New England Patriots Top 30 Visit: CB Decamerion Richardson

Every NFL franchise is allowed to invite up to 30 draft prospects to visit their facilities and meet with the members of the organization before the NFL Draft. These selections range from first-round targets to players who might be available as undrafted free agents. As news about the New England Patriots Top 30 visits surface, Patriots Football Now will highlight each of the visitors. Today’s feature is Mississippi State cornerback Decamerion Richardson.

College Career

Decamerion Richardson was a three-star prospect in 247 Sports composite rankings coming out of Bossier High School in Bossier, La. However, 247 Sports ranked Richardson as a four-star recruit. He ranked as the No. 668 overall player, No. 58 cornerback, and No. 28 player from Louisiana in the Class of 2020.

Richardson committed to Mississippi State, after mulling offers from several other SEC schools.

He played for the Bulldogs as a true freshman, appearing in seven games but playing in only six defensive snaps. He played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2021 and saw more action at cornerback in a reserve role. Richardson took over as a starter at cornerback in 2022 and made the most of his opportunity.

The MSU corner started all 13 games in 2022 and all 12 in 2023. He led all SEC cornerbacks in tackles in both seasons. Richardson allowed three touchdown passes as a junior and only two in his senior season.

Decamerion Richardson chose to enter the transfer portal following the 2023 season. He committed to Ole Miss before ultimately opting to enter his name into the 2024 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus gave Richardson a 71.6 grade in both 2021 and 2022. His grade improved greatly last season. Richarson earned an 86.4. This was bolstered by high marks in coverage (81.4) and tackling (90.3).

NFL Draft

Decamerion Richarson was invited to the NFL Combine and put forth an impressive performance.

Richardson measured 6-foot-2 while weighing 188 pounds. He ran a 4.34 in the 40-yard dash. He also performed admirably in the vertical (35″) and broad jumps (10’8″). His “Athleticism Score” of 88 ranked first among all cornerbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Mississippi State's Decamerion Richardson runs a 4.34 at 6'2" | 190 LBS👀

pic.twitter.com/jcSL3YXDyx

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 1, 2024

Richardson has impressive physical talents. He also showed that he is a willing and able tackler. This gives Richardson a floor of being a quality special teams player. Despite a good number of snaps in college, Richarson had zero career interceptions despite solid coverage. It is possible that his eventual fit in the NFL could come at safety.

The New England Patriots are intrigued by Decamerion Richarson’s physical talents, and with good reason. He improved every season he was at Mississippi State. He also has the physical talent of an NFL player. Whether he has a future as an NFL cornerback remains to be seen, though he does have a future as an NFL player. A talented cornerback prospect, who should contribute instantly on special teams, with the potential to transition to safety is well worth a selection on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.