Rankings:
Nawrocki: #24 cornerback, ranked just outside top 150 prospects. Grade: 5.27, should make a roster and contribute on special teams.
DraftCountdown.com: #164 player overall, #19 cornerback. Mid-round grade.
Scouts Inc.: #212 player overall, #29 cornerback. Grade: 45, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors:
2013: First-team all-SEC. Team captain. Started 12 games. 75 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 5 INTs, 4 tackles for loss. 11-yard fumble recovery TD in SEC championship game.
2012: Started 12 games. 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups, one INT, 7 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles. Returned a fumble for a 13-yard TD against Kentucky.
2011: First-team all-Big 12. Started all 13 games at corner. 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups, 2 INTs, 3 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Set school record for passes defended. Averaged 10.9 yards on 9 punt returns with a TD.
2010: Played in 13 games as a reserve defensive back and on special teams. 26 tackles, one pass breakup, no INTs.
Academics: Majored in hospitality management.
Injuries:
2013: Missed two games due to a strained quad.
Did not participate in most of the Combine due to a strained groin.
Twitter handle: @GainesTrain_31
Pro day Stats:
(2014 Combine averages for cornerbacks in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.51 (4.52)
Vertical jump: DNP
Broad jump: 9'7" (10'3" – Gaines' jump was worse than any corner's at the Combine)
3-cone drill: 7.13 (6.97)
20-yard shuttle: 4.28 (4.20)
Bench presses: 15 (15)
Scouting Report:
Strong, physical zone corner with toughness, awareness and good football IQ. Solid upper body. Good balance, feet and lateral movement. Solid tackler who plays bigger than his size. Fills aggressively and supports the run. Very physical downhill defender. Uses violent hands to get off blocks. Also sidesteps blockers well. Sees the field and recognizes routes well. Rarely faked out by play action or misdirection. Has experience matching up with receivers out of the slot. Good ball skills, adjusts to ball well and catches well. Plays with good alertness and playing speed. Stood out against Texas A&M, shutting down Mike Evans. Has experience as a punt returner and is a proven factor in special teams coverage. Fearless. Plays with confidence and swagger. Has good attitude and football demeanor. Competes hard with energy, Overachiever.
Short and short-armed. Lacks ideal height for position. Tight-hipped and plays too upright. Doesn't turn and run fluidly, which could become a significant issue. Just-average hands and a number of his interceptions came off lucky bounces. Change of direction is just average. Not a lot of burst, acceleration or recovery speed. Wastes motion. More of a hitter and shoulder-tackler than an ideal form tackler. (BORN TO BE A RAMS DB!) Can do a better job getting off of blocks. Needs to improve on his angles and keeping containment. Has little experience playing press coverage and is best-suited for a heavy zone scheme. Compares to: Captain Munnerlyn
Fun Facts:
E.J. has refereed little league basketball games in his spare time. He also lists reading and Madden Football as hobbies. He's named for his father Edwin and is the baby brother to four older sisters. Possible character red flag: he was born and raised a Raider fan.
RamView:
Rams needed to get more physical with slot receivers and improve their cornerback depth, which they've arguably done with Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner. They've certainly gotten small and scrappy at the position, I'll say that. They've also improved their backfield hitting, and I like that Gaines sounds like a very smart player. Can he actually cover anybody? We'll find out. Promising that he could shut down big Mike Evans. The Rams seem to have drafted their secondary this year with run defense in mind more than pass defense, which they were not good at last season. They've really confused me not trying to go after a classic cover corner. Thumbs to the side.
Sources: NFL Draft 2014 Preview (Nolan Nawrocki), NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), Scouts Inc., Columbia (Mo.) Daily-Tribue, University of Missouri athletics, Fox4KC.com, Kansas City Star, Ramview (Mike Franke)