"Everybody's going to find a negative," Davis said during a February press conference at the combine. "That's the main reason why I'm at the combine, so I can show these coaches I am a good person and that I have a good personality. I don't want to be known as Vernon Davis' little brother. I want Vernon to be known as Vontae Davis' big brother."

Added NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock: "I think Vontae Davis is the most talented corner, but I think he's going to slide because of off-the-field issues."

Ohio State All-American selection Malcolm Jenkins is the consensus top-rated cornerback and was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner. He's expected to be drafted in the top 15 picks.

Jenkins is a 6-0, 204-pounder who intercepted 11 career passes, but lacks ideal speed with a 4.55 effort and is probably best suited to play in a Cover 2 scheme due to a lack of flexibility and sudden change of direction skills.

The Ravens conducted a formal interview with Jenkins at the combine.

"I think in a Cover 2 scheme he’s ideal as a corner," DeCosta said. "I think he’s a physical guy who’s got size and could play safety. I think in the best of all situations, you draft him as a corner, and if you find out he can’t do it, you move him to safety. Having spent some time with Malcolm, he’s a determined kid, he’s a talented kid, and he’s played some very good football at a very high level of football for a long time.

"I think his future is at corner, at least in the short term. He's a smart kid. We did interview him at the combine, and he did a very good job for us on the board. He caught the football very well. We had Rod Woodson who started out as a corner and made the switch to safety and did very well. I think Malcolm is a very good player and has a bright future in the NFL.”

University of Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler is an intriguing option for several teams.

A cousin of Ravens running back Willis McGahee and a nephew of former NFL safety Gene Atkins, Butler seems to be a safer bet in many respects than Davis. He's projected to go as high as the Miami Dolphins with the 25th overall pick.

Butler is relatively slender and not all that physical at 5-11, 183 pounds, but has 4.40 speed and registered a 43-inch vertical leap and an 11-2 broad jump at the combine. He intercepted seven career passes as a four-year starter.

"I think Darius Butler is one of the fastest risers in the draft, and I think Butler will go 11 to 20," Mayock said during a conference call. "He has the best feet and change of direction of any cornerback in the draft. He would be hard to turn down because of his feet and speed, but he is 5-10 and 183 pounds and somewhat selective in how physical he is."

The Ravens also had imposing Utah cornerback Sean Smith in for a visit as well as hard-hitting University of Maryland cornerback Kevin Barnes, Greg Toler, a Division II star from St. Paul's (Va.) who has visited 17 NFL teams, and Nicholls State cornerback Lardarius Webb. The Ravens also had a private workout with Toler.

Team officials interviewed Oregon cornerback Jairus Byrd, who is relatively slow afoot, at the combine. Oregon State cornerback Brandon Hughes said that Baltimore has displayed interest in him.

At nearly 6-4, 215 pounds, Smith is one of the biggest cornerbacks to enter the draft in several years. He has respectable 4.49 speed and nine career interceptions, too.

He could also play safety because of his ability to tackle, but is mostly drawing second-round grades.

"Sean Smith is a very, very good press corner," DeCosta said. "Somewhat one-dimensional. If he gets his hands on you, you're done. I compare him to guys like Bobby Taylor and Nmandi Asomugha as far as what he can do. We play a lot of off-man coverage.

"He's not a very good off-man corner right now, so he's got some things to work on. His backpedal is a little ragged. When it comes to a taller corner like that, they don't pedal quite as well as a smaller guy."

The Ravens have been complimentary of undersized Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith, a 5-9 player who has 4.47 to 4.5 speed and believes he's the top cornerback in the draft. He's the all-time ACC record20holder with 21 career interceptions. He may fall to the second round.
 
However, Smith may be as short as 5-7, which could be a detriment against taller receivers.