Top Cornerbacks (CB) - 2026 NFL Draft Preseason Watch List

John B. Everett
Aug 19
7 min read

Last year at this time, the 2025 CB class had three outstanding prospects – Travis Hunter (Colorado), Will Johnson (Michigan), and Benjamin Morrison – that were considered potential Top 10 picks. Injuries suffered by Johnson and Morrison caused them to fall in last April’s draft but all three players remain top prospects. The 2026 CB class looks to have plenty of depth but there are no prospects that rank nearly as high as Hunter, who was drafted second overall by the Jaguars. Perhaps no NFL position group’s rankings will be more impacted by the prospect’s performances on the field this fall than the 2026 CB class.

Top of the Class

1. Jermaine Mathews / Ohio State

While watching Ohio State games when scouting Denzel Burke last season (2025 NFL Draft fifth round selection by the Cardinals), it was apparent that the best and most consistent CB on the field was Mathews, who was the Buckeyes’ nickel back. Mathews (5’11” / 190 lbs) is very fast, possesses light feet, loose hips, and great ankle flexion and has the versatility to line up out wide or in the slot. Mathews needs to become more of a playmaker – he did not record any passes defensed or interceptions last season and only has one career INT (returned for a 58-yard TD) and three passes defensed, both recorded in 2023. If Mathews becomes a more productive ball athlete as a starter, he could be the first CB taken next spring.

2. Avieon Terrell / Clemson

Terrell is coming off an outstanding year where he recorded 58 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two INTs, and 12 passes defensed as a sophomore. Terrell, whose brother (AJ) is a starting CB for the Falcons, possesses good height and length (5’11”), long arms, but lacks some desired mass and thickness (180 lbs). He is a very good ball athlete with an outstanding closing burst to close on the ball in coverage. Terrell is a sound and reliable tackler who lacks some strength and falls off some tackle attempts as a result. Terrell’s natural coverage skills make him a likely first-round draft pick in either 2026 or 2027.

3. Jermod McCoy / Tennessee

McCoy is entering his third year as a starter in Knoxville where he has proven to be a worthy number one CB. McCoy has good size (6’0” / 193 lbs) with a sizeable wingspan that assists him in making plays on the ball. McCoy possesses great short area quickness and reaction skills and he has accounted for six INTs and 14 passes defensed over the last two seasons. McCoy is a gamer who enjoys a challenge and plays his best in clutch situations – three of his four INTs from last year were made near the Volunteer’s goal line. McCoy looks like a first-round draft pick next spring.

4. Domani Jackson / Alabama

The senior entered USC in 2022 as a 5-star recruit but struggled to contribute as a freshman and subsequently transferred to Alabama in 2023. His development has been slow but steady and he had his best season yet as a junior in 2024 when he recorded his first two interceptions of his career, as well as a career-high in passes defensed with seven. Jackson looks the part with the size and length (6’1” / 196 lbs) desired at outside CB. Jackson could work himself into first-round consideration with continued improvement as a senior.

5. Tacario Davis / Washington

Davis entered the 2024 season considered a likely first-round draft pick but Davis, like his team last year Arizona, failed to live up to expectations and he entered the transfer portal over the winter. Davis is re-united with coach Jedd Fisch and fellow starting Wildcats CB Ephesians Prysock in Seattle hoping for a bounce back season. Davis possesses rare size for a CB – extremely tall (6’4”) with a huge wingspan and adequate mass (200 lbs). He is proficient at press coverage where he can use his length to suffocate the WR in coverage. His length makes him effective in zone coverage – keys quickly to throws in front of him. Tightness in his hips is exposed when covering quickness in space. Davis has relatively little ball production with only one career INT and only was credited with six passes defensed last season after recording 15 in 2024.

6. Chandler Rivers / Duke

Rivers has been a starter in Durham since his freshman year and has been a steady and reliable playmaker on the perimeter for three seasons. Rivers has average size (5’10” / 185 lbs) for an outside CB and his future may be as a slot CB in the NFL. Rivers is a highly productive prospect who has five career INTs with two returned for TDs and has averaged seven passes defensed per season in his career. Rivers is a smooth athlete with light feet and loose hips and he matches up well with quickness in space. Rivers has been flying underneath the radar his entire career, but the senior looks like a Top 50 pick next April.

7. Xavier Scott / Illinois

Perhaps the top returning slot CB in college football, Scott has good enough size (5’11” / 190 lbs) to project to outside CB in the NFL but excels in the slot in the Big Ten conference. Scott has six interceptions (one returned for a 30-yard TD last season against Kansas) recorded over the last two seasons with 17 combined passes defensed. Scott is very competitive at the catch point – he uses his hands well to break up passes. Physical in the run game and is a good open field tackler. Very good ball skills. Good closing burst on the ball in the air and plays the ball in the air like he was the intended target on the play. Scott looks like a candidate to be a late first-round pick next spring.

8. Daylen Everette / Georgia

Everette is a big CB (6’1” / 190 lbs) with three years of SEC experience in Athens and has steadily improved each season. Everette has four career INTs, with three coming last year and his ball skills are still developing with eight passes defensed over the last two seasons. Everette is solid in run support and could project to safety in some defensive systems. The senior possesses very good football intelligence – he knows how to bait QBs and hide intent. Excellent short area reaction skills for a man his size. Very fluid with the skill set to be employed in man or zone and flips his hips exceedingly well. Everette is an ascending talent who may earn first-round grades next year.

9. D’Angelo Ponds / Indiana

Ponds is a transfer from James Madison where he was a Freshman All-American in 2023 when he recovered two fumbles, intercepted two passes, and was credited with 12 passes defensed. Ponds transferred to Indiana last year and became an immediate impact player in the Big Ten recording 55 tackles, three INTs with one returned for a TD, and nine passes defensed in helping lead IU to the national playoffs. Although Ponds lacks the ideal size for an outside CB (5’9” / 170 lbs), he relishes the physicality of the game and is solid in run support despite the lack of size. Extremely quick with excellent agility – fluid hips and light feet. Primarily plays zone but has the short area reaction skills desired for man coverage. Good foot quickness but has trouble with speed when isolated one on one and his lack of long speed may be the biggest flaw in his game.

10. Davison Igbinosun / Ohio State

Igbinosun has prototypical size and length for an outside CB (6’2” / 195 lbs) and he likes to use length and strength to harass WRs down field. Perhaps a little too much. Igbinosun was called for an absurd 16 pass interference penalties last season (most in FBS) and he needs to iron out his handiness this year - PI calls are a 15-yard nuisance call in college football but are a spot call in the NFL - and the majority of Igbinosun’s penalties were at the catch point down field last season. Igbinosun (brother Desmond is a starting CB for the Ravens) recorded the first two INTs of his career in 2024 and has 14 passes defensed over the last two seasons in Columbus.

Other Names to Monitor:

· Malik Muhammad / Texas. The junior has the agility and fluidity desired at CB and displays a quality closing burst on the ball. Has one career INT and 12 passes defensed over his two-year playing career.

· Jeremiah Wilson / Florida State. Wilson (5’10” / 186 lbs), unlike the Seminoles, is coming off a good season where he recorded four interceptions (one a pick six) and defended four passes. Wilson has the versatility to line up both outside and over the slot.

· Torrie Cox / Illinois. Cox (5’9” / 170 lbs) lacks the desired height and length for an outside CB and his skills seem ideally suited to slot duties in the NFL. Cox has solid ball production with four INTs and five passes defensed at Illinois since transferring from Ohio before the 2023 season.

· AJ Harris / Penn State. The former Georgia CB finally got his chance to be a starter in Happy Valley in 2024. Harris (6’1” / 191 lbs) has NFL measureables and had a solid season last year recording his first career INT and had five passes defensed for the Nittany Lions.

· Ephesians Prysock / Washington. Huge CB prospect (6’4” / 195 /bs) with excellent length but lacking some mass and size. Prysock is a willing and physical open field tackler who needs to create more havoc at the catch point – has only one career interception and 13 passes defensed over the last two seasons.

SNS

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