2025 NFL Draft - Top Nickel Corners

Most Recent Update: 2/5/2025 7:00 PM EST



Rank O/A Chng Player/School Ht/Wt Elig. BIO
1
173
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SmithJaylin.jpg
Jaylin Smith
USC
5'10"
182
SR
2
175
 +30
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect RileyQuincy.jpg
Quincy Riley
Louisville
5'10"
192
RSR
3
181
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect MuhammadJabbar.jpg
Jabbar Muhammad
Oregon
5'9"
183
RSR
4
213
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect StoutUpton.jpg
Upton Stout
Western Kentucky
5'8"
178
RJR
5
234
 +80
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SimmonsShamari.jpg
Shamari Simmons
Arizona State
6'0"
195
GR
6
236
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ParrishJacob.jpg
Jacob Parrish
Kansas State
5'10"
196
JR
7
252
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ReedNikko.jpg
Nikko Reed
Oregon
5'9"
180
RSR
8
285
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect JamesLamereon.jpg
Lamareon James
TCU
5'10"
190
SR
9
321
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BaldwinJohnathan.jpg
Johnathan Baldwin
UNLV
6'1"
200
SR
10
323
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect McWilliamsMac.jpg
Mac McWilliams
UCF
5'10"
181
RSR
11
328
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect HarrisMarcus.jpg
Marcus Harris
California
5'11"
190
RSR
12
329
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect StoneCam.jpg
Cam Stone
Hawaii
5'10"
200
RSR
13
371
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ClarkJordan.jpg
Jordan Clark
Notre Dame
5'9"
180
GR
14
383
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect CypressFentrell.jpg
Fentrell Cypress II
Florida State
5'11"
182
RSR
15
392
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect LongerbeamRobert.jpg
Robert Longerbeam
Rutgers
5'11"
178
RSR
16
417
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect HuzzieAlijah.jpg
Alijah Huzzie
North Carolina
5'10"
193
RSR
17
437
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect SmithMelvin.jpg
Melvin Smith Jr.
Southern Arkansas
5'10"
185
SR
18
491
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect ShineKempton.jpg
Kempton Shine
Virginia
5'11"
191
GR
19
522
--
photo of 2025 NFL Draft prospect BohlerKendall.jpg
Kendall Bohler
Florida A&M
5'11"
195
RSR


CBs Drafted by Round
Round 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 Avg
RD1 4 4 5 6 1 3 3.8
RD2 5 5 3 3 7 6 4.8
RD3 3 3 8 2 3 2 3.5
RD4 3 8 5 6 4 4 4.8
RD5 5 4 7 3 3 5 4.5
RD6 8 5 6 1 8 6 5.7
RD7 8 8 3 6 6 3 5.7
Total 36 37 37 27 32 29 33.0
The total count includes CB and CB-N

Glossary of Terms
Cornerback Position
Outside/boundary CB

The outermost defensive backs responsible for covering receivers.

Nickel/slot CB

A CB that replaces a LB on the interior (usually split out from the line over a receiver) in suspected passing situations and/or to match offensive personnel.

Press Coverage

A technique in which the CB lines up on the line, face-to-face with his receiver, using physicality to disrupt the receiver's release and the timing of the route.

Off Coverage

A technique in which the CB starts 5-8 yards away from the line of scrimmage, using read-and-react techniques with eyes on the QB.

Press-bail

A technique in which the CB shows press coverage before the snap and immediately drops off as the ball is snapped.

Cover 0

All defensive backs are either blitzing or in man coverage (no help over the top).

Cover 1

All defensive backs are in man coverage except for the free safety who is responsible for the deep middle of the field.

Cover 2

Each safety is in charge of half of the deep portion of the field, CBs can be in man or zone coverage.

Tampa 2

Similar to cover 2, made famous by Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay, but with a twist; the middle linebacker drops into a deeper zone than usual, creating a hybrid cover 2/cover 3 look.

Cover 3

Zone coverage in which two CBs cover one third of the field (each on the outside) while the FS mans the middle third

Quarters

Sometimes called cover 4, is similar to cover 3 except each CB has an outside quarter and each safety has an inside quarter.

Nickel

A formation in which 5 defensive backs are in the field (one in the slot).

Dime

A formation in which 6 defensive backs are in the field (two in the slot).

Pass Defensed

When a defensive player deflects or 'breaks up' a pass (statistic).






















2025 Position Rankings
-- Cornerbacks --
Most Recent Update:2/5/2025


Position Rank

1

Overall Rank

173

Jaylin Smith

    

USC

SR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

182

Position Rank

2

Overall Rank

175

Quincy Riley

 +30

Louisville

RSR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

192

Position Rank

3

Overall Rank

181

Jabbar Muhammad

    

Oregon

RSR

Height:

5'9"

Weight:

183

Position Rank

4

Overall Rank

213

Upton Stout

    

Western Kentucky

RJR

Height:

5'8"

Weight:

178

Position Rank

5

Overall Rank

234

Shamari Simmons

 +80

Arizona State

GR

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

195

Position Rank

6

Overall Rank

236

Jacob Parrish

    

Kansas State

JR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

196

Position Rank

7

Overall Rank

252

Nikko Reed

    

Oregon

RSR

Height:

5'9"

Weight:

180

Position Rank

8

Overall Rank

285

Lamareon James

    

TCU

SR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

190

Position Rank

9

Overall Rank

321

Johnathan Baldwin

    

UNLV

SR

Height:

6'1"

Weight:

200

Position Rank

10

Overall Rank

323

Mac McWilliams

    

UCF

RSR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

181

Position Rank

11

Overall Rank

328

Marcus Harris

    

California

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

190

Position Rank

12

Overall Rank

329

Cam Stone

    

Hawaii

RSR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

200

Position Rank

13

Overall Rank

371

Jordan Clark

    

Notre Dame

GR

Height:

5'9"

Weight:

180

Position Rank

14

Overall Rank

383

Fentrell Cypress II

    

Florida State

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

182

Position Rank

15

Overall Rank

392

Robert Longerbeam

    

Rutgers

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

178

Position Rank

16

Overall Rank

417

Alijah Huzzie

    

North Carolina

RSR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

193

Position Rank

17

Overall Rank

437

Melvin Smith Jr.

    

Southern Arkansas

SR

Height:

5'10"

Weight:

185

Position Rank

18

Overall Rank

491

Kempton Shine

    

Virginia

GR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

191

Position Rank

19

Overall Rank

522

Kendall Bohler

    

Florida A&M

RSR

Height:

5'11"

Weight:

195