It’s draft season, and the Huskies are once again sending a big bunch of NFL-ready players into the player pool. Most notably, cornerback duo Trent McDuffie and Kyler Gordon have an opportunity to do something that has only been done by two other schools since 2000. If both cornerbacks end up getting selected in the first round of the draft, they will join Ohio State (who had it happen twice, in 2017 & 2020) and Miami, who did it in 2002.

This is going to be a very interesting cornerback class, and the Husky tandem have the opportunity to not only both be drafted in the first round, but to be the first two players selected at their position. There are some questions about LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr., and his regression after his excellent freshman campaign, along with an injury history. Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner has numbers that are comparable to McDuffie’s in coverage in 2021, and is another name to keep an eye on, along with Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr.

The spotlight has been on McDuffie since his true freshman year in 2019, when he burst onto the scene during summer camp, and practically forced the coaching staff’s hand to start him. From that point on, he was named a Freshman All-American in 2019, was selected as an All Pac-12 player in both 2020 and 2021, and was also honored as an All-American following the 2021 season.

McDuffie is going to make an NFL team very happy. He has arguably the highest floor of any cornerback in this draft class, and is also the most technically sound player at the position. Combining that with his insane athleticism (including a 41.5-inch vertical jump and a 40 yard dash time that will probably be in the mid to low 4.4’s), make him a slam dunk for any team with a need at the position.

Now, let’s talk about Kyler Gordon. 6’0, long arms, and the best athlete on the field. Gordon burst onto the national scene in 2021, being named an All Pac-12 First Team player, and recording the only two interceptions in his Husky career against Cal. Gordon deserves to hear his name called in the first round just as much as McDuffie, as he has All-Pro potential at the next level. As he continues to refine his technique, his ceiling is the best cornerback in the NFL.

With a little over a month until the NFL Combine, both of these former Huskies, along with Brendan Radley-Hiles, should be on stock watch. A good weekend of testing for McDuffie and Gordon should cement their status as first-rounders, and help cement Washington as DBU.