% on passes thrown in his direction.
In 2020, Farley opted out due to the pandemic. Then, while preparing for the draft, he irritated a joint at the base of his spine. Rosenhaus seems to think that Farley’s potential will vault him into the top half of the first round, but it’s not hard to imagine him sliding to Day 2.
A teams first mistake would be to believe anything Rosenhaus says prior to draft day.
Top 20? Maybe. 16 to Arizona. 20 to Chicago. Slide to day 2? Doubtful. Can’t imagine teams like Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Green Bay, Baltimore and Buffalo all passing. This dude balls hard.
Agreed. Rosenhaus advertising or not, I don’t see this as an exaggeration. Horn or Samuel may go first, but Farley is either the second or third corner off the board and due to the shortened season, I don’t think this draft is regarded as being as deep as many people have suggested.
Really can’t see Pace drafting him because of his injury history. After gambling a top 10 pick on White a few years back, it totally blew up in his face when his struggles with injuries in college never stopped in the pros. With the exception of Roquan Smith, Pace has pretty much bombed in the first rounds and most seconds.
Steelers have too many needs to take a CB @24
Raiders at 17!
Raiders have to hit on their first round defensive pick. He may be too high risk for them. JOK or Parsons if he falls.
While I agree with you and would take parsons in a heartbeat if he fell we desperately need help in the secondary.
Writing about what an agent thinks about his client is as useful as writing about how handsome my mom thinks I am.
Farley should worry more about making it to 20 games started in the NFL than getting drafted in the first 20 picks. Having ACL and back surgery before even being drafted is a major red flag.
Agree, with that injury history, a smart GM would not want to gamble a first round pick (goal, long term starter) on Farley. Rosenhaus has about zero credibility at this time. The Antonio Brown fiasco is very fresh in people’s minds (cost the Raiders picks and cash, cost the Patriots a huge bag full of cash). And there were another two or three big lies Rosenhaus told last season as well.
Surtain, Horn and maybe Samuel go off the board before he does. Maybe late first round or early second.