The 'On The Clock' crew of Matt Williamson, Mike Prisuta and Max Starks take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh in April. Today, they delve into the cornerback position.
Note: The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt's Take
There are a lot of quality cornerback prospects this year and we should see several drafted in the first round. A lot of the cornerback prospects this season have very good height and length. Unlike some other years though, this cornerback class isn't particuarly deep and teams looking for help here on Day 3 might be out of luck.
Matt's Rankings
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU, 6-0, 187 lbs. - Delane is a little on the lean side, but he has a game that should adjust very quickly to the league. He is very good in press man as well as zone and rarely looks flustered on in a bad situation throughout the route. He is patient and quick to diagnose as well. Delane could be a number one corner.
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, 6-1, 188 lbs. - Unfortunately, this evaluation is all based off 2024 tape-which was exceptional. But 2024 was a long time ago and McCoy needs to prove that he is past all medical concerns. But McCoy's athletic ability really pops as a fluid mover that is abrupt changing directions and out of his breaks.
3. Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5-11, 186 lbs. - Terrell has NFL bloodlines, a lot of experience, and the ability to line up outside or in the slot. He excels in man-to-man but is highly adept in whatever coverage his next team chooses to play with a very good mind for the game. Bigger receivers might give Terrell trouble in the league, but he is a battler.
4. Colton Hood, Tennessee, 6-0, 193 lbs. - Hood has excellent size and really shines as a press man coverage player. He is a little bit straight-linish and shifty receivers should give him problems, but what he does well is difficult to find. He plays hard in all capacities, including the run, where he is a force on the outside.
5. Chris Johnson, San Diego State, 6-0, 193 lbs. - Johnson can play in any scheme and aligns in the slot or out wide. He has very good size for the position with good footwork and mirroring ability. Johnson is a good tackler with an aggressive edge to playing the run.
Sleeper: Chandler Rivers, Duke, 5-9 1/2, 185 lbs. - Rivers is undersized, but he started 45 games in college. His experience and football smarts are apparent and while he has played some on the outside at Duke, he is likely a slot-only defenders in the NFL. This is a quality football player that is quicker than he is fast. At a bare minimum, Rivers should be a demon on special teams while contributing in sub packages early on defense.
Mike's Take
The NFL Scouting Combine was all about bigger, stronger and faster again this year across the board.
The "faster" part is a particularly significant component of the pre-draft evaluation process when it comes to cornerbacks.
"Speed is the most important for this position group," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah maintained during coverage from Indianapolis. "It matters what these guys run."
There were plenty of prospects combining speed with size in Indy, which makes this year's class intriguing.
"It's a deep group that'll take us well into Day Three where you're going to find players with the potential to start," Jeremiah assessed.
Mike's Rankings
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU, 6-0, 187 lbs. - Delane's relatively modest stat line for 2025, his lone season at LSU following three at Virginia Tech, included two interceptions and 11 passes defensed. That says more about opponents' unwillingness to consistently challenge Delane than it does his ability to play the ball. He can press receivers or run with them, he's a willing tackler and whatever he does, he makes it look easy. CB1.
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, 6-1, 188 lbs. - He didn't play in 2025 while recovering from an ACL tear but McCoy is still widely perceived as one of the best cornerbacks in particular and top prospects available in general. When he last played in 2024 McCoy intercepted four passes, up from two in his 2023 season at Oregon State. McCoy is short on experience but long on potential, and possesses the "speed, movement and ball skills to start Day One," Jeremiah said. McCoy's NFL Network height-weight-speed-measureables comparison is Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Associated press NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
3. Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5-11, 186 lbs. - He's not the biggest prospect available but his tape includes physicality, as evidenced by Terrell's eight career forced fumbles in three seasons (a Clemson record for defensive backs), including five in 2025. He's forced them on big hits after receptions, on blitzes and by relentlessly chasing ball-carriers down from behind. "Overall, this is an ideal 'nickel' starter on Day One," Jeremiah said. Terrell also has bloodlines on his side (his brother is Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell).
4. Colton Hood, Tennessee, 6-0, 193 lbs. - The Combine may have solidified Hood's status as worthy of a first-round selection. "He has first-round tape and first-round testing," Jeremiah said. Hood's movement skills, in particular, stood out in Indianapolis, as did his 4.44 40-yard dash. His NFL Network comp is Marshon Lattimore. That's pretty good company for a prospect who's perceived to have the ability to play either outside or in the slot at the next level.
5. D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana, 5-8 1/2, 182 lbs. - He's a player who shouldn't be overlooked despite his lack of ideal height. "Run support's not a problem," Jeremiah insisted. "He is a football player." Ponds is also a three-time team leader in passes defensed (in 2023 at James Madison and in 2024 and 2025 at Indiana). And he was the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl during the Hoosiers' run to the national championship. "This guy's a 'nickel' player all day long," NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. Ponds might be more than that. "He's not getting out of the second round," Davis added.
Sleeper: Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri, 5-10 3/8, 185 lbs. - Pride's projection according to NFL.com is that of an "average backup or special-teamer" in the NFL. That might help explain Pride telling NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales he feels overlooked, underrated and under-appreciated as a prospect. He ran a 4.32 40 in Indy that drew applause (and was faster than the 4.38 Christian Gonzalez ran in 2023, among many others, including the rest of the cornerback prospects this year). Pride has something to prove and appears intent on proving it.
Max's Take
The cornerback position is exceptionally deep in this year's draft. This group is unique because it possesses a lot of different body types, and can fill a lot of different voids. Like the safety position possesses the position flexibility of the nickel/slot position. These corners also possess those same skill sets, plus kick returner capabilities, which teams are always looking to better on those units! When you talk about a guy coming in as a young corner, you have to also cut your teeth in special teams, so adding that different dimension makes this group a really fun group to try and decipher.
Max's Rankings
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU, 6-0, 187 lbs. - Mr. lockdown, put him on the island and throw away the key type of corner back! His coverage is sticky, and he rarely misses on defending against a 50-50 ball down the sidelines. This is the press corner that you go and grab first in the draft.
2. Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5-11, 186 lbs. - Two things come to mind when I think of AvieonTerrell and his play: Bloodline and Polish! He plays like his brother and with that ability to see and train with him has paid dividends and why this kid will be a first round draft pick.
3. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, 6-1, 188 lbs. - I know he missed the 2025 season but what do you put on tape the previous two years makes up for what he missed this past year. He has the body size, athleticism and the instincts to be a great cover corner at the next level. The only question you have the answer is,"Has he fully recovered from the ACL?" and if you can answer that question then this is a fine pic for any team.
4. Colton Hood, Tennessee, 6-0, 193 lbs. - For a corner this is going to sound almost contradictory, but his game is predicated on physicality! I love the aggressive play style and his coverage make up speed. Solid punch on press coverage, but is sometimes indecisive in zone schemes. Overall love the game, and love his finish!
5. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina, 6-0, 189 lbs. - Cisse will be best suited in his own scheme, but can play some man responsibility. Still raw and rough around the edges, but his athleticism and heavy-handed capability makes him a very interesting year two-year three consistent player. He still has a lot to learn, but his testing numbers you can't deny.
Sleeper: Toriano Pride Jr, Missouri, 5-10, 185 lbs. - As the old adage goes, " Can't coach speed!" Running a 4.3 40 will ease a lot of concerns in scout minds. I believe pride could be a great core for special teams guy who can be a returner as well as a gunner on the punt teams, and when pressed into service, could be a slot corner in sub package defenses. Less than stellar tackling has brought him outside of the prominent positions, and why I place him in the sleeper category.
