T.J. Tampa

Ravens selected Iowa State CB TJ Tampa with the No. 130 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Tampa was thought of as a high-upside Day 2 cornerback, but he slid out of Day 2 and to the back end of the 4th round. A star basketball player whose father and sister both played college hoops, Tampa (6’007/189) was being recruited on the hardwood and as a wide receiver before ISU HC Matt Campbell cajoled him into giving defense a chance. He arrived on campus in August 2020 due to COVID and spent his freshman season honing his craft before starting five games with a pedestrian 53.6 defensive grade in 2021. Tampa came of age in his third year starting every game for the next two seasons while leading the Cyclones with 10 PBU and 80th%+ grades in coverage, run defense, and overall. He held opponents to a 46% catch rate with a dirt-low 70.7 NFL pass rating when targeted while being named Second Team All-Big 12. It was on from there, as Tampa continued to raise his game by charting 44 tackles, 9.0 PBU, and a scintillating 54.8 NFL pass rating, receiving Third Team All-Big 12 accolades for his exemplary play. A hamstring injury kept him from playing in the Senior Bowl while his 4.58s pro day 40-time (44th%) and 1.64s 10-yard split (22nd%) illustrated some of the top-end speed limitations he exhibited on film. Tampa did manage to run a 4.07s shuttle and 6.97s 3-Cone (65th%), though he didn’t perform any jumps or bench, which is an interesting choice from a former hoops star who has thrown down some impressive dunks. A filled-out and agile outside corner with an NFL frame, Tampa likes to take an aggressive, hands-on approach to redirect receivers and is adept at raking the hands at the catch point to create incompletions. His keen instincts make him an effective zone defender, which can help to mask his less-than-ideal long speed that can be exploited in man coverage.