PRESEASON '25 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS DEFENSIVE BACKS

These rankings are for my preseason top NFL Draftable players. Off course these ratings are subject to change by year end but it will be fun to see what the season  shows us. As in my Draft analysis, I use  my own eyes and metrics to rate players.  I also break down some positions differently than most. I find this very important and  the root cause of so many mistakes in the draft process. Even with all the advancements today many, many NFL executives and Draft analysts are still operating in caveman modes of years gone by, and failing!! New for this season I've added a Comments section just for some added context clarifying my opinion on players. 

OUTSIDE CORNERBACKS

CLASSS GRADE

Rk     Player                       Sch       Ht     Wt      Comments      

1.Travis Hunter               Col      6-0    185    He needs to concentrate here, but Meion will screw him. He's still the best.

2.Domani Jackson        Ala      6-0    190     Has great overall skillset, this staff will coach that correctly.  

3.Davison Igbinoson  OhSt    6-2    193    Great in man, excells against run, great size/Speed

4.Shavon Revel              ECar   6-2     185    Long smooth player with high upside, made major srides last season.

5.Will Johnson               Mich    6-0     190   I'm not as high on him as others, greatsize/Speed numbers. Production lacking.

6.Mansoor Delane       VaTch   6-1    182   Excells in run support, may need to move inside.

7.Maxwell Hairston        Ky      6-1    181   Light came on last season,if it stay's on he'll move up.

8.Marcus Allen                 NCar  6-2    190   Very strong, great in run support, good in press.

9.Bejamin Morrison     NDme 6-0    185   14 PD's and 7 INT's last two seasons.

10.Zeimaiah Vaughn       Ut     6-2     187   Long and shows potential,speed says he  may have to  move to FS.

Others to watch:

Daylen Everette  Ga, Jason Marshall  Fla, Garnett Hollis  WVir, Treydan Stukes  Az. Jalen Husky   Md, Brandon Adams   UCF, Zy Alexander   LSU,  Duce Chesnut  Syr, Trey Amos  Miss

SLOT CORNERBACKS

CLASS GRADE

Rk     Player                       Sch       Ht      Wt      Comments      

1.Denzel Burke            OhSt     5-11    193    Rock solid 3 year starter, best inside. Some will want to move him outside.

2.Cobee Bryant              Kan      6-0      170   Slight but great quickness and ball skills, will help if needed in run support.

3.Jahdae Barron             Tx       5-11   194   I like him best here, not outside, he could move back to FS and fit right in, very tough.

4.Jordan Hancock        OhSt    6-0     195   Really stepped up last season, he can move outside if needed.

5.Keionte Scott                Aub    5-10   181   Undersized but tough, will get in on run support, excellent KR.

6.Brandon Johnson       Ore     5-9    190    Plays much bigger than he is, 7.5 sacks last two season, fearless in run game.

7.Quincy Riley                 Lou     5-11  185   Back for 6th year, relly improved last season.

8.Ricardo Halman         Wisc    5-10  185   Jumped to 6 INT's and 5 PD's last season, lots of upside.

9.Jabbar Mohammed   Ore      5-9   183   Undersized but fast, quick, tough, nice ball skills.

10.Dorian Strong           VaTch   6-0   182   really stepped up last half of last seasonR

Others to watch:

Amari Jackson  BColl, Robert Longerbeam  Rut, Justin Walley  Minn, Genrty Williams   Okl, Xavier Scott   Ill, Melvin Smith S Ark

STRONG SAFETY

CLASS GRADE

Rk     Player                       Sch       Ht     Wt      Comments      

1.Sebastian Castro     Iowa     6-0    205    Covers entire field, 3 INT's, 8 PB's. Best tackler in group, very well coached.

2.Hunter Wohler         Wisc      6-2    215     Best run support in group, 120 tkls last season. If coverage skills improve he'll move up.

3.Xavier Nwankpa     Iowa      6-2   210     Great size and athetic ability, well coached. Took huge step last season, more coming.

4.Nick Emmanwori    SCar      6-4   218     Prototype size, great athlete, really stepped up last season, more coming.

5.Lathom Ransom    OhSt       6-0   210     Big hitting highly athletic player, must stay on the field, injuries have been a problem.

6.Makari Paige            Mich       6-3   209    Nice athlete, has all the tools but needs to be more consistent.

7.Aubrey Burks            WVir    5-11   209    Strong in run support, needs work on coverage.

8.Major Burns               LSU        6-2   195    Excellent at read/react,covesr field with ease, if coverage improves he will fly up this list.

9.Kevin Winston      PennSt     6-2   203    Long and athletic, needs more consistency and work in coverage.

10.Sage Ryan                 LSU      5-11   201   Excells in run support, needs serious work incoverage, ball skills weak.

Others to watch:

Kendal Daniels  OklSt,DeQuandre Smith  SCar, Justin Barron   Syr, Maxen Hook   Tol, Shyheim Brown  FlaSt, Cole Wisniewski  NDSt

FREE SAFETY

CLASS GRADE

Rk     Player                       Sch       Ht     Wt      Comments      

1.Malak Starks                 Ga      6-1     205    No weaknesses, excellent in run support , 4 INT's and 14 PD's last two seasons.

2.Andrew  Mukuba        Tx       6-0     186    Has all the skills. He will improve with the better coaching.

3.Billy Bowman              Okl    5-10    191    Most athletic in group but undersized. Plays bigger, can even hold down SCB position.

4.Malachi Moore           Ala      5-11    198    Very active, athletic, ball skills can be inconsistent, look for improvement,

5.Xavier Watts              NDme  6-0     202    Really jumped with 7 INT's last season, needs consistency.

6.Tommi Hill                    Nebr   6-0     195    CFB CB, size/speed says he should move here. Any NFL exec smart enough to know that?

7.Jeremiah Cooper     IoSt     6-0     185     Athletic,can play CB, 5 INT's  and 9 PB's last season.

8.Dante Trader                Md      6-1     188    Solid last two seasons, athletic and solid in all aspects but unspectacular.

9.Tacario Davis                Az       6-4      195    College CB, 15PB's last season. I still see him here for best career.

10.Jaylen Reed         PennSt   6-0       205   Very good in run support, needs work in coverage.

Others to watch: Alijah Calrk   Syr, Bud Clark  TCU, Rod Moore   Mich, Bryce Anderson  TxA&M, Tysheem Johnson    Ore, Kamari Ramsey  USC, E McNeil-Warren   Tol.