Daequan Hardy 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Buffalo Bills CB

NFL Transition

Hardy was utilized in multiple ways in Penn State’s creative schemes, forcing him to play outside, in the slot, blitz off the edge, underneath zone coverage and deep field defender.

During the last three seasons, he aligned primarily as a nickel, slot corner. He had more than three times the number of snaps in the slot than outside. Hardy is an undersized DB who relies on his athleticism and movement to cover. He struggles to control bigger, more physical WRs in coverage and to disengage blockers. 

Still, he’s an explosive athlete with good lateral quickness and acceleration skills to run vertically downfield in coverage (very good speed). He’s most comfortable from press alignment in man coverage where he can use his speed and quickness to mirror and run with receivers in coverage. 

There were a couple of good examples of him intercepting passes from press-man coverage vs. Illinois and Ball St. He’s a good blitzer who can be useful in sub-package pressure schemes from the slot. Hardy is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He has a good mix of speed and quickness to make defenders miss as a returner. He should contribute there in the NFL.  

Overall, Hardy is a quick-twitch athlete who is undersized and best suited in sub-package situations. He has good experience playing in the slot. In addition, his ability to contribute on special teams as a return specialist and potential gunner could make him a good Day 3 pick.

Other Notes

Hardy was a local player from Pittsburgh, PA who stayed close and went to Penn State. He was a three-star recruit who was the 64th-ranked cornerback in the nation coming out of High School. 

Hardy played in 44 games in four seasons at Penn State, primarily in the slot. He did get some playing time on the outside. During his senior season, he returned punts and was effective, averaging 14.6 yards per punt return with two return touchdowns. 

In 2023, Hardy was third-team All-Big Ten at cornerback and second-team All-Big Ten as Punt Returner. He finished his career with 60 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 Sacks, five INTs and 19 PBUs. Hardy returned 17 Punts (all in 2023) for 248 yards (14.6 avg) and two touchdowns.

From 2021-2023, Hardy played 574 defensive snaps from the slot, compared to only 162 snaps from a pre-snap outside CB alignment. That gives him a lot of experience playing inside, which is such a critical position in the NFL because of the high usage of sub-packages in defenses. 

Hardy rushed or blitzed on 75 snaps in the last three seasons, which is a solid amount ( averaging 25 snaps per season).