Brett's Cowboys Corner

The NFL Draft is a unique event where no two drafts are really the same. Each year you can find future pro bowlers in every round of the draft. Though some positions may be more top heavy with talent, and others might have the best value later on in the draft as potential role players. It is still worth to know some of these names, as they potentially could be helping your team win a Superbowl one day.

Allow this to be a guide to discover potential gems in every position at each round of this years draft. Now lets take a look at defense.

Note: I can’t list all 200 scouted players…so these are few names that standout as some of my favorites.

Format: [PLAYER NAME], [COLLEGE] [(Ranking)]:

Edge Rushers

Quickly becoming one of the more valued positions in a draft, edge rushers can wreck a game with the pressure they create on the opposing quarterback. This position is moving away from bigger bodied defensive linemen and becoming more about athletes working fast around tackles.

This years class will not miss out on some traditional pass rushers, but will also feature plenty of light 200 pounds athletes. It seems every year there is plenty of depth at this position, 2025 is no different. It doesn’t matter what round you are picking…you can find someone to get the quarterback.

Round 1 (Day 1):

Abdul Carter, Penn State (EDGE1): Three-year starter at Penn State, a clear standout as the first edge rusher off the board and should make an argument as first player off the board. This is a pure winner off the edge, he may not be the most technical but he does have plenty of moves to use…regardless of predictability, he beats the tackle. He is a great athlete who will win with explosiveness and his great body control that allows him to break free of any hold. He played some off-ball linebacker at Penn State but should be a full time edge rusher. He is a little bit lean, but will likely put on a few pounds to get him to NFL weights. A medical flag for a stress reaction in his foot, it doesn’t require surgery but his camp may get it after draft day just to be safe. Carter is a highly productive edge rusher as a pass rusher and in run defense, with 34.6% of his tackles being TFL’s last year.

Mike Green, Marshall (EDGE2): A highly active pass rusher, the explosion off the ball and getting the quarterback is what stands out on his tape. An outstanding 17 sack season will hopefully distract scouts from that being his only year as a starter. He has background as a wrestler and credits that to his ability to out leverage linemen and forklift them out of the way. Everything a scout looks for in athleticism and ‘twitchiness’ off the edge. He isn’t the ideal size for a top edge rusher, and plays a little light. Though making up for those problems by playing with an outstanding motor. He is seemingly always on the go, which can lead to an over running the ball carrier. Green’s main goal in 2024 was to improve his technique as a run defender and that appeared evident in his tape, he can stack and shed blocks and wrap up the ball carrier in the backfield. Making him shoot up the draft boards and worthy of top tier pick.

James Pearce Jr, Tennessee (EDGE3): A fast, straight line rusher who just gets sacks, 10 and 7.5 his two years as a starter. At 6’5″, 245 pounds he is built just as you would want an edge rusher. He backs the size up with great athleticism and explosiveness. He plays as a stand-up rusher in a wide set, he would rather win with speed than power but has the ability to be a power rusher. His hand usage is NFL ready with how fights with chops and rips. Good hand usage helps him the run game but he needs to develop it more. Pearce should be a top edge rusher off the board, and was considered that standard for most of the process. Unfortunately, some major character concerns have been looming, there has been some reported issues with teammates and scouts question his overall love for football. He will likely fall into the second round, but I believe in scouting the football player as I don’t get to interview players for their backgrounds…so he will be the back of my 1st round.

Rounds 2 & 3 (Day 2):

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College (EDGE4): The ACC Defensive Player of the Year. With 16.5 sacks last season, he shows off all his abilities to getting the quarterback. He is fast off the edge and likes to showcase a deep bag of tricks to getting pressure. He will go to his spin move frequently but will when with a simple dip and rip. He uses his length to get a reach on running backs coming by him, but sometimes gets held up in run defense. If he can work on getting more power in his hands, he can be very productive at the next level. Ezeiruaku is a ready made NFL pass rusher and has ability to be impactful in the run game, with his speed and ability to create a quick pressure, I would not be surprised if he sneaks into round one.

Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss (EDGE5): All pass rush here. A rotational piece that will often be taken out for run downs because of lack of run game support. But on key pass rush 3rd downs, this is where he changes the game. 10.5 sacks at Ole Miss as a rotational guy which was 2nd in the SEC. Full of traits and pass rush skills, he is fast off the edge. The easiest way to stop him is with a good counter to his initial rush move, this stops him every time. But with the production he had, it will be hard to turn away scouts especially combining that with his athletic size. Umanmielen has all the tools to become a starting edge in the NFL, but the next year of development will be crucial to his future success.

JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State (EDGE8): He did not become a flashy pass rusher like Chase Young or a Bosa brother at Ohio State but gets the job done. Utilizes heavy hands and strikes to win. He is a smart rusher and makes no extra moves, he does what is necessary to win. Regarded as more of a run stopper, he made a solid name for himself to be selected just on his regular season performance alone. But in the College Football Playoffs, he raised his draft stock through the roof. 20 pressures, 10 TFL’s, 6.5 sacks and a game winning forced fumble in the Semi-Final in the 2024 playoff. He plays with a high motor and is constantly chasing down plays, he will need to work on his hand techniques at the next level. Tuimoloau’s performance is the post-season will be enough to make an early day two case for his draft stock.

Brayden Sorrell, Texas (EDGE10): Playing at a dominate program in getting the quarterback in 2024, 6 sacks would only be 4th on the team. Though he did lead the team in pressures with 49 total. He will be known for his powerful hands, he wants to fight and knock tackles off balance. He will line up at 3-technique, which lines up near the guards and rushes from the inside. He will use power to rush. He lacks short-area athleticism but his physical nature will more than make up for that at the pro-level. In a pro scheme that plays with 4 down linemen (4-3 Defense) he can carve out a great role for himself. Sorrell impressed many in the weight room, he is apart of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” with a 425-pound bench press and 575-pound squat.

Barron Swinson, LSU (EDGE12): Good first-step burst and acceleration off the edge. Needs to strengthen up more and rush with power. He is a player who has a high motor and drive to be successful. He carries an NFL football around everywhere he goes to “keep his dreams close.” A productive 8 sack season last year will keep him on the radar. He only has one year starting experience, and has dealt with injuries, a torn lateral meniscus in 2021. There are some questions in the interview process, he has had a history butting heads with some coaches and even received a ‘first-quarter suspension’ for not meeting team standards. Swinson will need to assure teams in the interview process that those aren’t concerning problems, as his tape speaks for his value to an NFL team.

Rounds 4-7 (Day 3):

Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA (EDGE13): A stand-up edge rusher is learning a new role, and will likely need to again in the NFL. Playing linebacker at Cal, he doesn’t make a far transfer to UCLA where he shifted to more of an edge. He only played as an additional standing outside rusher. He will need to find a scheme that rushes five or needs to develop his 3-point stance. He plays with good leverage and can get into the backfield quickly. Oladejo will continue to learn the position and develop his move-set, with 13.5 TFL’s he showed all abilities to be impactful at the pro-level.

Elijah Roberts, SMU (EDGE14): A productive starter at SMU with 17.5 sacks in two seasons. This is a power rusher who relies on brute strength to win. He needs to develop more technique as a pass rusher but will throw off a tackle with his first punch. Needs to work on finishing tackles and overall game consistency. Roberts is a player that just wins all the time, he relies on power a lot which he may realize hes more evenly matched to NFL talent.

Jared Ivey, Ole Miss (EDGE17): An NFL ready frame, this is a physical rusher with a great ability to set the edge and hold his ground. He plays with a high motor and will rally to the football even if the play is away from him. Plays with more power over quickness. He rushes a little tall at times and will drift past the quarterback. Leans on physical ability to create success. He logged 16 career sacks with Ole Miss. Ivey is built like a traditional NFL edge, and as a 5th year player he has seen a lot of snaps and has a high IQ for the game.

Josiah Stewart, Michigan (EDGE19): An explosive pass rusher that plays with high energy. He is a one year starter but has had production in rotational situations for the other three seasons. He is a bit undersized but plays bigger than he looks. Uses his hands with purpose and can be physical at the point of attack. His defensive line coaches have said Stewart “only knows one speed” and that being fast. Stewart needs to work on having a plan as a pass rusher, incorporating more moves to his rushes will make him successful at the pro-level.

Ashton Gillotte, Louisville (EDGE22): Four years of great production at Louisville, with 60 pressures created in 2024 and near 25.5 career sacks. He has experience playing on the edge and lining up over the guard. With a bigger frame he is built like a traditional NFL linemen. He plays with a good rush ability and knows how to use his hands. He can be washed out in the run game, but can move tackles around. Gillotte may not explode off tape, but he is a physical and consistent rusher who can find a role for himself in specific NFL packages.

Ahmed Hassaein, Boise State (EDGE25): Born in Cairo, Egypt he didn’t move to the U.S. until 2018, and began playing football. He doesn’t have much experience on the football field but he has the athletic build for the sport. He is a productive player in getting pressures (115 pressures in two seasons) and his non-stop motor. Scouts and coaches will love the opportunity to take someone with his drive and desire to be successful and his athletic traits and overall turn them into a dominant football player. He does have success at the college level rushing, but ultimately doesn’t have a deep bag of moves and can overrun the play at times. Hassaein plays hard and never stops, but sometimes playing without a plan can make him just waste his breath. The untapped upside will make this a dream come true for draft and develop philosophers.

Defensive Tackles

When you build a house, you start with the foundation. Building a defense is the same, the foundation being the big guys on the interior. A versatile group where you impact the game in the greatest way but the stat sheet may never show it.

In 2016 there were 14 defensive tackles taken in the top 100 picks. There hasn’t been a deep class that has measured near that in the past 8 years. This class has a lot of potential to break that record.

Note: You will see players identified as 1-tech and 3-tech. 1-techs, are usually the bigger guys that line up over the nose of the center. 3-techs can be a bit more lean and quick, they line up over the outside shoulder of the guards.

Round 1 (Day 1):

Mason Graham, Michigan (DT1): The standout tackle of this class. Who plays with great strength and has the ability to explosive on the snap. He plays with great ball awareness and gets low to win the leverage battle. As a rusher he spends a lot of time in the backfield blowing up the play. Quick feet and hands with agile athleticism. He dropped 18 pounds for the combine, but will probably need to put some of that weight back on to not get washed out at the NFL level. Graham is not built like a desired defensive tackle, but his play style stands out and will make him a top 5 pick in this draft.

Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (DT2): The best run defender in this class is the 1-tech DT from Ohio State. At 330 pounds he carries his weight well and plays with power. He controls blockers and is able to fight through the double team. He has outstanding awareness for where the ball is going pre-snap. He wins a lot and does best when he gets low, but there are times where he plays too tall and relies on power to save his ground. He needs to develop his game as a pass rusher and will be dominant in any scheme. Williams is a master at drawing holding calls and put on a lot of great film on his National Championship run.

Kenneth Grant, Michigan (DT3): Playing next to Mason Graham definitely helped his stock, but this 1-tech can still be a physical presence on the inside. He gets off the snap with urgency and can move around laterally, forcing interior offensive lineman to have good footwork in order to handle him. It is tough to redirect him from where he wants to go. Though moving so much laterally causes him to not be able to push the pocket back and create pressure. Grant has a great feel for pass rushing and has the ability to get into the back field. He has the ability to play on all three downs with his athletic traits and overall playing effort.

Rounds 2 & 3 (Day 2):

Derrick Harmon, Oregon (DT4): An athletic big man with the desired NFL length. Lining up primarily at the 3-tech spot but can play all over the defensive line especially with his physical play. He will fight through the double team and use his upper-body strength and swipe/rip moves to win. Played a lot of football and didn’t miss a game for three seasons. Sometimes he plays a little too tall and will almost spam his moves-set if he gets held up. He needs to work on being cautious with his hands as he brought in a lot of undisciplined penalties. Harmon can easily be a 1st round selection if scouts fall in love with the potential and desire to add to his move-set.

Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (DT5): A tackle machine at Ole Miss, finished top-3 among DTs for TFLs in 2024. He has the NFL build, but played in a scheme at Ole Miss that forced him as a 1-tech but he may be better off at 3-tech in a pro scheme. Plays with power and uses explosion off the snap to create pressure. He needs to develop his move-set and work on staying balanced to not be washed out of the run game. Multiple scouts reported some maturity issues and temper, walking out during practice due to frustration has occurred. Nolen will need to show his maturity in the interview process and let his production on tape speak for itself.

Omar Norman-Lott, Tennessee (DT7): A winning pass rusher. Lining up in the 3-tech, he works best when he gets into 1 on 1s and can use his move-set to win. He is not much of a run defender. He wasn’t a starter at Tennessee but used primarily for pass rush situations, and will likely see that in the NFL. He finished 2nd in pressures for his team, though he was part-time player. He just needs to finish plays, but he gets into the backfield plenty. Flashes great upfield burst and lateral quickness. Norman-Lott plays with great awareness and his outstanding motor will get him drafted.

T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (DT8): An aggressive two-year starter who plays with great initial bursts. He plays with great effort and has a good feel for where the ball is going to be. He needs to continue to develop his move-set and grow out of the habit of standing straight up out of his stance. Physical at the point of the attack and covers ground as a rusher. He doesn’t have the desired mass at the pro-level and will work to build that. Savvy blockers will know how to use his aggressiveness against him. Sanders didn’t have outstanding production at South Carolina but his tools and ability to make consistent plays will help him be valued on NFL draft boards.

Rounds 4-7 (Day 3):

Jordan Phillips, Maryland (DT9): A muscled up athlete. A member of Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ for his 665 pound squat. For the size he is a great mover, and coordinates his hand and foot movements. He is hard to move and can control the line of scrimmage. He is a strong tackler and has tons of play experience. He needs to play with more consistency, has issues with snap timing and can be driven backwards at times. He is known around Maryland as someone with a elite work ethic and has a great personality in the locker room. Phillips has great traits that need to be further developed, but his work ethic will get him drafted and a rotational role in the NFL.

Alfred Collins, Texas (DT10): A big framed athlete that has a great ability to rack up tackles. He posted a 55:2 tackle to missed tackle ratio in 2024. He plays with natural power in the middle and creates movement by using his natural power. He plays hard but wastes movments sometimes when he is trying to get out of a block. He only played one season as a full-time starter and needs more time to finish developing skillset. Collins has the physical traits to develop into a NFL starter, with limited time as a starter he needs to continue to develop but he learned a lot of good technique from playing behind T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy III in 2023.

Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech (DT11): Plays light on his feet and is a good mover. He makes quick moves as a pass rusher and gets sacks and TFLs. He is a natural disrupter. At 6’1″ and 282 pounds, he is heavily undersized at DT. Virginia Tech liked playing him inside but at the pro-level he will need to put on weight or he could get converted to a big defensive end. If he gets converted, he will need to develop his run game defense to set the edge. Peebles will struggle to push around NFL players and needs to get stronger, but will need to be in a scheme that will utilize him properly.

Deon Walker, Kentucky (DT13): A rare combination of weight, length and height standing tall at 6’8″. He moves so smoothly and uses long wingspan to expand his tackling radius. He owns the point of the attack and has natural traits to win. He has all of the tools but sometimes struggles knowing how to use them all the time. A former basketball player, he still uses the hardwood to train. How can this player be so low? Conditioning and consistency. He is a sometimes guy, that will make a great play and then the next play, he will just stand up out of the snap and kind of take the play off. He averaged 52 snaps per game in two seasons, he played a lot of snaps and stated that he was nursing a back injury, which is the reason for ‘taking plays off’ at times. Walker should be a top tackle in this class and has all the traits to be elite. Many scouts believe there are concerns about his commitment to the sport and it has caused him to fall in this draft already.

JJ Pegasus, Ole Miss (DT17): A compact built athlete. He was used all over at Ole Miss. Playing the entire defensive line but plays best when he lines up more wide. He was used as a big full back to convert short-yardage. With a 85% conversion rate (18 for 21) and seven touchdowns. He plays with quickness and likes to use his hands to fight. He has great rushing angles and had consistent production at Ole Miss. Pegasus will get drafted because of his athletic upside and his play speed will give blockers trouble.

Desmond Watson, Florida (DT21): A massive man. At 449 pounds you won’t miss him on the tape. He is a natural lane clogger, he takes up space in the run game. There will be conditioning concerns at the pro level and will have to be scheme specific. He played as a FB blocker role in goal line situations and got 1 carry for a 1st down at the end of the season. If he makes it to an NFL roster he will be 60 pounds heavier than the heaviest NFL player, Daniel Faalele. He’s been big his whole life, 375 pounds in HS. Watson may get invited to an NFL camp, and if he makes it onto a roster, he can serve a role as a goal line DT to stuff the middle.

Linebackers

The quarterback of the defense. Linebackers will need to play with high IQ and quickly identify offensive plays. Though off ball linebackers and edge rushers will generally be more valued higher in the draft for potential. A linebacker will generally show their style and value on the tape.

With that being said, this is not a great year for elite linebackers. There will be some productive role players in this class. There are only two true middle linebackers that can be probowl level starters – Campbell and Schwesinger. With the rest of class having off ball linebackers.

Round 1 (Day 1):

Jalon Walker, Georgia (LB1): Not a true linebacker, Georgia plays off-ball linebackers to blitz from the position and not play in coverage. He is best playing downhill and can be an aggressive tackler. He didn’t make any flashy plays but was a consistent player. Has good closing speed and uses his hands to fight as an edge. He probably won’t be considered a full-time edge at the pro-level because of his short arms and being undersized at the position. Walker has a lot of elite athletic traits that will be highly valued but will need to get better at coverage to play at linebacker.

Rounds 2 & 3 (Day 2):

Jihad Campbell, Alabama (LB2): A big athlete that can cover ground effiecently. He plays sideline to sideline. He doesn’t guess, he reads the play and reacts. He is tought and plays with a high motor, he has had success blitzing. He was the most productive defender on Alabama’s defense, leading the team in tackles (117), TFLs (11.5), sacks (5), and forced fumbles (2). He led all linebackers at the combine for his shuffle sprint and movement drills. Secure tackler and can move laterally in the run game. He shows promise in zone coverage. Campbell would be a first round player if it weren’t for some medical concerns, a left shoulder injury that requires surgery, which was completed this past March.

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA (LB3): A walk-on at UCLA and only starting his final season. He is an undersized LB that “looks like a WR” according to some NFL scouts. Though if you watch him on film. You will see a player who reads everything quickly and correctly every time. He is a tackle machine, missing less than 7% of his tackles. Plays great down hill and follows the QBs eyes. He knows route concepts and reads it and reacts quickly. He flashed a bit better as a blitzer late in the season. He played plenty of special team snaps his first two seasons at UCLA. Schwesinger has the mental processing ability to be a four-down starter early in his NFL career.

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma (LB4): A big athlete at the LB position. He plays with enough speed and physicality. He plays best coming down hill, blitzing from the LB spot. He is effective hitting the A-gap and coming down on the run/pass. If he is in zone, he plays his best when following the QB. He can be overly aggressive coming downhill. He is not a sideline to sideline player, and reacts slowly to outside movement. Stutsman needs to develop more as a LB in coverage to be more utilized at the pro-level.

Rounds 4-7 (Day 3):

Chris Paul Jr, Ole Miss (LB8): Seemingly always around the ball. A twitchy athlete that plays fast and can be physical. He makes a lot of tackles but needs to work on zone coverage. He runs a bit stiff and can over commit and fall to cutbacks. He plays best down hill and had 35 run stops. Plays fierce as a tackler. Paul needs to develop a lot in zone coverage and sticking with the man coverage. He allowed an 82% completion rate in his area.

Kobe King, Penn State (LB9): A tackle machine and physical hitter all over the field. He plays like an old school linebacker with his violent play style and desire to lay the big hit. He relies on his eyes and timing to impact the run game. He is best playing down hill to deliver the blow on runners. He needs to develop more in coverage. He is a physical athlete. King will be drafted for his play style but will be targeted by offenses for his pass coverage deficiencies, but his ability to lay the hitstick will be too desired to pass up.

Shemar James, Florida (LB10): A fast and persistent player, who says he models his game after Patrick Queen. He comes downhill and plays with a good burst and can cut off running back angles. He uses his speed as his biggest weapon as he hits the hole. The speed works to make up for his late diagnosis of a play. He will misread it and go the wrong way, and come sprinting in late to the party. One of the youngest players in the draft, will turn 21 by week one. James has a lot to develop as a player but has the technique to develop and given his age, there’s a lot to mold from.

Teddye Buchanan, California (LB11): A good physical blitzer. His talents may be better utilized as an outside linebacker. He doesn’t always read the play in a timely manner but when he locks in he makes up with great closing speed. He can flip his hips and reach the landmark quickly. But that is only when he’s not stuck up on blockers. Buchanan will project as a special teamer with his physical traits standing out and his ability to play with a high IQ.

Jack Kiser, Notre Dame (LB14): A 6 year player, will be 25 years old as a rookie. He is solid run defender and consistent tackler. He is limited as an athlete but is always available with 70 games played at Notre Dame. He accounted for 975 career special teams snaps. He can cover a lot of ground and moves smoothly. Kiser can make a career for himself as a special teamer and will get drafted for his great IQ and his high work ethic. An NFL GM said that it is clear when interviewing him, that Kiser is an “A-Plus human being.”

Cornerbacks

There are plenty of potential prospects every year trying to play one of the most difficult positions in the NFL. Needing the ability to read and react quickly and have the rangy athleticism to keep up with quick receivers. The ability to catch passes has become more and more of a desired trait.

There are some good athletes in this class, with some good ball-hawks. There is a good share of small corners who have great athletic ability. Usually height is needed at this position but the traits might be too good to pass up.

Round 1 (Day 1):

Travis Hunter, Colorado (CB1): A electric athlete that will be valued high in this draft. The Heisman trophy winner should be considered a full-time cornerback with some special wide receiver packages. He is a great reader of the QB eyes and plays best in zone coverage. He stays close on crossing routes. He is described as loyal and grounded. He is a lean player and can be out bodied by bigger receivers. He has had a share of injuries, missed three games (2023) because of a lacerated liver from a late hit in a game. Also had a right ankle injury (2021) that required surgery. Hunter is one of the best athletes in this draft and should be the #1 player on the board.

Jahdae Barron, Texas (CB2): At 5’11” there isn’t desired size at the position and he may get stuck at slot corner in the NFL. Regardless he makes plays on the ball, and gets pass deflections with 16 his final year at Texas. He is a fluid athlete and has natural feet. He isn’t explosive but has enough speed. He played outside corner on both sides. Three career TDs, blocked punt, pick-6 and punt return. He is not afraid to tackle but sometimes takes poor angles. Barron desires to be the “juice for the defense” and wants to make big plays to impact the game always.

Shavon Revel Jr, East Carolina (CB3): This is the best cover corner in the entire draft, he should be a top-5 pick. But a torn ACL and partial meniscus tear in practice sidelined him for the large majority of his final season. Stacking that with a plethora of injuries in years prior. He will be 24 on draft weekend. Otherwise there aren’t any negatives here, he carries routes tightly and reacts quickly. He is not afraid to make a tackle. He can catch up and cover ground quickly. Revel is a bully on the boundary and will use his speed and length to be impactful in the NFL.

Will Johnson, Michigan (CB4): In 2023, he had a great season and topped it with a National Championship Defensive MVP. He had a down year in 2024 but that entire team had a down year. He dealt with a foot injury to miss the final six games. He is a great athlete and has a good nose for the ball. Plays with a gambler mentality, jumps routes but is killed on double moves. He is not straight line fast and needs to play in a zone. Johnsons speed will make him fall down some boards but his ball skills makes him worth a fist round pick.

Rounds 2 & 3 (Day 2):

Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (CB5): A small framed corner, will play in the NFL slot. A good athlete with exceptional ball skills. He reads the QBs eyes and confident when making plays at catch point. Will get beat by more physical corners. Has seen a lot of athletic success with four older brothers who were all Division I athletes. He had a season ending hip surgery which is his second in four years. Morrison has the ability to stay close to routes and come off the edge as a nickel blitzer, as long as he stays healthy his versatile set can work in the NFL.

Trey Amos, Ole Miss (CB6): Impressive height, weight and speed. He plays aggressive and times his attacks on the ball well. He doesn’t allow many TDs just two on 32 receptions. He may get bullied by bigger receivers at the pro level. He also played on punt return coverage all 5 seasons (562 snaps). He plays his best when he is in press man coverage and can shadow receivers. Amos had a great final season with 16 pass deflections and 3 interceptions.

Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (CB8): Good sized corner, he isn’t the fastest but recovers well from missteps and rarely gets beat over the top. He uses his length and carry the WR across the field. He likes to play press man coverage and has played against plenty of good talent. He is more of a coverage guy than ballhawk. Thomas is the younger brother of pro safety Juanyeh Thomas and his continued development is encouraging. He allowed just 17 catches on 33 targets.

Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky (CB9): A lanky corner who had the best speed at the combine, 4.28 40-yard dash. Plays with enough deep speed to carry routes and make up lost ground. Likes to go for the ball and uses big speed to take INTs back to the house. Led SEC in INTs in 2023. Can be overaggressive and handsy on double moves. Poor tackler. Flashes closing burst to attack on throws. Makes good adjustments on the ball. Hairston needs to improve as a tackler, otherwise he has the tools to become a solid starting corner.

Mello Dotson, Kansas (CB10): A better operator in zone coverage, his footwork is smooth. He plays best down in the flats. He finds the football and disrupts the pass. He doesn’t go for tackles much. He finished with 38 consecutive starts. He will get beat over top with poor long speed. Dotson plays as a tall corner and needs to refine some skills but has great instincts for offense and reacts accordingly.

Darian Porter, Iowa State (CB11): Ranked and recruited as a top wide receiver, he made the transfer to cornerback his junior year. He is a good speed athlete, playing mainly outside with tight man coverage. He has good recovery speed. He is a fluid mover and it casts well with a wide net and long arms. Played 970 career special team snaps. Limited playing time and experience, didn’t log first start until sixth college season. Porter will be targeted by NFL teams for his great ball skills and just needs to improve his zone coverage ability.

Rounds 4-7 (Day 3):

Zy Alexander, LSU (CB13): Uses length in press man coverage. He smothers routes and makes it difficult for WR to separate. He needs to win early because he lacks speed to keep up. He’s a willing tackler but sometimes goes too low. Good spatial awareness in run defense. Affects the catch point. Alexander may be viewed as a safety by some NFL teams because of his speed deficiency but good coverage abilities.

Quincy Riley (CB15): Great athletic traits and will stay strapped as a man-to-man corner. He is competitive in coverage and gets his hands on the ball. 14+ PBUs last two seasons. He had multiple interceptions the past 5 seasons, with 403 career interception return yards. He will be limited to the slot at 5’11”. He is an aggressive tackler but misses at times. He has great speed and can recover quickly. Riley had less than 5% career snaps in the slot, so it will be learning a new position or be extremely undersized on the outside.

Alijah Huzzie, North Carolina (CB16): Another slot restricted corner because of the height. But has tremendous ball skills. He catches the ball with ease (16 career INTs) and has on-ball production. Moves his with body control and balance. He has good patience and reads the WR well. Though he can baited into early contact. Huzzies athleticism and coverage skills will get noticed by NFL scouts and should be considered for a nickel spot.

Jacob Parish, Kansas State (CB17): Plays with good footwork and has quickness to close. Willing tackler. He is a 5’10” corner and will be restricted to the slot in the NFL. He doesn’t fall for the double move and plays smart. Uses physical play style to disrupt routes. Parish will be a solid nickel corner prospect at the NFL level, he is a good mover and has the foundation of a solid starter.

Safeties

An under valued role in the NFL draft. This is usually a position that takes time to develop. Usually you need to have a lot of good traits to be taken high in the NFL draft as a safety.

Starks stands out as a do it all safety but the rest of group features some good ball hawks and tacklers that need a few things to develop to be impactful at the pro level. This class also features some great players that are undersized.

Round 1 (Day 1):

Malaki Starks, Georgia (SAF1): The do it all safety can be plugged into every position in the secondary and even play as a small linebacker. He described himself as a “playmaker” in his freshman season and has shown that all three years at Georgia. When making plays on the ball, he can wow you with his hands. Can play against the run and diagnose plays quickly post-snap. Great communicator and lines up the defense. Plays like a Brian Branch role. Can be over aggressive at times. Starks should be considered as a first round pick, but his range could be all over the round as safety isn’t necessarily a highly valued spot.

Rounds 2 & 3 (Day 2):

Andrew Mukuba, Texas (SAF2): A breakout season and major improvements from last year at Clemson. He plays both safety spots and is always around the ball. He shines more in cover two and playing down near the line of scrimmage. Looks fast coming down hill and is a consistent tackler. Plays with good route recognition. Mukuba has an undersized body for the position but looking at just his senior year, he is a top player in this draft.

Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (SAF3): A true safety that can play both roles. He will play down in the box or roam a deep zone. He follows the QB with his eyes and has great reaction times. He is not a freak athlete but will continue to make plays all over the field. With multiple INTs and PDs, it seems the ball is always finding him. Watts will project best as a split zone safety that he shares a deep back field with so he can rotate down at times.

Kevin Winston Jr, Penn State (SAF4): With a partial ACL tear in September he missed a large majority of his final season. He is an active tackler and has a good back pedal. His coverage abilities are average and can be tricked up on play-action. Only one career interception. Takes on contact well and can be physical guarding tight ends. Winston needs to develop coverage skills to be an NFL starter.

Rounds 4-7 (Day 3):

Billy Bowman Jr, Oklahoma (SAF7): A short ballhawk. He always seems to get his hand on the ball. 11 INTS in 3 seasons. He is at his best when playing the deep better. Has background as a WR and it shows. He has a tough time finishing as a tackler and will get swarmed up in blocks. Has experience playing on kick and pun return. Bowman is not the desired NFL safety size, but his IQ and ability to get after the ball will intrigue teams.

Sebastian Castro, Iowa (SAF9): Not a super athletic, fast guy. But he reads the QB well and is smart at taking angles on tackles. He had a much better 2023 season than his 2024 which can scare NFL scouts away. Instinctive player and throws his body into tackles. He has the ability to be a great special teamer in NFL for his tackling abilities. Castro could fit in as a big nickel corner in some NFL schemes as long as he doesn’t go against speed.