We’re through the first round of the College Football Playoff and bowl season is in full swing. Most of these prospects have finished putting out tape in their college careers, so it’s time for me to officially unveil my updated position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Today I’m ranking my top 10 cornerbacks, and this might be the deepest position group in this entire draft. There isn’t a surefire blue-chip prospect at the top, but I have first-round grades on five prospects, with the rest of my top 10 receiving Day 2 grades. There are some notable names that didn’t make my top 10, which just goes to show how deep this group is.

If you’d like to check out my other updated position rankings, you can do so below:

• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Edge Rushers
• Linebackers

1: Mansoor Delane, LSU

A three-star recruit from Maryland, Delane spent the first three seasons of his career at Virginia Tech, hitting the ground running for the Hokies. As a true freshman, he had 38 tackles, an interception, eight passes defensed and two forced fumbles, earning honorable mention All-ACC recognition. As a sophomore, Delane posted 54 tackles, an interception, and a pass defensed. His junior season was his best in Blacksburg, as he had 54 tackles, four interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles, making third-team All-ACC and transferring to LSU after the season. In his first year with the Tigers, Delane had 45 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed, earning consensus first-team All-SEC honors and vaulting his name up draft boards.

Standing at 6-0, 190 pounds, Delane is a little small for a cornerback by NFL standards. He uses that to his advantage, however, with all-world change-of-direction abilities and movement skills. It doesn’t matter how fast he or the receiver is going, because Delane can turn on a dime with incredibly smooth hips and elite footwork to stay sticky in coverage. Combined with his excellent recovery speed, it means he’s never out of a play and can pivot and react to passes that the quarterback would never expect him to be able to make a play on.

As a zone defender, Delane plays with excellent positioning and awareness. He can track multiple routes with ease and plays off the quarterback well, jumping routes for easy picks and shutting down his area. At the catch point, he consistently rakes through the receiver’s arms to break up passes even if he can’t get his hands on the football. He’s a good run defender, too, delivering big hits and sticking to his assignments without getting out of position.

Delane’s size limitations can show up on occasion, notably when he’s fighting bigger receivers at the catch point. Savvy players with size can box him out and there’s not much he can do about it. His aggression can also be used against him at times, as he bites on double moves a little too often and can get burned for it. Delane also doesn’t have elite top-end speed and could get outrun by true vertical burners at the next level, though he’s not slow by any means.

I liked Delane’s tape more than I expected over the summer, and he outdid himself as a senior at LSU. He probably would have been a Day 2 pick last year had he decided to declare, but his decision to transfer earned him a lot of money, as he’s a surefire first-round pick now. Cornerbacks with Delane’s versatility in zone and man coverage are incredibly valuable, and he’d be such a natural fit in a variety of NFL defenses. A top 15 player on my board, Delane will likely be the first corner taken in the draft.

2: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

A three-star high school recruit from Texas, McCoy committed to Oregon State where he played right away as a true freshman, with 31 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defensed. After the season, he transferred to Tennessee and dominated as a sophomore, earning consensus first-team All-SEC and second-team All-American honors with 44 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defensed. Unfortunately, McCoy tore his ACL back in January during offseason training and did not play at all in 2025, despite initial expectations that he could return midseason.

At 6-0, 193 pounds, McCoy plays under control at all times. With smooth hips and fluid transition abilities, he’s sticky in man coverage, keeping his assignment on lockdown with quick feet and natural reaction skills. In press coverage, he plays with exceptional timing, making initial contact to disrupt the receiver’s route without overextending himself. He has great acceleration and deceleration abilities, matching receivers throughout their routes and easily recovering if he loses a step. At the catch point, McCoy is competitive, using his long arms to break up passes and never giving up on a play.

In zone coverage, McCoy has great awareness, defending multiple routes in his area without losing anyone in traffic. He loves to bait quarterbacks into dangerous throws, using his eyes to manipulate them into attempting throws he’s ready to break on. He has the deep speed to cover the fastest receivers down the field, and plays with that confidence to break on shorter routes knowing he can recover deep if needed. When the ball is in the air, McCoy is able to high-point it like a receiver, showing great ball tracking abilities that are rare for a corner.

McCoy isn’t the greatest run defender, and there are times when he simply doesn’t put in the required effort in those responsibilities. He misses too many tackles and frequently tries to run through ball carriers instead of properly wrapping them up. He can be a little grabby at times, drawing flags in college with habits that will certainly be penalized more frequently in the NFL. But of course, the biggest question mark on his scouting report is his ACL tear. McCoy’s medicals will be crucial for teams to suss out before the draft, and that will be the biggest factor in determining his draft range.

Just based on the tape alone, McCoy is a certified first-round pick. His natural athleticism, ball skills, and technique will all play in the NFL, and he has the looks of a guy who can shadow No. 1 receivers in the NFL. But the potential medical red flags are cause for concern. It’s entirely possible that McCoy was extra cautious coming back from his injury to preserve his draft stock, but if it is a lingering issue, that will give teams pause.

3: Malik Muhammad, Texas

A four-star recruit from Texas, Muhammad established himself immediately for the Longhorns as a true freshman, racking up 32 tackles, an interception and four passes defensed. As a sophomore, he upped his production with 36 tackles and eight passes defensed on a loaded Texas defense. As a junior, Muhammad kept up his momentum, being named second-team All-SEC with 30 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defensed and a sack.

Standing at 6-0, 188 pounds, Muhammad is a supreme athlete, smooth as butter in his transitions and with exceptional closing speed from off-coverage. Texas plays a ton of Cover 3, and Muhammad is often asked to get depth and collapse down on underneath routes. He does so at an elite level, with great eye discipline and the ability to read and react and otherworldly speeds. When faced with multiple routes in his zone, he plays with great awareness, able to play off more than one receiver at a time and defend his area.

Though he doesn’t get a chance to showcase it often, Muhammad has great man coverage skills. His athleticism translates to one-on-one assignments, with the deep speed to easily cover any receiver he faces and the short-area twitch to mirror shifty receivers through multiple breaks without losing stride. He’s comfortable playing in the slot or even moonlighting at safety, and he has the ability to excel in both man and zone coverages. Against the run, Muhammad plays strong despite his frame, making sure tackles and funneling the action back inside.

For as much as Texas’ scheme asks him to play conservatively, Muhammad adds to that with his own habits. He opens up his hips vertically too early, giving up way too much cushion underneath for easy completions. His ball skills could use some work, as he gets his hands on a lot of passes but rarely comes down with interceptions. And as much as he is a solid run defender, he does sometimes go for the big hit over the secure tackle.

His college production won’t jump off the page, but Muhammad is an excellent prospect. I have a solid first-round grade on him, which is definitely higher than consensus. I love his physical tools and his advanced route recognition — he’s comfortable in both man and zone schemes and has the versatility to be a plug-and-play guy in any NFL defense. If he goes outside the top 50, someone will be getting an absolute steal.

4: Avieon Terrell, Clemson

A three-star recruit from Atlanta and the younger brother of Falcons CB AJ Terrell, the younger Terrell was a part-time starter as a true freshman in 2023 before moving into a full starting position as a sophomore. That year, he had 58 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a sack, making the second-team All-ACC. He had quite the encore as a junior, totaling 48 tackles, nine passes defensed, five forced fumbles and three sacks, being named first-team All-ACC for the first time in his career.

At 5-11, 180 pounds, Terrell is yet another small cornerback in this class. But he plays as physical as any corner I’ve scouted, punishing ball carriers in run support with routine highlight-reel hits. Eight career forced fumbles is a ludicrous number for a corner. He doesn’t play physical just in run support, though, leveling big hits at the catch point to dislodge the ball and break up passes. Terrell is a smooth mover with excellent transition abilities, mirroring receivers through their routes with ease. Positioning is one of Terrell’s strengths, as a big part of his high ball production is due to his ability to be in the right place at the right time through a combination of athleticism and technique.

Terrell is excellent at diagnosing plays as they develop, frequently blowing up misdirection plays. With superb change-of-direction skills and plus short-area quickness, he has no issues blanketing receivers throughout their routes and sticking with them through their breaks. He has excellent ball skills, as his box score numbers would suggest, and his ability to force turnovers will be coveted by NFL teams. Additionally, his tenacity at the catch point lets him play bigger than his frame, hounding larger receivers and playing with an extra edge.

For as much as Terrell likes to play physical, he’s the poster boy for going after big plays instead of making the right play. His tackling form needs work and he misses too many because he doesn’t properly wrap up the ball carrier. His smaller frame becomes an issue against big receivers who are comfortable playing through his physicality, and it could be an issue in the NFL in run support as well. Even in coverage, Terrell can get overaggressive and leave himself vulnerable to double moves and fakes.

I have a late first- or early second-round grade on Terrell. He won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for teams looking for a slot corner or who don’t mind taking a smaller outside corner, there’s so much to like on Terrell’s tape. His physicality is infectious to the rest of the defense, and his nose for the football should lead to turnovers at the next level, too. Despite a few question marks on his scouting report, he’s absolutely worth a top 50 pick.

5: Keith Abney II, Arizona State

A three-star recruit from Texas, Abney was a champion speed skater in his youth before playing football and track in high school. After playing mostly on special teams as a true freshman, he stepped into a starting role as a sophomore, totaling 52 tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defensed. As a junior, Abney was named consensus first-team All-Big 12 with 44 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a sack, stuffing the stat sheet in every way imaginable.

Measuring at 6-0, 190 pounds, Abney is an exceptionally fluid athlete. The coordination he gained from his skating background shows up on film, where he just blankets receivers through their routes one-on-one. He offers no purchase to a receiver on his break, cleanly decelerating to prevent separation windows and using his smooth hips to stay attached. With quick feet and great recovery speed, Abney can close passing lanes from off coverage as well, or on the occasions he loses a step throughout the route. A master of using the sideline on vertical routes, he regularly pushes receivers to the boundary and shuts off the water near the sideline.

In zone coverage, Abney plays with his head on a swivel, maintaining route awareness while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. He can bait quarterbacks into throws he can make plays on, and he is good at jumping routes without biting on fakes or double moves. At the catch point, he plays physical and breaks up passes, but he isn’t grabby at the tops of routes. Abney is a willing tackler who flies up in run support to level hits.

For as much as I’ve praised his fluidity, Abney tends to give up too much separation over the middle of the field. He looks a step slow at times and struggles to match receivers making quick turns to get open on a slant or comeback for easy yards. He’s also easily blocked out of plays, even by receivers, and rarely gets off blocks to make tackles. If he makes a play on the ball carrier, it’s likely because he wasn’t blocked.

I have a late-first or early-second-round grade on Abney, and he’s another corner who should go in the top 50. His ability to thrive in man or zone schemes with his athleticism makes him an appealing prospect. Other corners are bigger and better in run support, but you couldn’t ask for a better or more versatile cover guy in this range. Abney will have big fans in draft rooms and could go even higher than this ranking.

6: Chris Johnson, San Diego State

A three-star recruit from California, Johnson was a deep reserve as a true freshman and mostly played special teams as a sophomore, though he did come up with a forced fumble and an interception that year. His breakout season came as a junior in 2024, with 65 tackles, an interception, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles, earning honorable mention All-Mountain West. Johnson totaled 48 tackles, four interceptions, eight passes defensed, a forced fumble and a sack as a senior, earning first-team All-Mountain West recognition and being named the Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Standing at 6-0, 185 pounds, Johnson is an exceptionally skilled zone cornerback. He’s incredible at keeping route awareness in his area while focusing his eyes on the quarterback, baiting them into bad throws and making plays on the ball. His ability to trigger downhill lets him play with a soft cushion without giving up easy yards underneath, as he flies to the football with uncanny speed and is a sure tackler in space. When the ball is in the air, Johnson tracks it well and has strong hands to secure interceptions, leaping with receivers to contest catches and outwork them for the ball.

In man coverage, Johnson has fluid hips to mirror receivers throughout their routes. He plays so under control, never overcommitting and possessing the short-area quickness to stay sticky through a series of cuts and breaks. When asked to play press coverage, he’s patient but physical, disrupting the receiver without lunging or getting out of position. With his history of special teams experience, Johnson can find his way onto the field early in his NFL career, one way or another.

Against the run, Johnson is a victim of his smaller frame at times. He’s both willing and capable in run support, but there are times when he’s just overwhelmed by the blockers or even the ball-carrier, especially in traffic. At the catch point, Johnson is routinely boxed out by bigger receivers, and there isn’t much he can do about it. I also question his deep speed — Johnson may not have the true vertical speed to defend one-on-one down the field consistently, making him a better fit in zone-heavy schemes.

Johnson has a second-round grade from me and if I’m a team looking for a CB2 on Day 2, he would be one of my priority targets. As long as he goes to a spot that will primarily use him in zone coverage, he’ll be extremely effective. His instincts and reaction speed in zone are unparalleled, and he is such a smart football player. Johnson was one of my favorite watches in this class.

7: Daylen Everette, Georgia

A five-star recruit from Norfolk, Virginia, Everette took a surprise redshirt season in 2021 before playing mostly on special teams in 2022. He became a regular defensive contributor in 2023 and really broke out as a redshirt junior in 2024, with 58 tackles, three interceptions, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a sack. Everette was named to the third-team All-SEC after the season and chose to return for a fifth college season despite earning some draft buzz. In 2025, he had 40 tackles, an interception and six passes defensed, earning first-team All-SEC honors.

At 6-1, 190 pounds, Everette is primarily a zone cornerback. He’s comfortable playing multiple positions across the secondary and filling a variety of coverage roles, from deep-field safety to outside corner. With a plus wingspan and great play strength, Everette is a bully at the catch point, consistently winning over bigger receivers through his timing, technique, and tenacity. In zones, he has great awareness and closes quickly on the ball.

Everette has true vertical speed that lets him get depth quickly and shut off deep routes before they materialize. He’s effective in press coverage when asked to play it, disrupting the receiver’s timing with his long arms and hounding him throughout the route. Against the run, Everette shines, playing with a physical edge that sets the tone for the defense and playing his assignments to absolute perfection. There’s a strong argument that he’s the most reliable run defender in this cornerback class.

The reason that Everette might struggle playing man-to-man in the league is his limited flexibility. He’s not the most agile athlete and can struggle to redirect in tight spaces. He gives up consistent underneath separation in man situations. Everette is also fooled by misdirection and double moves routinely, giving up big plays when he doesn’t stick to his assignment. He can make big plays, but needs to play more fundamentally sound at the next level.

I have a Day 2 grade on Everette — he’s a solid secondary cornerback with upside to continue to improve. He’s another corner who will be coveted by zone-heavy teams and maybe avoided by teams that run a lot more man. He’s been one of the anchors on an excellent Georgia defense for years, and that carries weight, too. Everette might not be the most exciting draft pick but he’ll do exactly what’s asked of him.

8: Colton Hood, Tennessee

A Georgia native and three-star high school recruit, Hood redshirted for a year at Auburn before heading to Colorado in 2023. In a rotational role for the Buffaloes, he had 24 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defensed, joining the Volunteers after the season. As a redshirt sophomore in Knoxville, Hood had 50 tackles, an interception, eight passes defensed and a forced fumble, earning second-team All-SEC honors before declaring for the NFL Draft. 

Measuring at 6-0, 195 pounds, Hood is a versatile corner who can play in a variety of schemes. He’s best in man coverage, though, where he can use his plus athleticism and smooth hips to blanket receivers one-on-one. With good top speed and excellent short-area quickness/change-of-direction skills, Hood was built to play man coverage. At the catch point, he has good ball skills, high-pointing the football and playing with a physical edge to disrupt timing.

In press coverage, Hood has great timing on his punches, throwing the timing off and staying in phase with the receiver. In zone, he plays with great anticipation, putting in the work in the film room and showcasing it on game days. Hood has great route awareness and can make plays out of his area, coming off his assignment when he reads a play to surprise the quarterback with his positioning.

Hood struggles in run support, playing with poor tackling technique and often giving up on plays long before they’re over. Runs targeting his side of the field were often successful, and he allowed himself to get walled off by a receiver — if he engaged the block at all. In the open field, Hood struggles to tackle consistently, and he gets very grabby at the tops of routes. That will draw flags in the NFL, even more than it already did in college.

I have a Day 2 grade on Hood, notably lower than consensus. Like a lot of evaluators, I like his traits a lot, but I think he has a long way to go technique-wise and there are a few red flags on his profile. I don’t like his lack of engagement in run support, and right now, his physical tools outstrip his production. He’ll likely go in the top 50 and could be a steal if he continues to develop, but I have enough concerns that I would take him closer to the back end of Round 2 or early Round 3.

9: D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

A high school track star and three-star recruit from Miami, Ponds committed to James Madison where he starred as a true freshman with 52 tackles, two interceptions and 12 passes defensed, earning second-team All-Sun Belt. He followed his head coach, Curt Cignetti, to the Hoosiers in 2024, where he became a national star. Ponds had 55 tackles, three interceptions and nine passes defensed as a sophomore, earning consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors. As a junior, he had 46 tackles, an interception and seven passes defensed, once again being named consensus first-team All-Big Ten.

At 5-9, 170 pounds, Ponds is truly a small cornerback. At that size, he’ll be limited to the slot exclusively in the NFL, but he’s a premier athlete. With elite change-of-direction skills and a blazing fast top speed, Ponds can stay sticky with anyone in man coverage. He has silky-smooth hips and such natural deceleration skills that he rarely cedes any separation, even on quick routes designed to get easy yards. Despite his smaller frame, he plays with intense physicality, flying up in run support to make sure tackles and hounding receivers at the catch point.

In zone coverage, Ponds shows off his intelligence and awareness. He’s great at diagnosing routes and beating receivers to the catch point, but he isn’t overaggressive to the point of getting burned. He plays off multiple routes well and maximizes his leverage, manipulating spacing to gain extra advantages. Against the run, Ponds is extremely fundamentally sound, making the smart play without giving up the sideline, and he’s a sure tackler.

Pretty much all of Ponds’ weaknesses are based on his frame. He can struggle against bigger receivers, particularly in the red zone, and there isn’t much he can do on back-shoulder fades. At times, he can struggle to tackle bigger running backs in space, as he just doesn’t have the weight on him to consistently make those tackles. He may draw more flags with his physicality in the NFL, and this is something he might want to tone down a bit.

If Ponds was two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, he’d rank five spots higher on this list and we’d be talking about him as a first-round pick. As it stands, I’d love to take a chance on him in the third round. He’ll have to transition to the slot in the NFL, but he’s a plus athlete with elite fundamentals. That’s a tried and true combination in football, and Ponds has a propensity for making the big plays in the biggest spots.

10: Xavier Scott, Illinois

A three-star recruit from Florida, Scott saw limited action as a true freshman in 2022 before exploding onto the scene as a sophomore, racking up 57 tackles, two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and a forced fumble. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition and kept it up as a junior, with 49 tackles, four interceptions, six passes defensed, a forced fumble and a sack. Scott was named first-team All-Big Ten as a junior and entered his senior year with substantial hype. Unfortunately, Scott suffered a serious foot injury in the Illini’s third game of the season, undergoing surgery and missing the rest of the season.

Checking in at 5-11, 190 pounds, Scott plays all over the secondary, from safety to outside corner. His best long-term fit is probably in the slot, but that versatility will serve him well. He thrives in zone coverage, baiting quarterbacks into bad throws and suffocating underneath routes. Scott is at his best when he can play downhill, firing to the ball and laying the boom on ball carriers, raking through to break up passes, and diagnosing screens and crossers with uncanny timing and play recognition. He plays bigger than his size, with excellent functional power and the ability to work through blocks to make plays in the run game.

When Scott can keep his eyes on the quarterback, he is a menace, sliding between assignments and erasing multiple routes on the back end. He’s excellent playing off multiple routes and uses leverage and spacing to his advantage. In man coverage, Scott plays under control, mirroring routes well without overcommitting and having the long speed to keep up down the field.

Scott loves to make splash plays and he can get in trouble when he tries to jump routes prematurely. On occasion, he’ll leave his assignment too soon, blowing the coverage if he can’t make the play in time. In man coverage, Scott has some hip stiffness that savvy receivers can exploit, with some discomfort to the way he plays in tight spaces.

Whether you prefer Scott at safety or cornerback, he’s a defensive playmaker who can thrive in any defensive scheme given his positional versatility. He has that dawg in him as a run defender and coaches will love his endearing playstyle and thunderous physicality. While he would be a liability on the outside at the next level, he’s ideally suited to playing the slot. I like Scott as a third-round pick with upside, though his medicals will need to be thoroughly vetted by teams throughout the pre-draft process.