2027 NFL Draft Preseason Rankings - CB

The potential 2027 NFL Draft CB class could be loaded next spring with seven prospects earning preseason top 50 grades. In particular, the top three CBs look like potential number one CBs in the NFL with Notre Dame's Leonard Moore earning a top ten 2027 NFL Draft ranking headed into this fall.

1. Leonard Moore / Notre Dame

2025 Statistics

31 tackles / 1 Forced Fumble / 5 INT (1 TD) / 7 Passes Defensed

Moore has starred at CB since the moment he walked on campus in South Bend and is one of the best players, regardless of position, in the nation. Moore's combination of size (6'2" / 197 lbs), length, ball skills, and closing burst make him a potential future Pro Bowl-level player. Moore has recorded 7 INTs and 18 passes defensed over his first two seasons and projects as a top ten pick next spring.

Area for Improvement - Moore is more of a drag down tackler and needs to improve his core strength and become a more reliable tackler against the run.

2. Ellis Robinson / Georgia

2025 Statistics

20 tackles /.5 TFL / 4 INT / 7 Passes Defensed

Robinson, a former 5-star recruit, has been an impact player since he arrived on campus and is coming off his first season as a starter where he really stood out as a sophomore. Robinson has prototypical height and length (6'0" / 180 lbs) and is able to shadow even the slickest of route runners in man coverage. Robinson loks like a first-round lock in either 2027 or 2028.

Area for Improvement - Robinson is very thin and has difficulty handling strong WRs on the perimeter. Robinson needs to add bulk, and more importantly, strength before he gets to the NFL.

3. Zabien Brown / Alabama

2025 Statistics

39 tackles / 2.5TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 2 INT (2 TD) / 6 Passes Defensed

Brown was a huge recruiting win two years ago for the Tide and after his productive sophomore season last year, Brown is on the cusp of stardom. Brown possesses an ideal combination of size (6'0" / 196 lbs), length, quickness, and ball skills to profile as an NFL team's number one CB. Brown has 5 INTs and 8 passes defensed last season and if he repeats that performance, Brown looks like a first-round pick next year.

Area for Improvement - Brown needs to improve his down-to-down performance and avoid lapses in coverage that have haunted him throughout his career.

4. Kelley Jones / Mississippi State

2025 Statistics

34 tackles /  2 INT / 11 Passes Defensed

Jones has a rare combination of size (6'4" / 195 lbs), length, and speed not typically seen in a CB. Jones is reportedly the fastest player on the Bulldogs' roster and started to display the ball skills and playmaking skill that is valued in the NFL. Jones looks like a potential top 50 prospect once declares for the NFL Draft.

Area for Improvement - Jones needs to add some bulk to improve his tackling ability. The bigger concern is whether or not Jones has the hip fluidity to stick with quick WRs in space. If his movement skills pass mustard, Jones is a likely top 20 pick. But that is a big if.

5. Christian Gray / Notre Dame

2025 Statistics

17 tackles / 2 INT / 11 Passes Defensed

One third of arguably the best trio of CBs in college football (along with Moore and DJ McKinney), Gray will most likely play in the slot this season in South Bend. But Gray is an experienced, and productive CB with the size (6'0" / 186 lbs) and ball skills (6 INTs, with 1 TD, and 22 passes defensed over his three-year stay in South Bend) to be deployed on both big and small WRs. 

Areas for Improvement - As productive of a ball hawk that Gray is, he leaves a lot of production on the turf…literally. Gray has at least 5 dropped INTs in his career. 

6. Jermaine Mathews / Ohio State

2025 Statistics

26 tackles / 1 sack / 1.5 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 2 INT / 3 Passes Defensed

There is no CB in the nation that is quicker and more agile than Mathews. Flashes as a playmaker and when he is on his game, can ride the hip of any WR in college football. Mathews has the length and closing burst to man the outside with the experience and agility for slot duties.

Areas for Improvement - The biggest issue with Mathews is his inconsistent performance against the better competition he faced last year - he struggled in season-ending losses lined up against Elijah Sarratt (IU / Ravens) and Malachi Toney (Miami, Fl).

7. Brice Pollock / Texas Tech

2025 Statistics

48 tackles / 4 TFL / 5 INT / 8 Deflected Passes

Pollock (6'0" / 195 lbs) is entering his third year as a starter and he possesses prototypical size, length, and wingspan for an outside CB. Polllock is a physical run defender who brings his pads on contact and is a productive ball athlete wit 6 INTs and 17 passes defensed over the last two seasons.

Area for Improvement - There are still some concerns regarding his speed and ability to stick with WRs on vertical routes. Pollock also could use a bit more core strength to improve his tackling ability against bigger WRs and RBs

8. Jalen Mayo / Houston

2025 Statistics

48 tackles / 3.5 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 4 INT

Mayo (6'2" / 190 lbs) transfers up to Houston from FCS power Stephen F. Austin after posting outstanding statistics last season. Mayo has ideal height, length, and wingspan for an outside CB and appears to be physically up to the challenge of covering Big 12 WRs this fall.

Area for Improvement - Mayo is stepping up in competition so there will likely be an adjustment period before he is fully effective. Mayo's top-end speed is still a question mark that likely will not be answered until the combine next spring.

9. Evan Johnson / BYU

2025 Statistics

38 tackles / 1 sack /  2 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 5 INT (1 TD) / 8 Passes Defensed

A prospect that many scouts are still sleeping on is the BYU senior. Johnson (6'0" / 185 lbs) is coming off his first full year as a starter in Provo and his length, wingspan, and ball skills make him one of the most intriguing CB prospects in the nation.

Area for Improvement - Johnson is very thin, lacks musculature, and is not nearly strong enough - he can too easily be pushed off routes by a physical or savvy WR.

10. Jyaire Hill / Michigan

2025 Statistics

36 tackles / 1 sack / 3 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 1 INT / 5 Passes Defensed

Hill (6'2" / 190 lbs) is entering his third year starting for the Wolverines and he has a great combination of size, length, wingspan, agility, and closing burst to become a number one CB in the NFL.

Area for Improvement - Hill's flashes are elite but the consistency needed has not yet manifested itself. Hill needs to play the ball in the air better as he has a tendency to face guard in jump ball situations.

Watch List - Zeke Berry / Michigan, Smith Snowden / Michigan, OJ Frederique / Miami, Fl, Ethan O'Connor / Miami, Fl, Xavier Lucas / Miami, Fl, DJ McKinney / Notre Dame, Tre Bell / Michigan State, Jontez Williams / USC, Christian Harrison / Arkansas, Jeremiah Cooper / Penn State, Zion Tracy / Penn State, Jamari Sharpe / Indiana, AJ Harris / Indiana, Deshaun Lee / Iowa, and Xavier Scott / Illinois.