NFL Draft  2025 – Cornerback Class A

Frank Coyle/ Head Scout & Staff
www.draftinsiders.com

Cornerbacks – Top 40 Prospects – Grade: A

Positional Overview:
This year’s cornerback class is a high-quality group which is very deep and especially top heavy with a few premier prospects. There are a few blue chips expected to go in the ton ten selections. Travis Hunter is our #1 overall prospect with rare talent and impact at two positions. He will go in the top 4 prospects in the 1st round. Will Johnson shows prototypical skills and is expected to go in the top 10-12 overall selections. Underclassmen dominate our top ten prospects, though the senior group is a very solid with nice development. Jahdae Barron is a developed versatile prospect and probable mid-first round selection. He could be selected in the top 10 overall picks with a rookie starting grade. Maxwell Hairston has the skill set to start early and is NFL ready after an awesome final performance and NFL Combine effort. He probably goes in the later 1st round area. Shavon Revel Jr. and Benjamin Morrison are highly regarded defenders who missed extensive time in 2024 to injuries which cost them 1st round grades. They most likely go on the 2nd day and great value for clubs. Azareye’h Thomas is another in a long line of FSU corners to enter the NFL. He is a physical cover man with the NFL makeup to excel on the outside. Trey Amos has prototypical shutdown skills for the pro game. He is rising fast and could earn a late 1st round selection. Darien Porter, Dorian Strong and Nohl Williams are rising cover men with well-developed talent to press for early starting time. Both Jacob Parrish and Denzel Burke are battle tested and figure is coming off an impressive career finish. Parrish is one of the best ball hawks in this class and has the length DCs like in outside defenders. Both are well developed athletes who are NFL ready. Bihlal Kone, Caleb Ransaw and Jordan Hancock are coming off impressive final performances plus strong postseason workouts. They could go early in the 3rd day. This is a deep group that will supply many NFL starters well into the 3rd day of the process. There could be at least 12 prospects selected in the top 100 choices. There will probably be 15+ prospects selected in the top 150 picks with the expected run-on corners from the mid-1st round through the early 3rd day. This class has very good depth and will provide a number of middle round steals. This position has annually provided the most overall selections and could duplicate that again. This group could supply as many as 35 total drafted prospects and another 40 high priority FA. This deep crop will supply a huge group of big corners with some versatility to also slide to safety in the nickel and dime sub packages.

NFL Teams in need:

1. Patriots      5 Rams
2. Saints          6 Commanders
3. 49ers           7 Ravens
4. Vikings        8 Colts

 NFL Premier Player
Patrick Surtain

Blue Chip – Travis Hunter
Blue Chip – Will Johnson
Red Chip – Jahdae Barron
Rising – Maxwell Hairston
Falling – Tommi Hill
Underrated – Nohl Williams
Overrated – Zy Alexander
Sleeper – Denzel Burke
Boom/Bust – Jordan Hancock
Biggest Upside – Azar Thomas
Hidden Gem – Bilhal Kone
Long Term – Shavon Revel

 Positional Traits

Best Athlete – Travis Hunter
Best Man Cover – Travis Hunter
Best Zone Cover – Jahdae Barron
Best Run support – Trey Amos
Best Tackler – Shavon Revel
Best Nickel – Jahdae Barron
Hands – Jacob Parrish
Best Intangibles – Jahdae Barron
Ball Instincts – Travis Hunter
Most Versatile – Jahdae Barron
Over drafted – Darien Porter
Special Teamer – Caleb Ransaw

Top Cornerbacks
 1 Travis Hunter                   Colorado
2 Will Johnson                     Michigan
3 Jahdae Barron                  Texas
4 Maxwell Hairston            Kentucky
5 Azareye’h Thomas           Florida State
6 Trey Amos                        Mississippi
7 Shavon Revel Jr.               ECU
8 Benjamin Morrison         Notre Dame
9 Nohl Williams                   Cal
10 Darien Porter                   Iowa State

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11 Dorian Strong                  Virginia Tech
12 Jacob Parrish                   Kansas State
13 Denzel Burke                   Ohio State
14 Jaylin Smith                     USC
15 Quincy Riley                    Louisville
16 Bilhal Kone                      Western Michigan
17 Caleb Ransaw                  Tulane
18 Tommi Hill                        Nebraska
19 Zah Frazier                       UTSA
20 Jordan Hancock             Ohio State
21 Cobee Bryant                   Kansas
22 Jermari Harris                 Iowa
23 Zy Alexander                   LSU
24 Justin Walley                   Minnesota
25 Jason Marshall                Florida
26 Marcus Harris                  California
27 Melvin Smith                    Southern Arkansas
28 O’Donnell Fortune           South Carolina
29 Jabbar Muhammad          Oregon
30 B.J. Adams                        UCF
31 Mello Dotson                     Kansas
32 Robert Longerbeam        Rutgers
33 Upton Stout                      Western Kentucky
34 Mac McWilliams               UCF
35 Isas Waxter                         Villanova
36 Jalen Kimber                     Penn State
37 Tony Grimes                      UNLV
38 James Burgess                 Alabama State
39 Tyron Herring                   Delaware
40 Fentrell Cypress II            Florida State

NFL Draft Yearbook 2025 – Abdul Carter Scouting Report

Frank Coyle/ Head Scout

Edge Defenders – Grade: A+

         Positional Overview:

This year’s edge defenders’ class is an exceptionally strong group which could produce as many as 6-7 #1 picks. There are several blue-chip prospects at the top and probably 10-12 could go in the top 50 selections. There could be as many as 15+ in the top three rounds with as many as 25+ thru the middle rounds. Abdul Carter is the best edge defender in this draft class and could be a top four overall pick. He is NFL ready and a three-down starter. He is an explosive edge defender and the best of this class. Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams are fast-rising players who figure in the top 10 selections. Walker has the freakish athleticism to fit both NFL fronts as an edge rusher. Walker is well-developed and can be a day one starter and difference maker. Shemar Stewart had an impressive postseason and displayed special talent at the Senior Bowl. He is rated a top 30 selection with a prospect with impact ability in either scheme. James Pearce is a quality edge rusher with fine production and has developed talent to start in either front. Ditto Donovan Ezeiruaku and Mike Green who are explosive edge rushers who impressed at the Senior Bowl. They are first round bubble prospects. Landon Jackson and Jack Sawyer are tough three down defenders with early impact ability. Jackson had a strong Senior Bowl and figures in the late 1st or early 2nd round. Sawyer was brilliant in the postseason and the key defender in the Buckeyes national title.  Oluwafemi Oladejo is a player on the rise and coveted by both fronts. He is an emerging edge rusher who may be the wild card of the 2nd day of the process. Up to fifteen prospects figure in the top 100 picks and fit the edge rusher role. There should be an expected run throughout the top 150 picks especially from the 2nd thru the 4th rounds. With the huge demand for rushers, clubs will draft into this deep group for prospects. Expect approximately 35-45 prospects chosen over the three-days with the importance of rushers playing a huge part in game strategy. This is a top-heavy and deep class through the middle rounds and one of the best groups in recent memory.

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Edge Defenders

  1 Abdul Carter #11                  Penn State         6-3, 250 – Sp. 4.50
                 NFL Comparison: Von Miller                           Rating 93

Explosive edge rusher has flashed dominant skills since his true freshman season in the tough Nittany Lion defense. Elite burst off the edge to pressure blockers with the ability to bend the edge and run the arc to finish with big plays. Converts speed to power very well. Long arms and strong athletic frame give him the components of Pro Bowl players like, Von Miller and Micah Parsons. Next in the long line of PSU edge defenders following former top defender Parsons. His elite burst vs Big Ten blockers allowed him to post 23 sacks and 19 pressures over his short three seasons. Played off backer at times especially earlier in his career and graded out well vs the run and the ability to drop in coverage. He has only touched the surface of his pass rushing talent. Plays a disciplined game and has shown the ability to play the run well. Holds the edge and has learned to separate quickly from blocks with the ability to pick up the ball and burst to finish. Chiseled frame with long arms and fast hands and the speed to go sideline to sideline. Elite get off with the ability to gain a fast advantage off the edge and the ability to bend and finish. Production improved annually as he learned finer points of play to handle that special attention. Shows the ability to strike with a strong punch, dip his shoulder and bend the edge, in addition to counter inside. Explosive on the delay blitz where his burst can hit openings and finish quickly. Shows developed inside move to hit an opening. Anchors well to hold the point in run defense along with the speed to pursue and make plays from the backside. His coverage skills are good, yet still in the development process. Shows all the AA to refine those skills. Three down defender and scheme diverse who can line up outside/inside in either scheme. Dominant final performance with 12 sacks and 24 pressures in most of his reps from the edge. His pressing foot issue is a definite concern. It is an injury with major impact on his initial ability to come off the snap and in many cases requires a screw to stabilize the foot. Second best defensive player in the draft and probable top 3-5 selection. Best football ahead and capable of being a dominant Pro-Bowler if healthy.

Draft Projection: 1st Round – Top 5 Selection

NFL Draft – Cam Ward Scouting Report

NFL Draft 2025 – Yearbook Quarterbacks – Grade: B-

NFL Teams in need:

• Titans         5 Steelers
• Browns      6 Dolphins
• Giants        7 Saints
• Jets             8 Cowboys

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Seven Round Mock Draft & Top 300 Value Board

Pro Prospect Positional Rankings – Top 500 Rankings
NFL Team Report – mid April – 40 pages
Newsletters Available Now – Special Deluxe Package $59.95 – Order Today

Quarterbacks
Positional Overview:

This year’s QB class is an average group with the top two prospects expected to be selected in the top ten picks. Cam Ward is an outstanding looking prospect with accuracy, mobility, and a very high level of development. His complete skill set elevated him to the top of the class by far as the most NFL ready prospect. Shedeur Sanders is a fast-rising prospect after an amazing career at Colorado. He did not complete during the postseason when he sat out both the East-West and NFL Combine weeks. He was considered a guaranteed top ten selection, but that could be in jeopardy with a few clubs scared off by his lack of participation. He is clearly the biggest enigma in this draft class. Jaxson Dart has an excellent skill set and had impressive weeks at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He could surprise and get selected in the mid-1st round. Kyle McCord is a rising prospect off an excellent 2024 performance and postseason. He flashed blue-chip talent with a strong arm and good mechanics. He is one of the fastest rising prospects in this draft class and could move into the early rounds with the pressing need at the position. Tyler Shough is a hot prospect off his fine Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He shows a very strong arm with good footwork along with fine leadership and playmaking talent. Veterans, Jalen Milroe. Quinn Ewers and Will Howard have won a lot of games and titles over their careers. All have strong arms and running skills with the fast decision making and delivery to make consistently sound plays. Riley Leonard looked sharp at the Senior Bowl which impressed many scouts. He has shown fast development at the position and is a long-term gem. Seth Henigan and Kurtis Rouke are sleepers and can surprise if they land in the right coach/system. Both have had fine success and shown NFL talent with development. They could be major surprises in the right setting. Good group at top with 10-12 prospects chosen over the 3-day event. Expect 8-9 prospects chosen in the top 100 selections.

Quarterbacks

  1 Cam Ward #1 – Miami               6-2, 220 – Sp. 4.60         Rating 90
                        NFL Comparison: Jordan Love

Gifted athletic four-year starter at three schools excelled in his only season with the Hurricanes. Earned first team ACC honors in 2024 after an excellent two-year career at Washington State. Quality athlete with strong arm, quick feet and good mechanics to make all the throws.  Developed well in the Washington State advanced passing game designed originally by former HC Mike Leach which accelerated his development tremendously after starting Incarnate Word and putting up elite statistics from his first season. Shows a quick setup with the ability to retreat well and set his feet while scanning the field. Moves well in the pocket under pressure with the ability to slide and create passing lanes. He has developed into a special passer whose arm strength, mobility, vision and accuracy allows him to make all the throws from a variety of platforms. Won Offensive Player of the Year in the ACC, throwing for over 4300 yards 39 TDs and 7 picks. Savvy leader with excellent vision and mobility to move in the pocket. Top arm talent with good power, a very quick tight release, fine accuracy and capable of throwing from the pocket or on the move. Very good mobility to escape the pocket and maybe more dangerous outside, throwing when improvising. His production improved annually despite the changing supporting cast. Matured well learning to deal with adversity and maintain his poise and lead the team. Good size (just under 6’2”) and frame (219) and reliable durability to be available weekly. Tough in the face of pressure to make the difficult throw. Highly probable 1st QB and overall pick who excels on big stage with few mistakes and top results. At his pro day, he put on a display of throwing, movement and versatility. He displayed a strong arm with a compact delivery and quick release. Dropped the ball in the bucket on the deep ball and showed power and accuracy on the intermediate throws. Good movement in the pocket and made fast adjustments on the move. Clear #1 overall QB in this class. If he was in last year’s draft class, he would be #5 or 6 at best. With the top three teams this year all seeking a starting QB, he will hear his name called early. Titans looking to get a contract signed prior to the NFL Draft. Excellent RPO passer with ceiling and early quality starter. Expected #1 pick.
Draft Projection: 1st Round – Top overall Selection