Cornerbacks
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. Will Johnson, Michigan
3. Jahdae Barron, Texas
4. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
5. Shavon Revel Jr, ECU
Hunter is the consensus #1 CB and the #1 overall player on most boards (including mine) very athletic with the size, cover skills, and hands to be a #1 CB and even contribute at WR. Johnson has good size, cover skills, and athleticism, as well, with #1 CB potential playing a physical style where teams believe he could play Safety; compared to Patrick Surtain II (Broncos). Barron is a fast, physical inside/outside CB coming off winning the award for top college DB, ideal nickel CB with #2 potential. Morrison is a physical CB with good cover skills and a willing hitter, inside/outside CB with #2 potential. Revel is a tall 6’3, physical DB with good speed and coverage skills, comes with injury concerns and needs to add weight/strength; missed most of the 2024 season.
Safeties
1. Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
2. Malaki Starks, Georgia
3. Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
4. Billy Bowman Jr, Oklahoma
5. Andrew Mukuba, Texas
I usually stick to what I see on film, but after the NFL Combine Emmanwori is the top Safety showing true speed and athleticism as a possible movable piece with the size to play LB and the ability to cover TE’s. Linebacker might be his best position, needs to improve consistency and technique. Starks is an athletic coverage safety and willing hitter, but I believe he may be best as a big CB; could be a movable piece. Watts is a physical player and willing hitter with good coverage skills but lacks top speed and needs to add strength/weight, best for zone coverage or as a box safety. Bowman is a smart, physical DB with solid coverage skills playing sideline to sideline, but he lacks length and top speed. Mukuba is a physical, hard-hitting DB with good coverage skills, but he’s built more like a CB needs to add weight/strength and clean up technique; may be the ideal nickel CB/movable piece.
