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Andy Reid Supporter
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With a decision that needed making, it was my call to group Travis Hunter with the cornerbacks rather than the wide receivers even though his playing time at Colorado the past two seasons was almost evenly split.
Of course, that doesn’t at all indicate whether Hunter will play offense, defense or both after he’s selected early in the NFL draft.
Six executives in personnel were split on Hunter’s best position. Three said wide receiver, three said cornerback. He is the top-graded player at each spot.
What they were in agreement on is that Hunter wouldn’t be able to log the 150 or so snaps from scrimmage that he did for the Buffaloes at an effective and injury-free level in the NFL.
“There’s absolutely no way he can do them both full-time,” said one executive. “They’ll just wear him out. Each team will look at him differently as far as what they want to do with him.”
As an all-time prospect with corner-wideout versatility, Hunter drew comparisons with three Hall of Fame enshrinees: Deion Sanders, his coach at Colorado in 2023-’24; Charles Woodson, a fellow Heisman Trophy winner, and Champ Bailey.
Sanders returned punts during his four seasons at Florida State but never played offense. He ran track for the Seminoles, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 meters, and played two seasons of collegiate baseball and one month of minor-league baseball as a center fielder.
At 5-11 ¾ and 182 pounds, Sanders ran the 40 at the combine in 4.29 seconds before being chosen No. 5 in 1989 behind Troy Aikman, Tony Mandarich, Barry Sanders and Derrick Thomas. His two-way work in the NFL included 60 receptions for 784 yards (13.1 average) and three touchdowns.
“I’ve never seen a better defensive back,” Dick Steinberg, New England’s director of player development with two decades of scouting experience, told me before that draft. “The most dominating college defensive back I ever saw before this guy was Willie Buchanon.”
Ron Wolf, then Al Davis’s top scout with the Los Angeles Raiders, called Sanders a “rare player.”
Woodson (6-0 7/8, 200, 4.43), who in 1998 became the first defensive player to win the Heisman, not only returned punts at Michigan but also found time in 1996-’97 to catch 21 passes for 370 (17.6) and three touchdowns. He was drafted No. 4 overall.
“If they were in the draft at the same time I would take this guy,” Charley Armey, the St. Louis Rams’ personnel director, said before the 1999 draft regarding his preference of Woodson over Sanders. “He will be a much better football player all-around, from A to Z.”
After Woodson destroyed Michigan State with two interceptions in 1988, former NFL center and ESPN analyst Bill Curry said, “The last cornerback I can remember making plays like that was Herb Adderley.”
Woodson’s brief exposure on offense in the NFL was limited to two receptions.
Before the 1999 draft, Bailey (5-11 ¾, 184, 4.35) received a final grade of 7.25 from Joel Buchsbaum, the pioneering independent scout for Pro Football Weekly. The year before, Woodson was handed an 8.01.
However, Bailey was so good moonlighting as a wide receiver at Georgia that Buchsbaum gave him a 6.05, which ranked fourth at the position behind Torry Holt, David Boston and Troy Edwards.
“He’s a quicker athlete and more instinctive than Woodson,” Armey said in the runup to the ’99 draft. “He doesn’t have Deion’s speed but he has awful good quickness.”
Bailey, who had a 42-inch vertical jump and a score of 25 on the Wonderlic test, caught 47 passes and rushed 16 times as a senior for the Bulldogs. He was the No. 7 selection.
“Can be a great cornerback or wide receiver,” Buchsbaum wrote before Bailey’s rookie season in Washington. “Might even do both at the same time.”
In his 15-year NFL career, Bailey caught just four passes.
In any event, Hunter is primed to become just the seventh top-5 cornerback since 2011.
“Champ Bailey was super athletic,” a longtime scout said. “Travis is probably a little twitchier in a short area. Charles Woodson was a much bigger man. Hunter’s a really good prospect but just because of his size he’s not quite graded as high as Charles Woodson.”
CORNERBACKS
1. TRAVIS HUNTER, Colorado (6-0 ½, 188, no 40, 1): Hasn’t run a 40 for scouts and probably never will. “Like with Deion (Sanders), I think you could spot him as a wide receiver but put him where he’s going to be an all-pro,” one scout said. “He’s explosive in that 7-, 15-, 20-yard range. You see him making a burst on the ball. He’s not gonna be 4.27, I can guarantee you that. He’s not Deion. But he can man cover. That’s what he can do. Don’t get me wrong, he could play well on offense if he wants. Great hands and ball skills, everything’s there. He won’t be known for his tackling ability. He might be No. 1 over (Abdul) Carter.” In 2024, he won the Biletnikoff Award as the top wide receiver and the Bednarik Award as the top defensive player. “He’s a better receiver than corner,” said a second scout.
“As a receiver, he’s quick as shit. I mean, explosive. His hands are rare, rare, rare. I don’t know if I’ve seen someone catch the ball like he does. Doesn’t have a lot of big plays downfield. That’s really the only thing you don’t see, and a lot of that is the way they use him … More of a press guy. When he’s off, you see a little bit of getting turned around and not great change of direction. Might have the best hands ever for a corner. In run support he’s not the toughest but you’ll learn to live with that.” As the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2022, he surprised many by signing with FCS Jackson State. Played eight games for the HBCU, making two interceptions and catching 18 passes. “We ended up with him on the corner board because we felt there was a million receivers and there’s eight corners,” a third scout said. “He’s sizeable enough even though he’s somewhat narrow. He is just kind of out there playing right now without a lot of technique. If he will really zero in on the technique he can be sensational. He’s willing to tackle. He’s not 6-1, 205. He’s a little more on the slender side.” Played 22 games at Colorado, finishing with 66 tackles, seven interceptions and 16 passes defensed. As a receiver, he caught 153 passes for 1,979 yards (12.9-yard average) and 20 touchdowns. “I’d play him at corner just because I think you can find receivers,” a fourth scout said. “I haven’t seen a whole lot of guys like him, really. They went out of their way to have him win the Heisman. His overall play speed is good but I don’t expect him to run 4.3. The body type is a little bit of a turn-off. He’s kind of lanky lookin’ but damn, he’s a shutdown corner. Loose, fluid hips, really smart, great feet. He’ll tackle if he has to. He’s a pretty good receiver, too.” Third-year junior with 31 3/8-inch arms and 9 1/8-inch hands. “The best corner I have done in my career is Champ Bailey and he’d be right up against him,” said a fifth scout. “I wouldn’t say he’s better but he’s really good. I had him as a corner at the beginning of the year but then the more I watched him I started getting excited about the receiver. I kind of like him as a receiver. He’s probably the best player at both positions.” Eighth player to be named first-team All-America and Academic All-America. “You watch him pedal and there’s not many that can do that,” said a sixth scout. “He doesn’t really know how to run pass routes yet but it’s special to watch him come in and out of cuts and snatch the ball and make people miss. He makes so many plays because his hand-eye coordination is through the roof. When you think about guys that have played well on both sides of the ball there’s (Charles) Woodson, Deion, Rod Woodson. They’re probably all faster than him but I don’t know if they’re quicker than him or have the same ball skills. And his feet are like machines. It’s tap-tap-tap and he’s gone. Think of one of those small punt returners. He’s like them. No matter how hard you try to hit him, you can’t hit him.” From Suwanee, Ga. Avid fisherman.
2. WILL JOHNSON, Michigan (6-1 ½, 194, no 40, 1): Third-year junior. “As a pure corner I have him over Hunter,” said one scout. “He can play off. He can press. He’s really good in zone. Really good dude. He has average speed, though. Just kind of a smooth mover. Plays his best coming downhill making a play toward the ball. I don’t think he’s a gambler. He’s just really instinctive. Sometimes down the field when his back’s turned I don’t know if he can locate it and track it as fast as you want. But he’s a player. He’s strong enough to be physical.” Returned three of his nine interceptions for touchdowns. “Ball skills are awesome and instincts are incredible,” a second scout said. “He just sees everything, almost to his detriment because he jumps a lot of stuff. Last year, in the Washington (CFP) championship game, they got him. Another game they got him. He’s definitely trying to make a highlight. I question his big-time explosive speed. Not top run-support toughness. Reminds me of (Pat) Surtain.” Started five of 14 games as a freshman but missed 10 games in 2023-’24 with knee (arthroscopic surgery), shoulder and turf toe injuries. “He’s got to prove he can be durable, prove you can fight through adversity from an injury standpoint to really earn my trust,” said a third scout. “I don’t want to accuse the guy of milking an injury but the questions have to be asked. That guy scares the bejesus out of me. Who’s the guy that came out of Virginia Tech about four years ago? (Caleb) Farley? He was injured. Same conversation. It’s a buyer-beware pick.” His father, Deon, was a defensive back at Michigan from 1990-’94. “It’s a shame he got hurt,” said a fourth scout. “I like him. He’s a gambler, though, and he’s going to have to learn when to pick those battles. As many times as he gambles he’ll get his ass beat, too. And when he gets beat when he gambles it’s a big-ass play, and you can’t give those up in the National Football League. He’ll make some big plays but, man, you get beat to the flat, big chunks happen that are game-changers. I don’t want to say he’s a wild-horse rider, but he’s close to it.” Started 22 of 32 games, finishing with 68 tackles and 10 passes defensed. Never forced a fumble or recovered a fumble. “No, no, no, no, no — he’s not Patrick Surtain,” said a fifth scout. “I saw him more of a second-rounder. He’s not the athlete that Christian Gonzalez is but he’s like a lower-level hotel in that chain. There’s a lot good. There’s just not a ton of great.” Short arms (30 1/8) for his height. “Everything you look for in a corner excluding injury he does it at corner,” a sixth scout said. “He can definitely do it but he’s been out a little bit every year. But how many of them haven’t? It’s now becoming one of those deals where after they know they’ve got enough games on tape they start folding up shop.” Either left or missed a game with injuries eight times. Five-star recruit from Grosse Pointe, Mich.
3. MAXWELL HAIRSTON, Kentucky (5-11, 183, 4.27, 1): Fourth-year junior. “He’s really fast, really quick,” one scout said. “He’s not going to be fazed by tough competition. His style translates quickly to the NFL. Most guys have to learn to play without using their hands all the time. That’s how he already plays. You see so many flags on the young guys because they grab people all the time because of the college rules. This guy is really quick with his feet.” Clocked the fastest 40 at the combine to go with a vertical jump of 39 ½ inches and a 10-9 broad jump. “After Travis Hunter he might be the best athlete of all of them,” said a second scout. “He is electric as far as change of direction, movement, speed. He’s a thinner dude. Just elite cover athletic ability, awareness and confidence. He is a cocky little guy. Reminds me of Janoris Jenkins coming out of Florida (in 2012), but faster. The only thing is that size.” Redshirted in 2021, barely played in 2022 and started 20 games the past two years. Arms were 31. “There are some size and strength limitations,” a third scout said. “But he is quick, fast, feisty, aggressive and has good instincts. I just worry about the size and strength over the long haul. But it’s about instincts and speed. It’s hard to find that combo.” Finished with 89 tackles, six interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Forced three fumbles. Missed five games in 2024 with what was described as a nagging shoulder problem. “He had the unfortunate episode where he had I want to say a shoulder injury of some kind and he went to the hospital in Lexington and he got stuck with an infected needle, of all things,” said a fourth scout. “So he missed a good portion of the season and then came back at the end. Kentucky has a history of producing DBs the last eight, 10 years under Stoops because that was Mark’s position as a coach. Hairston’s the best one they’ve ever had, he really is. I think he’s definitely a first-rounder. Running that time at the combine solidified it.” Three-star recruit from West Bloomfield, Mich.
4. JAHDAE BARRON, Texas (5-10 ½, 198, 4.38, 1): Played corner, nickel, dime and safety. “This guy is a player,” said one scout. “I’ve never seen a corner who lines up in the A gap calling out coverages and blitz stuff. Really good athlete with change of direction. Not super explosive down the field. That’s the only thing. Kills stuff in zone and underneath where he can jump routes. Hands are really good. Not a safety-type tackler but really good for a corner. Just a versatile winner wherever you play this guy. He’s more of a skilled cover guy than Brian Branch. Goes in the 20’s.” Started 39 of 57 games over five seasons. Finished with 226 tackles (21 for loss), eight picks and 24 passes defensed. Shortest arms (29 5/8) of the top 12 at the position. “He’s a little shorter than you would like,” said a second scout. “He ran fast (but) the play speed is kind of average. Willing tackler. He’s a really good football player. He’s late first.” Four-star recruit from Austin, Texas. “I think he’s more late second, early third,” a third scout said. “More of a zone corner than a man corner. He’s physical to a certain degree but a lot of his plays come off of his vision and catching tipped balls. He’ll be very good in a zone scheme. In a man scheme, he might struggle some because he’s not as quick-twitched as the (top) guys. I think he’s a nickel/free safety. He can’t play man coverage like Branch. He’s not a natural man-cover guy. He plays with his eyes.”
5. BENJAMIN MORRISON, Notre Dame (6-0, 191, no 40, 1-2): Was looking like a first-round draft choice until Game 6 last season when he suffered a torn labrum in his left hip that required season-ending surgery. Last week, he put up 17 reps on the bench press. On April 19, he will try to do more during a scheduled workout in Arizona. “He had a hip, which is kind of scary,” one scout said. “He’ll be a winning starter. Best in press. Smothers people in press. He’s got quick feet and can run. In off coverage he’s not the most fluid or nifty but you see the burst. In run support he’s strong. Their defensive coordinator (Al Golden in 2024) does some awesome stuff and they blitz him. He’s so fast when they blitz him.” Had somewhat similar damage to his right hip in high school and underwent surgery in early 2021. “He’s a second-round guy,” a second scout said. “He has the height-weight-speed that people are looking for.” In 31 games (26 starts), he finished with 84 tackles, nine picks and 18 passes defensed. “Thing he does best is play man-to-man coverage, which every team is looking for,” a third scout said. “He’s going to get stronger. Very smart. If he’s healthy, he’ll go in the first. If he’s not totally healthy, he’ll go top of the second.” Four-star recruit from Phoenix. Arms were 30 3/8. “Fluid hips, quick feet,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got long speed. He just kind of struggles when there’s bigger bodies playing more physical with him. He lacks the strength and length to play at the line of scrimmage and press, but his feet are good enough to mirror and match in phase. It’s just a matter of that hip and how far that takes him down. And he had the other one done in high school. It was just a matter of time to do the one he did this year. But I don’t see him getting out of the second round.”
6. AZAREYE'H THOMAS, Florida State (6-1 ½, 196, 4.59, 2): Appeared to have a shot late in the first round before he ran a slow 40 at pro day. “He was easily a first-rounder and then he didn’t run well,” one scout said. “He’s gonna drop because of that but I didn’t think there was a lot of evidence he didn’t have straight-line speed. If anything, I thought it was the lateral piece that would hurt him. I’d fight for him because he’s a big corner. Someone will have to believe in their eyes and not the (watch). His card will be so marked up in red that it’ll be hard to turn it in. He’s going to be a value pick for somebody. He was a bright light in a dark room there.” Third-year junior. Played sparingly as a freshman, played extensively as a sophomore and then started 12 games as a junior. “I like him over Barron,” a second scout said. “Their season was bad but his was good. You can line him up against bigger guys, line him up against fast guys. He can play on or off the ball, and he can play inside. He’s got a really big upside because he can do so much, and he’s big.” Finished with 95 tackles, two picks and 15 passes defensed. Arms were 32 3/8. Hand size (10) was the largest of the top 12 corners. “They had a tough season,” a third scout said. “He got picked on more this year than I would have expected. I still think this guy’s a solid second-rounder. Then again, I saw he had some rough reps in the Senior Bowl, too. He's every bit of 6-2 and has great foot quickness, movement skills, ability to mirror in man coverage, acceleration and recovery ability. I think he did struggle on the more multi-breaking routes. At 6-2, you’re always going to have some difficulty with that and he also would get bodied by bigger receivers. He’s pretty willing (as a tackler). He’s not a coward in that area.” Four-star recruit from Niceville, Fla.
7. SHAVON REVEL, East Carolina (6-2, 200, no 40, 2): Compared by two scouts to Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles’ first-round pick from Toledo last year and an all-rookie team corner. “Early on I said this could be Quinyon Mitchell,” said one scout. “He is tall and that length shows up. Explosive close as a straight-line athlete. Yeah, for a guy that tall, he’s going to get leggy at the top of a route and get segmented in transition. But he has rare stuff. For such a long guy he’s so explosive and fast. He displayed natural timing to make a play on the ball and high-point it. Probably my favorite thing about this guy was just how aggressive he was as a run defender. He throws his body around. He probably needs to protect himself a little bit more. You can tell: he loved it. This was a solid Day 2 guy.” That picture changed dramatically Sept. 18 in practice when he suffered a torn ACL; surgery was performed Oct. 15. “Before he got hurt he was trending to being a first-round corner so now maybe he goes in the second or third,” a second scout said. “He has a small body of work and it’s not against a ton of Power 4 teams. Impressive run with people. Able to play the ball. Strong tackler. Has a lot of high-level starter traits.” Spent 2020-’21 at a junior college but the first season was canceled and he played just six games in the second. Started 15 of 24 games for the Pirates from 2022-‘24, finishing with 70 tackles, three picks and 15 passes defensed. “I was hoping he’d get to an all-star game and then you could see what he looked like against top receivers and quarterbacks,” said a third scout. “I think about him and Mitchell. I wasn’t sold on Mitchell until the all-star game (Senior Bowl).” Three-star recruit from Winston-Salem, N.C. “Where he goes I don’t know, but he has first-round talent,” said a fourth scout. “He’s a late-bloomer. Hasn’t played a ton. He didn’t even know how good he was.” Arms were 32 5/8. Added a fifth scout: “ACL in September after three games. Seems to be a theme for this group. Raw, but he’s competitive. He’s going to start if he’s healthy.”
8. DARIEN PORTER, Iowa State (6-3, 197, 4.31, 2-3): Arrived in Ames in 2019 and stayed six years. ”He could be the enigma of the whole draft,” said one scout. “He was a track guy to start with and then he was a receiver and then he was a corner. To Iowa State’s disservice, they didn’t put him out there enough where you could just go, ‘Yeah, I really like this guy.’ They talked him up but they didn’t play him the way they talked about him. He’s talented, he’s big and he can run. If you do (take him top-100), you feel pretty good about your team already.” Ran a blazing 40 and led the corners in the short shuttle (4.04) and 3-cone (6.71). Longest arms at the position (33 1/8). “He’s just very raw,” a second scout said. “Where he’ll make his money is special teams to start. He’s an excellent gunner. He blocked five kicks over his career, including four punts and one field goal. He’s just new to the position. Only played half the snaps on defense this year. He’s got a lot of traits that are maybe average right now but they can be better. He had two picks against Iowa (Sept. 7) and got blown up on the map.” Three-star wide receiver from Bettendorf, Iowa. Ran the first sub-47 second clocking in the 400 meters in Iowa prep history (46.99). Made one reception in three seasons as a wideout before moving to corner in 2022. “Long, lean, athletic and fast,” a third scout said. “Battled through an ankle sprain during the season. His ability to turn and run with guys really showed up. Limited tackle production but more than willing to run support. Not afraid to stick his nose in there. Doesn’t have a high volume of times when he was targeted but he makes plays on the ball in man and zone.” Finished with 51 tackles, three picks and six passes defensed. “Not aggressive or violent,” said a fourth scout. “Poor tackler. Not strong. But can this guy move around for a big dude. He’s raw, but the arrow’s going the right way. Fourth round.”
9. TREY AMOS, Mississippi (6-0 ½, 194, 4.45, 3): Played 34 games at Louisiana Lafayette from 2020-’22, 14 games (one start) at Alabama in 2023 and 13 games, all starts, at Ole Miss last year. “Alabama took him in the portal and then, ‘Well, this guy’s really not good enough,’” said one scout. “He really improved this year. He has worked himself to maybe third round and no later than the fourth. You can poke some holes in him but he’s a good corner.” Finished with 121 tackles, four picks and 31 passes defensed. “He reminds me of a poor man’s version of the kid that got drafted this year, Kool-Aid (McKinstry),” said a second scout. “Talented athlete, but when you have to put your head into the fray, will he do it? I’m not sold on him doing it. He’s quick, he’s long and can match up in man coverage. This year he played pretty solid and pretty consistent. The thing for him is to be a consistent tackler in space and improve his overall field awareness.” Arms were 31 ¼. From New Iberia, La. “Kind of struggles with change of direction,” said a third scout. “Got good zone feel. In run support, some feistiness but weak. Has enough talent to back up. Fourth-fifth round.”
10. JORDAN HANCOCK, Ohio State (6-0, 190, 4.45, 3-4): Often overshadowed in a secondary that included free safety Caleb Downs, strong safety Lathan Ransom and cornerback Denzel Burke. “When it came down to it he was kind of the glue, he and the safety from Alabama (Downs),” one scout said. “He might ultimately end up playing better than their other two corners (Burke, Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun). I think his talent level will take him a long way because he’s smart and he’s a leader. He played nickel for them but probably should have been starting outside to keep him on the field more. He’s a jack of all trades and he could be the master of all of them. He has no problem covering guys outside or taking on linemen and making tackles.” Clocked a solid 40 at pro day to go with a vertical jump of 41 ½, best among the corners. “He was their best corner,” a second scout said. “He’s more ball denial than interception but he has the ability to play the ball. He can play nickel, safety, any position in the secondary. Athletic, good tackler, great feet, can run, strong, smart, great hips. Like him in press and off coverage. Little bit inconsistent to shed blocks. If he’s in the box as a nickel he can get pushed around a little bit. He’s dynamite.” Missed the first six games of 2022 with a hamstring injury. Started 23 of 41 games over four years, finishing with 98 tackles, three picks and 14 passes defensed. “I just like the way he handles his body and the way he moves around,” said a third scout. “He was a position leader. I’d say he’s probably third day, fourth or fifth round.” Rated as the No. 4 corner in the U.S. coming out of Suwanee, Ga., in 2021.
11. JACOB PARRISH, Kansas State (5-9 ½, 193, 4.31, 3-4): Third-year junior. “He’s coming out as a junior,” said one scout. “If he goes back, next year he’s a second-, third-round pick. This year, he’ll be a third-rounder or fourth-rounder. He can play outside and nickel. He’s very competitive. They really liked him and were sad they lost him. But it’s better to lose them to the combine than the portal, you know? He’s going to be a good player. He’ll be one of those guys that fans say, ‘Where did that guy come from?’” Started all 24 games the past two seasons after playing 14 games as a key backup in 2022. Finished with 108 tackles, five picks and 19 passes defensed. Arms were 30 7/8. “Pretty good man cover ability,” said a second scout. “He’ll bang you and has pretty good eyes in zone. Has a good talent level, just not a great talent level.” Ran one of the top 40’s at the combine. “He doesn’t play like that (4.31), though,” the second scout said. “He probably was their No. 2 corner at the end of the year, maybe their No. 3. He’s going to go between the fourth and the sixth.” From Olathe, Kan.
12. CALEB RANSAW, Tulane (5-11 ½, 196, 4.33, 3-4): Played 34 games from 2021-’23 at Troy before following Trojans coach Jon Sumrall when he accepted the Tulane job in 2024. “They literally kidnapped him from Troy to Tulane,” one scout said. “They did not let this kid see the light of day because they did not believe the portal would be kind to him so he followed (Sumrall) down there. He’s a sensational nickel. He’s got the size of an outside corner and the size of a safety. He can play all five positions but his specialty is nickel. He’s very good at it. He tested well. They absolutely love this kid. Underrated. I think he’ll go as high as the second and no later than the third.” Ran a fast 40 in tandem with a 40-inch vertical jump. Arms were 30 ¾. “That one surprised me, that he could run that fast,” said a second scout. “He looked good in the all-star games and OK during the regular season. But he’s smart and competes. His quickness is a bit of a problem. Every time I watched him I was trying to figure out what you do with the guy. He’s in the fourth-fifth range.” Finished with 115 tackles, just one pick and only eight passes defensed. From Harvest, Ala.
THE NEXT SIX
Denzel Burke, Ohio State (5-11, 187, 4.49)
One scout said: “What he looked like two years ago is not what he looked like this year. I’m not sure if he should have come out and then had reservations about it, or he’s a guy who peaked too early. Still a good player. But he was going early-to-mid first round last year and now you’re talking second to third. Against Michigan and Notre Dame, they were actually trying to find him. He was being targeted a lot, which was different than in past years. It just didn’t look like the tenacity was the same.”
Justin Walley, Minnesota (5-10, 194, 4.43)
One scout said: “He’s a good nickel. Undersized and scrappy. Best in man coverage. Average athlete. He had good speed, but there were some plays you questioned that, too. More of a nickel guy. You like the makeup and the way he competes. He’s just kind of smaller.”
Jaylin Smith, Southern Cal (5-10 ½, 191, 4.42)
One scout said: “Struggled at the Senior Bowl in one-on-one’s but that can be a false tell. Scrappy and competitive. Not great in press. He’s got recovery (speed). Really like his feet. He does get pushed around at the point. Needs to get stronger. He’s third-fourth round.”
Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech (6-1, 185, 4.48)
One scout said: “The other corner there, Mansoor Delane, stayed in school but was a better player. Strong’s one of those guys that’s 6-1, runs well enough, is athletic enough. He does enough to stay on the field but he doesn’t do enough to get you excited. He’s not getting torched all the time and getting penalties, but he’s also not making very many plays. He’s a backup in the league.”
Nohl Williams, California (6-0 ½, 200, 4.48)
One scout said: “He’s the best corner on the West Coast. Last year he was, too. Fast and instinctive, can play outside or inside. The big thing is his ball skills. Led the country in picks (seven).”
Quincy Riley, Louisville (5-10 ½, 193, 4.48)
One scout said: “He’s sticky in man coverage. He’ll take kill shots … but misses way too many tackles. He can run. Little more straight-line. Little bit rigid in change of direction. He’s a cover guy, a pure cover guy. He knows how to play within his body. This kid’s like that in coverage.”
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Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny
I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs.
Adopt a Chief: Jared Wiley
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03-25-2025, 11:27 AM
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