2027 NFL Draft preseason positional scores: Cornerbacks

Editor’s level to: Here is the 5th installment of Dane Brugler’s 2027 NFL Draft Summer time Scouting sequence. Previous ranking: Massive receivers | Defensive tackles | Running backs | Linebackers

Cornerback may just possibly possibly neatly moreover very well be my favorite catch 22 situation to survey, on account of high-level cornerback play is an art work invent. And the 2027 draft magnificence has a maestro on the tip, followed by means of a few others with the ability to be drafted within the tip part of the most important spherical.

I will’t wait to peep how this cornerback magnificence develops. It needs to be one of the strengths of the 2027 magnificence.

(Notes: An asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL groups at disguise download on record for each player, in line with league assets.)

1. Leonard Moore, Notre Dame (6-2, 197 pounds)*

Preferrred trait: Direction instincts

Moore sticks to receivers appreciate Velcro. He is a large, lengthy and physically presence with shipshape breeze talents, specifically for his measurement. Moore’s course instincts, nonetheless, are what separates him from maximum corners. He understands offensive characteristics based totally utterly primarily on eventualities and tells, which allows him to bustle higher routes than receivers enact and put himself in catch 22 situation to make performs at the ball.

It is relaxing to check Moore’s tips paintings at the sphere. He changed into eminent on further than one 2025 tapes — video games against Texas A&M, Boise Bid and USC immediately spring to tips. However Moore changed into at his maximum dominant against Stanford, showcasing his course anticipation and poised quilt talents.

Should strengthen: Suitable play fashion

Fancy Sauce Gardner, Moore is a unfastened athlete who doesn’t permit his top to restrict his mobility. However there are examples of performs the connect he would wait on from higher sink to enhance his transitions. His superb fashion additionally affects his tackling. While he’s larger than prepared to throw his body round, Moore may just possibly possibly neatly make use of further constant pad point, specifically when running downhill against working backs.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

In step with summer time scouting, Ohio Bid’s Jeremiah Smith is in point of fact the best draft-eligible prospect within the 2027 magnificence. Moore may just possibly possibly neatly moreover very well be second.

The Round Rock, Texas, local grew to develop into a starter as a freshman and fleet put himself at the NFL radar. With 5 interceptions and 12 passes defended over 10 video games in 2025, Moore emerged as a consensus All-American and may just possibly possibly neatly moreover merely input his 3rd season as arguably necessarily the best defensive player in class football.

Moore flourishes on an island. In step with PFF, he coated up in guy coverage on 57.6 % of his defensive snaps in 2025, the general word cost within the FBS. He is a chronic, sophisticated athlete who processes optimistically and decisively to protect a step forward of the breeze. He traces up necessarily supply air, nonetheless he had no grief shifting inside to shadow used USC standout receiver Makai Lemon. Moore brings consistency to a catch 22 situation that is inherently unstable.

2. Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia (6-0, 180)*

Preferrred trait: Talent to turn, bustle and protect

Robinson isn’t a one-trick pony in coverage — he’s similarly solely happy reacting in zone and guy schemes. However I changed into specifically inspired by means of his man-to-man talents at the supply air, the connect he changed into in a local to pedal, turn his hips and are available by means of the football.

Throw at the tape of Georgia’s SEC Championship acquire over Alabama, and also you’ll glimpse it when he’s protecting Germie Bernard. Or against Cam Coleman at the Auburn tape. Or as opposed to Deuce Alexander at the Ole Omit tape. Or against in-negate rival Georgia Tech within the clip underneath. It changed right into a general theme for the Georgia protection.

Should strengthen: Experience point

As a first-yr starter in 2025, Robinson made his proportion of errors, which changed into to be expected. At cases, he would take a fraudulent step on the snap, be leisurely to study a course or make early touch with receivers downfield, specifically towards the beginning of the season (glimpse the Tennessee tape). Nevertheless it changed into encouraging to check Robinson download and make self belief with each recreation.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Every college program within the country sought after Robinson out of highschool. After prepping at IMG Academy, he changed into the No. 2 recruit within the 2024 magnificence (at the good thing about maximum eye-catching Smith), and he decided on Georgia over Miami and different suitors. After redshirting his first year, Robinson grew to develop into a starter ultimate season and earned Freshman All-The US honors with a bunch-most environment friendly 11 passes defended and 4 interceptions.

Georgia had a four-yr travel of manufacturing a top-15 draft make a choice snapped this earlier April, nonetheless Robinson can come by means of the Bulldogs benefit into the top part of Round 1.

3. Ashton Hampton, Clemson (6-3, 204)*

Preferrred trait: Fervent, disruptive hands

Hampton is a huge athlete who’s as physically as he’s explosive. That’s a factual position to supply for a cornerback prospect. He is at his most effective close to the dual carriageway of scrimmage, the connect he can liberate and drive within the fast recreation or stroll receivers from press guy, the usage of his violent hands to reroute his opponent.

Even though he doesn’t come by means of credit score within the sphere come by means of for this turnover, Hampton created the interception the usage of forceful hands to crush the receiver early and disrupt the come by means of level.

Should strengthen: Grabby characteristics

His eagerness to come back by means of hands on receivers is among his strengths, nonetheless that implies Hampton will have to sure a comely line to persuade certain of consequences. He’s going to will have to modify to NFL receivers, who will energy him to make use of his handsy play fashion as further of a crutch to protect related.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Hampton first landed on my radar throughout his freshman season, whilst I changed into learning Clemson’s 2024 tape against Virginia Tech. Enjoying tight man-to-man at the supply air, he snagged a one-handed interception that made me sit down up in my seat. Recruited as further of an “athlete” out of highschool, some view Hampton may just possibly possibly neatly protect on offense as a big receiver or transfer to protection, nonetheless he came across his house at nook.

Since 2020, Clemson has produced 4 cornerbacks drafted within the tip 50. At the side of his period and his explosive ability catch 22 situation, Hampton needs to be subsequent.

4. Kelley Jones, Mississippi Bid (6-4, 196)*

Preferrred trait: Blankets receivers with period

It changed into sophisticated to go looking out catches against Jones on tape. He allowed a meager 28.9 % crowning glory cost ultimate season (11 catches on 38 objectives), which ranked first among all FBS cornerbacks. The important thing to Jones’ good fortune: His rangy body, which is helping him crush receivers early and erase come by means of home windows downfield. His measurement and grit also are sources against the bustle recreation — here’s a refined-minded football player.

Throughout the video underneath, Jones put himself in peak catch 22 situation to protect KC Concepcion’s procedure-line continue within the Bulldogs’ October 2025 loss at Texas A&M.

Should strengthen: Making an attempt forward to course breaks

Jones’ hasten and period make staggering matchup benefits when he remains in catch 22 situation. However savvy receivers can come by means of him leaning sooner than surroundings aside out of breaks. Previous on that Texas A&M tape, Concepcion created connect from Jones on a put up-corner trust, which allowed the Aggies’ quarterback time to go looking out his receiver sooner than Jones may just possibly possibly neatly recuperate. The result changed into six purposes for the Aggies (considered one of maximum eye-catching 3 touchdowns Jones allowed in 2025).

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A neighborhood of Clarksdale, Omit., Jones changed right into a quarterback and defensive benefit in highschool, nonetheless he arrived in Starkville as further of a uncooked athlete. After redshirting in 2023 and dealing his ability into the cornerback rotation in 2024, Jones had his breakout ultimate season as an All-SEC performer (13 passes defended and a couple of interceptions).

Equivalent in stature to Riq Woolen, Jones has a unprecedented 6-4 body for a cornerback, with the period and hasten to suffocate receivers. In step with characteristics by myself, he’s a apparently Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) prospect. If he continues to strengthen in 2026, nonetheless, he may just possibly possibly neatly put himself within the most important spherical subsequent April.

5. Vicari Swain, South Carolina (6-0, 190)*

Preferrred characteristics: Hurry and poise downfield

Swain is without doubt one of the tip punt returners in class football, and that hasten and explosiveness translate to cornerback, as well. However I changed into even further inspired together with his composure downfield to crowd the come by means of level and are available by means of his hands at the football.

At the Alabama tape, Swain, who changed into repeatedly tasked with covering Bernard, changed into targeted 8 cases by means of quarterback Ty Simpson. At the other hand, he allowed factual 3 catches for 11 yards in that recreation, and close down a few downfield makes an attempt.

Should strengthen: Spacing in off coverage

At the side of his athletic characteristics, Swain has the breeze talents that NFL groups covet, and he places himself in catch 22 situation to make performs downfield. However his technical era and necessarily really feel for underneath and zone spacing are aloof setting up. Evaluators are alive to to peep if his coverage consistency expands along his characteristic in 2026.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Recruited as an athlete out of highschool, Swain grew to develop into a fleshy-time defender with the Gamecocks, and his taking part in time has greater steadily each year. Regardless of now not beginning ultimate season as a redshirt sophomore, he performed nearly an identical sequence of snaps as Brandon Cisse (drafted No. 52 by means of the Green Bay Packers) and changed right into a precious portion of the crowd’s defensive benefit rotation.

He’s additionally dynamic on particular groups — Swain tied for the FBS lead with 3 punt go back touchdowns in 2025. Even though aloof uncooked in some purposes of cornerback play, Swain has an impressive mixture of measurement and hasten, with natural ball instincts and loads of promise.

Most sensible 25 senior cornerback potentialities:

1. Brice Pollock, Texas Tech (6-0, 192)
2. Zeke Berry, Michigan (5-11, 186)
3. DJ McKinney, Notre Dame (6-0, 181)
4. Kayin Lee, Tennessee (5-11, 186)
5. Jalen Mayo, Houston (6-1, 189)
6. Christian Grey, Notre Dame (6-0, 194)
7. Xavier Scott, Illinois (5-11, 194)
8. Jontez Williams, USC (5-11, 202)
9. Jermaine Mathews Jr., Ohio Bid (5-11, 188)
10. Smith Snowden, Michigan (5-10, 185)
11. Personal Collier, South Carolina (6-1, 203)
12. Evan Johnson, BYU (6-0, 183)
13. A.J. Harris, Indiana (6-0, 185)
14. Jaquez White, Virginia Tech (5-11, 189)
15. Sharif Denson, Ole Omit (5-11, 192)
16. Max Tucker, Boston Faculty (5-11, 194)
17. Audavion Collins, Penn Bid (5-11, 181)
18. Amari Jackson, Maryland (5-10, 191)
19. Jaden Mickey, Boise Bid (5-11, 185)
20. Antonio Kite, Ole Omit (6-0, 181)
21. Zion Tracy, Penn Bid (5-11, 185)
22. Elliot Washington II, Clemson (5-11, 196)
23. Olatunde Mkparu, Bryant (6-0, 205)
24. Daiquan White, Georgia Tech (5-9, 181)
25. Braden Turner, Northwestern (5-10, 195)

Most sensible 10 draft-eligible underclassmen:

1. Moore
2. Robinson
3. Hampton
4. Jones
5. Swain
6. Ja’Bril Rawls, Florida Bid (6-0, 173)
7. Zabien Brown, Alabama (6-1, 185)
8. Jyaire Hill, Michigan (6-2, 189)
9. Chris Peal, Syracuse (6-2, 206)
10. Romanas Frederique Jr., Miami (6-0, 185)