DRAFT TRACKER 2025

Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers. He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level. While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route-runners, as he might lack the recovery speed to close the distance at a desired rate. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern fail to stand out as impediments for what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler.

Big nickelback was in the right place at the right time throughout his impressive 2024 season. Barron played smothering coverage underneath, fueled by route recognition, footwork and play strength. His instincts allow him to pounce on catch points or tackle pass catchers immediately from zone. However, he lacks recovery speed deep and can be a little too grabby at the top of the route in man. Tackle technique in run support is a shade inconsistent but looks easily correctable. The size and tape work in his favor as a physical nickel who can be an early contributor and future starter, with the potential to cross-train as a safety.

Slender outside cornerback with long arms and impressive ball production. Hairston is capable of playing all forms of zone and man coverage. He anticipates well with his eyes forward and has the burst to take the ball away, posting six interceptions (three returned for TDs) over his last 20 games. He stays connected in man coverage with good agility and fluidity but needs to do a better job of locating the football downfield. He will struggle to contest big wideouts and his run support will turn off some teams. Hairston has the athleticism and on-ball talent to become a starter, but he needs to prove he can hold up to the rigors and physicality of the NFL game.

Long press cornerback who proved he could make the jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC without a hitch. Amos can disrupt the release and plays with good short-area movement in man coverage. He can get a little lost at the top of the route and needs occasional safety nets over the top. He has twitchy feet to close and sees the action clearly from zone but can be hampered by indecisiveness, despite favorable instincts. Amos uses physicality and length to shrink the 50/50 odds in his favor. He can play in multiple coverage but is most consistent in zone. Amos needs to ramp up his run support and trust his eyes in space, but he has the goods to become a solid starting outside corner. 

Big, long and fast are the physical descriptors that stand out for the East Carolina corner. Revel is leggy when matching press release but he’s disruptive once he gets his hands on the wideout. He plays upright in man coverage, tends to allow small pockets of separation due to his high center of gravity and still needs improvement when it comes to finding and defending the deep ball, despite his ability to stay in phase with vertical routes. He has ideal length and good vision from zone, and he should continue to improve in that coverage with more experience. Revel suffered a torn ACL in September, but his measurables, explosiveness and upside give him a good chance to become an early starter.

Press-man cornerback with average speed but excellent length to disrupt game flow for opponents. Thomas deters early looks his way from quarterbacks by jabbing, crowding and smothering the release from press. He lacks route recognition and lateral twitch to stay tight to breaks from off-man. He also needs to develop his instincts and trust his eyes from zone coverage. He has average top-end speed but competes to shrink the receiver’s downfield catch odds using his length and ball skills. He’s more likely to spoil a catch than make a play on the football that results in a turnover, but that could change with more experience. He’s below average in run support, although he improved in that area in 2024. Thomas needs more seasoning, but he could become a good starter within two or three years.

Two-year starter with ball skills and athleticism for inside/outside versatility. Parrish glides around the field powered by quick feet and smooth hips. He can stay tight to underneath routes from press man and plays with poise and timing when the throw goes deep. He has adequate long speed and twitchy short-area burst to challenge throws from off-man and zone but struggles to gather and redirect quickly to match comebacks and double-breakers. He played with better coverage physicality in 2024 but is still lacking as a run defender and open-field tackler. He needs more seasoning but has the athletic tools and ball skills to compete for a role as a CB2/3.

Linear outside cornerback whose eye-catching ball production must be balanced out by his inconsistencies in coverage. Morrison would appear to be a natural press corner, but he lacks ideal footwork to mirror and match not only the release but the initial route breaks. He has below-average coverage fluidity in open spaces and appears to be more effective covering the deep ball than shadowing routes on the first two levels. Morrison is more patient from off coverages and takes efficient paths to the throw, so a more zone-oriented scheme could make sense, while helping to minimize areas of concern.

Ransaw already plays with an NFL field demeanor, utilizing his good size and strength. He is terrific as a big nickel supporting the run but he might not have the cover talent to hold up in man coverage against NFL slot receivers. He’s capable in zone and might be rugged enough to line up over big slots and pass-catching tight ends. If he can’t hold up as a slot, a move to safety could be a comfortable transition. Ransaw has the tools to play as a pro, but scheme fit could decide his ceiling and productivity.

Sixth-year senior with elite traits and special teams talent but only one year of starting experience at cornerback. Porter’s rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage. He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence. He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press, his contest and his tackling in run support. More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter’s continued ascension as a CB2/CB3.

Long, instinctive cornerback who can be a disruptive press corner or scan the field for ball production in zone. Strong has average play strength getting off of blocks and tackling, but it doesn’t bother his press redirect or ability to effectively contest catches. He has issues matching route breaks and flipping to sprint against deep targets due to average hips and foot quickness. He plays with adequate field awareness and anticipation in reading the quarterback. Strong should begin his career as a backup, but his cover talent could ultimately overcome any coverage concerns on the next level.

Man-cover corner with good size and great length but average ball production. Adams is at home in press coverage, where he can reroute the receiver. His foot agility and quickness are below NFL standards and he could struggle to stay connected against an NFL route tree. Average awareness and instincts cause inconsistencies from zone but his burst to close and angles to the throw work in his favor, if he can trust what he sees. He has adequate speed and a crowd-and-grab coverage style that could bring feast-or-famine results as a pro. I love the competitiveness and traits to squeeze catch windows, but Adams’ areas of concern could limit him to backup duty.

Long cornerback with eye-popping interception totals that could skew his evaluation. Williams operated out of press man, quarters and Cover 3 looks. He lacks disruption from press, but he does a nice job of trailing routes and finding the football. He can be a little slow to open his hips and phase route breaks, but he possesses enough burst to close the distance when beaten. He’s eager from zone with instincts and ball skills to make plays on the throw. Williams’ inconsistency in run support could be a concern, but his size and ball production are hard to ignore.

Productive four-year starter with the ability to press and navigate zone coverages. Burke possesses NFL size and strength to slow and control the release from press. His coverage movements are smooth, but he’s not always instinctive or natural in man coverage. Burke struggles with change of direction as a pattern-matcher and lacks the closing burst to make up for it. He’s capable from zone but needs to prioritize the ball over the man when breaking on the throw. He’s fierce in run support and tackles with good technique to stop ball-carriers. Burke fits as a downhill zone corner with special-teams ability.

Alexander utilizes size, speed, length and athleticism through all phases of coverage. He’s not overly disruptive from press but rarely allows much separation if beaten. He leverages routes with pattern recognition and maintains connection to the route from trail. He’s effective from man and zone with timing and tracking that could make him a coveted prospect for defenses with heavy Cover 3 looks. Alexander’s tools and traits give him a chance to become a starter.

Long-limbed corner with low career rep count but impressive production in lone starting season. Frazier is long, fast and athletic but upright and gawky in transitions from off-man coverage. He stays connected to all forms of vertical routes and uses his length/leaping ability to shade deep windows for the quarterback. He sees well from zone coverage and can burst/stride into plays on the football that some can’t get to. Frazier will turn 25 years old as a rookie and started only 10 games at UTSA, but his traits, in-season improvement and ball production could make him a Day 3 pick with upside as an outside corner.

Tall cornerback with average transition quickness in coverage but first-rate ball skills. Kone’s smothering brand of man coverage could bring ball production but also penalty flags. He’s field-aware and instinctive, but slight stalls at the transition allow for catch windows to develop. Even when beaten, he has an innate feel for taking playmaking angles on the route, which give him a chance to disrupt the catch. His run support needs work, but he’s best-suited as a zone corner.

Compact cornerback with small barriers in his coverage but impressive ball production in his four seasons as a starter. Harris possesses good foot agility and play strength in man coverage. Despite his footwork, he can be crossed up and left out of position by quality route-runners. The good news is he has major make-up burst to close the distance and impressive top-end speed if he needs to travel deep with the route. He needs to play with more consistent eye discipline and route leverage from zone. Harris lacks length, but his on-ball production, play strength and speed give him a chance to become a CB4 with inside/outside versatility.

Riley’s performance took a dip in 2024 but his tape shows the same strengths and weaknesses from the year prior. The ball production looks nice, but his indecisiveness and lack of awareness cause inconsistencies from zone and off-man coverage. He’s competitive with good make-up speed and the athleticism to improve his coverage squeeze if he takes the coaching. Riley needs to become more reliable in run support for teams to trust him as a nickel defender. The sixth-year senior clearly has play traits that work in his favor, but he must learn to play with quicker eyes and better focus to become more than a quality backup with inside/outside potential.

A big cornerback with impressive athletic traits, Hill suffered through plantar fasciitis issues in 2024. He has good top-end speed but sticky transitions and average short-area burst, which limits his man-cover effectiveness. He plays with excellent route awareness in zone, with the ball skills and length to squeeze and close throwing windows around him. A heavy dose of 2023 tape is necessary to get the best feel for Hill, but he’s always been reliable in run support. Hill projects as a zone corner with good backup potential and a chance to climb the ranks with more experience.

Tenacious cornerback whose 2024 tape helped spotlight his toughness and short-area athleticism. McWilliams is best in off coverages. He plays with anticipation and burst to swarm the top of the route from his pedal and is quick to pounce on zone throws. He has average long speed and lacks length. His failure to locate deep throws is concerning. There is zero hesitation when it’s time to step downhill and support the run, though, and he’s a physical tackler who can do it on his own. McWilliams’ 2023 tape was a mess, but he was much improved in 2024 and looks capable of finding backup work as a nickelback for a zone-heavy team.

Thin but highly competitive cornerback with plenty of ball production and penalties to sift through. First and foremost, Bryant wants the football and does what he can to find it. He’s adequate in man coverage but struggles against big receivers in space. His instincts and ball skills shine in zone, where he reads route development and quarterback intentions. His low weight and skinny build will put him below the threshold for some teams, while his length, toughness and strong performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl will put him in play for others. Bryant has the potential to see nickel snaps as a pro if he can trust his technique and limit the penalties.

Position-versatile defensive back with good size but average coverage talent. Hancock is strong enough to play near the line or on the back end, and his heaviest usage has come from the nickel spot. He’s an above-average tackler in run support and in space but has average thump. He gets beat off the dribble in press-man and struggles to make up ground quickly against shifty route-runners. He does his job from zone by keeping catches in front of him and tackling quickly but lacks playmaking instincts. Hancock’s size and versatility helps, but he might not excel enough in the coverage phase to become a long-term starter.

Highly experienced cornerback with good size, speed and ball production. Walley has good mirror-and-match footwork in the early stages of the route but needs to trust his technique instead of using his hands in coverage so often. He keeps close tabs on quarterbacks and pounces on short throws with authority. He’s irritating at the catch point but can be bodied by big targets. He’s willing in run support but will need to improve his finishing against bigger runners. Walley played an overwhelming majority of his snaps outside, but he could be destined to slide inside due to a lack of length.

Speedy four-year starter and team captain with the athletic ability to garner Day 3 interest in the draft. Kent’s measurables are better suited for the slot, but he can play outside if needed. His speed and burst lead to pass breakups, but he lacks the route anticipation and instincts to turn more of those into interceptions. He’s not scheme-dependent but is better in man coverage than he is in zone. He’s tough enough in run support and has potential as a gunner or punt returner, which should increase his draft value.

Sixth-year senior coming off the strongest season of his career. Huzzie is short-armed with a compact build and plenty of play strength. He plays with good flow in his pedal and has the stop-start quickness to stay near the route. He uses his hands to help maintain feel for the release and route breaks, but he needs to dial it back or he’ll face penalties as a pro. His body control and athleticism are strengths, but his vertical speed appears limited. He lacks ideal measurables but is tough, athletic and experienced on special teams, which gives him a chance to find a roster spot as a backup nickelback.

The speed Smith displayed at his pro day and the on-ball production he put up over the last two seasons make him a prospect worthy of longer study. He’s not as tall or as long as teams like outside, but he appears to have inside/outside potential. He will need technique work to better mirror and match NFL route-runners. Still, his instincts and playmaking burst when peeking in from zone make him alluring as a potential Day 3 selection, despite average physicality as a run supporter and tackler.

An undersized cornerback who spent much of his time playing wide corner, Stout has the twitch and athleticism to project inside. What he lacks in length he makes up for with his competitiveness. He’s a natural pattern reader with the hips and feet to match breaks without giving up much separation. There are times he fails to trust his cover talent, holding and grabbing without cause. He’s fairly instinctive and has the short-area burst to squeeze throwing windows. Stout’s physical profile could hurt his draft standing, but the determination and athleticism will be hard to ignore.

Three-year starting cornerback with good size and great speed. Black played in all coverage schemes but needs more polish in press and off-man. He’s not bad at matching route breaks and releases, and he can be smothering at the catch point when his route anticipation is on. He plays with eye balance and readiness from zone but needs to trust his instincts. His difficulty finding and playing the football with his back to the quarterback is an issue, though. Black appears well worth a Day 3 pick for his traits and tape flashes alone.

Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape. Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field. For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock.

Reed is a bit undersized as a slot corner, which makes his competitiveness outside that much more impressive. He will play full-time as a slot as a pro, but bigger receivers will always have jump-ball advantages over him. He’s better from press-man coverage, where he can on-board and ride the route early on instead of being forced to mirror and match breaks from his pedal. There is no hesitation in his run support and he punches above his weight as a tackler. He profiles as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent but plays like someone who can make a roster.

Mayes is a nickelback with good size and toughness, but he will likely be scheme-dependent due to his lack of top-end speed. He is instinctive and processes fairly quickly when working between the route and the quarterback’s eyes. He’s average in matching route breaks and will lose the footrace downfield if matched up in man coverage. He’s at his best when playing forward from a shallow zone, where he’s very capable of making plays on the ball or stepping downhill and supporting the run. Mayes has the talent to compete for a roster spot in an NFL camp.

Three-year starter with measurables and ball production that could leave teams lukewarm on his NFL prospects. Smith plays with a narrow backpedal, glitchy transitions and sluggish closing burst from off-man coverage, but he is much clingier from press-man. He might not have the play strength, length or top-end speed to be reliable on an island outside, though. The 2024 tape was better and he does offer some inside/outside flexibility, but he might be fighting for a roster spot throughout his career.

Slender cornerback who is “wired right” but lacks the size NFL teams typically require. Longerbeam played outside at Rutgers, but the size disadvantage likely means he’ll be moving inside as a pro. He has the feet to match route breaks and good burst to close from zone. He gives some ground deep and struggles to win above the rim, though. He’s a willing run supporter but the frame will only allow so much. His on-ball production and competitiveness are appealing, but teams will need to balance those elements against his size when determining his draft value.

Sixth-year senior with outstanding length and the versatility to take snaps as a zone corner or split safety. Bridges has played press corner but is fairly average at matching releases and routes. He’s more adept as an off-man or zone corner. He might be at his best as a roaming safety, utilizing his instincts, closing burst and ball skills to make plays on the football. He’s an aggressive striker against pass catchers but needs to prove he can eliminate arm tackling as a run supporter. Bridges' traits, versatility and special-teams potential give him a chance of making a team.

Two-year starter with good height and length but lacking in play strength. He’s not physical from press but he plays long and with twitchy movements to match route breaks or break into the passing lane when reading the quarterback from zone. A lack of long speed could be a concern, though. His instincts are above average and his ball skills are solid. However, big, physical wideouts can create a mismatch against him inside the route, at the catch point and after the catch. Fortune will need scheme help, won’t offer help on special teams and is a liability as a run defender. Consistency and ball production will be critical for him.

Sixth-year senior with fluid feet and above-average athleticism. Cypress is slender-framed and will get jostled around in physical matchups. He’s explosive but doesn’t have the instincts and decisiveness to make enough plays on the football. He’s experienced in both man and zone coverages, and he might have the quickness to bump inside. His issues as a tackler could be a problem for teams considering him as a nickelback, though.

Waxter is big, strong and aggressive. He plays with a great deal of intensity and passion. He’s limited in man coverage, relying more on his physicality than his footwork, but his coverage experience will be beneficial. He’s very physical in attacking catch points, blockers and running backs as a downhill player. He has the size and toughness for a move to safety but needs to clean up inconsistencies as a tackler and stand out on special teams.

Harris is a long-framed cornerback who majored in zone coverages at Iowa. He plays with instinctive eyes and good ball skills when moving forward. However, he falls well below the mark for top-end speed and is not built for extensive man coverage. He’s leggy in his change of direction and needs better technique as a wrap-up tackler. When healthy, he’s been a quality starter, but his age, timed speed and the perception he’s a “zone only” corner could work against him.

Instinctive outside corner with impressive ball production. Dotson has adequate NFL size and a good feel for reading routes underneath, but he struggles to stay connected if the play travels beyond the first level. He has good instincts and eyes in zone coverage. He triggers on throws with efficiency and ballhawking angles to take it away. He lacks speed and could struggle making plays downfield. Dotson’s size, instincts and ball production will earn him consideration from zone teams, but playing in the league will require improved tackling and a specific scheme fit.

Three-year starter with each of the three seasons coming at different schools. Muhammad is on the small side as a perimeter cornerback. He’s much better in press and run technique than mirroring and matching the release. His footwork and body control are average in space, but he has some burst that, along with his ball skills, create a higher number of contested throws. That said, Muhammad might not have the cover tools and functional run support to make an NFL roster as a backup nickelback.

Fifth-year senior who spent one season at Tulane after transferring from Furman. He has NFL-caliber top-end speed but lacks the short-area shiftiness to match slot targets, which might be something he’s asked to do because he lacks ideal size. He was greatly improved in 2024 and is a tough run supporter when plays flow his way.

Kimber has good size and impressive timed speed on paper, but his long speed tends to be more build-up than sudden. He has agile, quick feet and is fairly athletic in coverage, but he’s lacking the necessary instincts to make more plays on the football. His tackling improved in 2024, but he’s missing the play strength and toughness in run support that NFL teams want to see.

Brown’s level of competition in college will make it tougher to get an apples-to-apples feel for his ability, but his traits and solid pro-day showing could generate interest from NFL scouts. He typically overwhelms receivers in press man with the size and length to blanket catch points. His technique from press and in transitions is below average but he could improve in those areas with good coaching. He’s willing in run support and a solid tackler. Brown’s traits and production are intriguing, but he faces a difficult road to make a roster.

Moore’s 2024 ball production and pro-day testing are eye-catching, but there are highs and lows on tape. He has agile, quick feet and is smooth with his transitions in coverage. He looked solid for most of the game against Alabama last season, but he had an issue finding and playing a deep ball late in the contest. That same issue pops up in other games. He has the ability to play in man or zone and should get a chance in camp, but he will need to upgrade his physicality or take more chances in coverage to make a team.

Sixth-year senior and team captain with impressive size but average cover talent. Herring looks the part of a press corner but lacks the foot quickness to match the release and stay connected to route breaks. He’s adequate from zone but might not have enough twitch to burst and make plays on the football. Sliding over to safety might give him a better chance of making a team, but such a move will take an upgrade in aggression and tackle consistency to handle the job on the NFL level.

Slot cornerback prospect who will be appealing more for his pro day testing than for his cornerback tape. Paul falls well below NFL size standards and lacks the desired ball production relative to his level of competition. While he clearly has make-up speed when beaten, he’s forced to use it too often from man coverage, where he fails to anticipate and match route breaks with ideal consistency. He plays with adequate vision from zone but smaller zone corners need to stand out with rare ball production, and Paul did not offer that during his college career.