2026 Draft Eligible Cornerbacks - Early Top 5

Newt Westen

Shut-down corners are always at a premium in the NFL, and the 2026 class is no exception. This group brings a mix of fluid athletes, physical press defenders, and playmakers with ball skills to change a game in an instant. With Aveion Terrell earning honorable mention status, here’s a look at the top five corners to watch heading into the season.

Honorable Mention, Aveion Terrell

• Height: 5’11”

• Weight: 186 lbs

• School: Clemson

Aveion Terrell is a twitchy corner with fluid hips and the quickness to mirror receivers in man coverage. He competes hard at the catch point and shows natural instincts when breaking on the ball. His lack of top-end play strength shows up against bigger wideouts, leaving him vulnerable in contested situations. Still, with 9 pass breakups in 2024, Terrell has proven he can consistently disrupt passing lanes.

5. Christian Gray

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 190 lbs

• School: Notre Dame

Christian Gray brings length and smooth coverage skills, pairing his frame with excellent body control downfield. He’s sticky in man coverage and trusts his technique to stay in phase. Where he can improve is in run support, as his tackling form is inconsistent and leads to missed opportunities. Even so, Gray posted 8 pass breakups in 2024, underlining his ability to hold his own on the boundary.

4. Mansoor Delane

• Height: 6’1”

• Weight: 191 lbs

• School: LSU (transferred from Va Tech)

Mansoor Delane is a physical corner who thrives in press coverage, using his strong hands and confidence to jam receivers at the line. He competes aggressively at the catch point and brings an edge to the secondary. The tradeoff is his tendency to get grabby when beaten, which can draw penalties against sharper route-runners. Still, with 10 pass breakups in 2024, Delane has shown he can consistently contest throws in man situations.

3. Domani Jackson

• Height: 6’1”

• Weight: 190 lbs

• School: Alabama

Domani Jackson is a high-upside athlete with elite speed that allows him to erase separation and close quickly on the football. His recovery burst makes him dangerous against vertical threats, and his physicality shows up in press looks. The concern is his ball skills—he hasn’t turned many opportunities into interceptions. Even so, Jackson held opponents under 50% completions when targeted in 2024, proving his ability to shut down top receivers.

2. Jermod McCoy

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 182 lbs

• School: Tennessee

Jermod McCoy is a technically sound corner with excellent footwork and anticipation, making him one of the more polished defenders in the class. He excels in zone coverage, reading quarterbacks and breaking quickly on throws, while also holding his own in man. His lean frame limits his ability to handle physical receivers, and he can get overpowered in contested situations. Still, McCoy came away with 4 interceptions in 2024, showing his instincts translate to production.

1. Xavier Scott

• Height: 6’0”

• Weight: 190 lbs

• School: Illinois

Xavier Scott headlines the cornerback class with his combination of length, fluidity, and ball skills. He’s sticky in man coverage and shows excellent awareness in zone, giving him the versatility to play in any scheme. At times, he gets too aggressive jumping routes, leaving him vulnerable to double moves, especially with mediocre recovery speed. But with 12 pass breakups in 2024, Scott has consistently proven to be a playmaker in coverage and looks every bit the part of a future NFL starter.