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2025 NFL Draft Preview: The Best Cornerbacks Not Named Travis Hunter

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar17/04/2025 - 10:40 am
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Will Johnson of Michigan speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The 2025 NFL Draft is filled with potential, even if the overall class doesn’t rank quite as high as 2024 did. We started our look at defense with the top linebackers and safeties earlier this week, but the cornerbacks are considered a stronger position in this class.

That’s even when you don’t consider Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner who still thinks he can play both corner and wide receiver full time in the NFL. But we’ll analyze him next week. Today, this is just about the other top corners.

It’s clearly one of the key positions in the NFL. We’re not going to get into the pass rush vs. coverage argument today, but in an ideal world, you have a little of both at a high level on your defense. The Eagles sure made corner a priority last year when they drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, with the latter making a huge pick-six in the Super Bowl rout over the Chiefs.

You can never have enough good cornerbacks in the NFL, so it’s a position worth drafting in any round to give yourself another opportunity at finding a good one.

Fortunately, this draft has eight cornerbacks ranked in the top 50 overall prospects at NFL Mock Draft Database, and that includes Hunter at No. 2 overall. We’re going to look at those other seven prospects and find a good landing spot for them in the NFL next week.

1. Will Johnson (Michigan) – No. 12 Overall Prospect

Most teams are going to miss out on the Travis Hunter sweepstakes, with him favored to go No. 2 overall. But for a lot of people, Michigan’s Will Johnson is the “next best” corner in this draft as a 3-year starter. He might get dinged on draft boards for a turf toe injury last October that limited his final collegiate season.

But he intercepted nine passes in college, returned a third of them for touchdowns, and he has decent size at 6’2” and 194 pounds. He’s catching some flak for not running the 40 even at a private workout. The truth is he’s not going to test elite athletically and is more instinctual, which isn’t a bad thing at a position like corner. You want someone who can diagnose what the play is going to be, and Johnson has a good pedigree for that.

The 40 can be painfully overrated as a metric since you rarely need to run 40 yards in a straight line in the NFL. Is Johnson fast enough for the NFL?  Yeah, I’d say so.

Best Fit – Miami Dolphins (No. 13 Pick)

There’s an interesting market for Will Johnson as his draft position at Bet365 is favored to go over 11.5 (-230 odds). He has +170 odds to go in the top 10, so it’s not impossible that the Bears (No. 10) would take him, and you could say the same about the Panthers (No. 8) or Saints (No. 9) even if it’s not likely. This is a great range of the draft where teams go a little nutty, though, and I’m not just saying that because of Michael Penix Jr. last year.

But the Cowboys could be in the market for Johnson at No. 12. They need help on defense, but some are mocking a wide receiver to them.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Will Johnson of Michigan speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Dolphins are getting frequently connected to Johnson at No. 13, and the news this week is only going to strengthen that after corner Jalen Ramsey is reportedly seeking a trade. In fact, it’s reported as mutual interest between Ramsey and the team, so maybe the Dolphins want to move him and go forward with Johnson as their new CB1.

It’s hard not to like this pick if Ramsey is on the move because then you’d be looking at a Miami depth chart of cornerbacks with Storm Duck, Kader Kohou (slot), Cam Smith, Artie Burns, and Ethan Bonner. Not great, Bob.

When you play in that conference with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and several others, you better have some kind of threat at corner to make those quarterbacks at least think about wanting to look elsewhere that week.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 17: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in action during the second half of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida.
(Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

If Johnson slips past Miami, you have to think the Falcons (No. 15), Cardinals (No. 16), and Bengals (No. 17) would be giddy about acquiring him. The Colts (No. 14) should probably beat them to the punch, even if they paid Charvarius Ward more money than they probably needed to this offseason.

But I’ll go with the Miami fit.

2. Jahdae Barron (Texas) – No. 14 Overall Prospect

While Travis Hunter was the Heisman Trophy winner, you have to give some props to Jahdae Barron winning the Jim Thorpe award, which goes to the best defensive back in the nation. He’s the third Texas player to win it, joining Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006). Neither was a stud in the NFL, but they weren’t terrible either.

Some experts prefer Barron to Will Johnson in this class. Barron is smaller (5’11”), likely faster (4.39-second 40-yard dash), but even as a 5-year player at Texas, he had one fewer interception (8) than Johnson had in fewer games played.

But Barron is coming off his best season just in time for the draft. He’s being treated as a big nickel corner rather than someone you line up outside the numbers and play man coverage with, but there are some interesting numbers from 2024 (juiced by his five picks and no touchdowns allowed) that argue against that:

Might be a sample-size issue there with minimal man-coverage snaps compared to zone, but Barron looks coachable to fit in a variety of roles if need be in the NFL.

Best Fit – Green Bay Packers (No. 23 Pick)

Interestingly enough, Barron’s draft position at Bet365 heavily favors over 18.5 (-210), meaning none of those teams who just missed the playoffs and could use a corner upgrade (Colts, Falcons, Cardinals, Bengals, Seahawks) will choose to take him in that 14-18 range.

Maybe that’s the case, but where does he go? It’s hard to see him lasting beyond the Packers at No. 23 as Green Bay seems close to ready to move on from the Jaire Alexander era at corner. They have to defend Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson in that division, too.

The Buccaneers could be interested at No. 19 for a physical nickel corner. The Broncos (No. 20) keep getting linked to running backs, though pairing Barron with Patrick Surtain II might not be a bad idea in a division where you have to make Patrick Mahomes hold the ball longer if you’re ever going to beat the Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 21: Referee Carl Cheffers #51 speaks to Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs during a break in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

The Rams would probably feel like they hit the lottery if Barron lasted until the No. 26 pick, as they remember how much they like having a first-round pick again after years of trades.

But in the end, I think the Packers would take Barron if he was available.

3. Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) – No. 36 Overall Prospect

Possibly moving into second-round prospects, Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston is freakishly fast with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at 5’11”. He’s one of the most athletic cornerbacks in the combine era:

But playing at Kentucky, Hairston didn’t enjoy a lot of great team success. Still, he’s a fluid corner with good instincts. He just needs to work on being more physical and tackling better.

Best Fit – Washington Commanders (No. 29 Pick)

Once you get past Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron, the next five corners are tightly bunched together in that 36-46 range in terms of prospect ranks, so you could see a run on them late in the first round and into the early second. Separating them from each other should be fun to watch, but Hairston’s speed obviously gives him an edge.

But if you’re looking at which team would want a speedy corner here, you have to consider the Commanders at No. 29 in a division with the likes of Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, DeVonta Smith, and A.J. Brown.

Maybe the Commanders go with an edge rusher in that spot, but their pick really should focus on defense in the first round. That gives Hairston a real shot, but I’ll understand if they go another direction too.

4. Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina) – No. 37 Overall Prospect

You start looking for reasons why these prospects have slid or how they can separate from one another in a crowded part of the draft, and something like a torn ACL last year is the question mark for Shavon Revel Jr. out of East Carolina. Maybe he’s a no-brainer first-round pick without that injury.

He only played 24 games in college, but you’re talking about a good athlete with size (6’2”) and he was off to a great start before the injury in 2024. You get a rare combo of size, speed, and someone who can play different coverage schemes.

Best Fit – Buffalo Bills (No. 30 Pick)

If there’s not an edge rusher available, the Buffalo Bills have to consider a pick like Revel at No. 30. They’re used to injured corners, but the key is to have them healthy for the playoffs. Revel will be fine come September. When you play in the AFC, you need to take away some impressive passing options for those top quarterbacks. I’d strongly consider the corner for Buffalo.

If not, then Revel shouldn’t last past No. 40 when the Saints draft. They need young building blocks in a lot of places on that roster.

5. Trey Amos (Mississippi) – No. 39 Overall Prospect

Trey Amos is already 23 years old, so he’s a little older than most of the 2025 draft prospects. He spent three years at Louisiana (2020-22) before going to Alabama for a year to play for Nick Saban, and he went to Ole Miss for his final college season in 2024.

You’re looking at a corner with solid size, a so-so athletic profile, but he’ll be tough and can defend the deep ball well.

Best Fit – Arizona Cardinals (No. 47 Pick)

Amos should go in the top 50 picks, and if you’re the Cardinals at No. 47, I think you have to pull the trigger. You’re in that division with Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Brandon Aiyuk, Cooper Kupp, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. You need someone who won’t shy away from those matchups and slow those players down with tight coverage.

6. Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) – No. 43 Overall Prospect

Azareye’h Thomas already has some NFL genes as his brother is safety Juanyeh Thomas, who plays for the Cowboys. But Thomas is only going on 21 years old and has decent size at 6’1”.

The knock on him will be speed as he didn’t test well, running a 4.58 second 40-yard dash. But many believe his tape is better than those numbers, and he didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage last year.

Best Fit – Cincinnati Bengals (No. 49 Pick)

We know the Bengals need defense and offensive line help more than anything. In fact, they’d be crazy not to use their first few picks on those positions. But at No. 49, if Thomas is still there, then they should consider a corner with good length and an ability to apply some sticky coverage to some of those bigger receivers in the division, like George Pickens, DK Metcalf, and tight end Mark Andrews (Ravens).

It’s even possible the Cowboys take him at No. 44 and reunite him with his brother.

7. Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) – No. 46 Overall Prospect

The last of our top 2025 cornerbacks, Benjamin Morrison, was a 3-year starter at Notre Dame with an instant impact in 2022 when he intercepted six passes. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending hip injury after six games last year, so he didn’t get to participate in his team’s run to the national championship gam,e where they lost to the Buckeyes.

Morrison’s tackling has been dinged as well as his ability to quickly react to short throws, but he could be an asset against the deep ball and has those good ball skills.

His father is Darryl Morrison, who was an NFL safety for the Redskins in 1993-96.

Best Fit – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 53 Pick)

He shouldn’t slip past the Lions at No. 60 as that defense could certainly use the corner help. But I think in the NFC South, you have to face some big wideouts like Chris Olave, Drake London, and Xavier Legette. The Buccaneers seem like the right defense that can make use of Morrison in zone coverage and protecting from the big plays, while maybe getting some easy picks.

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Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar17/04/2025 - 10:40 am