RYAN DUNLEAVY’S TOP 10 CORNERBACKS
Player School Ht Wt 1. Terrion Arnold Alabama 6-0 189 Preseason No. 2 cornerback on Alabama was No. 1 cornerback in the nation after the season. Tied for No. 5 nationally with 17 passes defended and five interceptions. Bump-and-run press coverage. Flips his hips, accelerates and hits like a safety. 2. Quinyon Mitchell Toledo 6-0 195 School-record 46 career pass breakups. Physical at the line of scrimmage against the pass on “Mitchell Island” and the run. No touchdowns allowed in 2023. Special teams coverage experience. NFL combine-best cornerback (20 reps at 225 pounds) on bench press. 3. Nate Wiggins Clemson 6-1 173 Lanky ball hawk likes to jump routes (two career pick-sixes) who sometimes falls off too far in his cushion. Blazer who reached 22.6 mph on field runs step-for-step with fast receivers to take away deep sideline shots. Run support is a concern. Looks to create psychological edge. 4. Cooper DeJean Iowa 6-0 202 Pairs smashmouth ways of a safety with prolific ball skills. Seven career interceptions and four touchdowns, including one as an elite punt returner. Sidelined for most of pre-draft process by broken leg. NFL hasn’t had a full-time white starting cornerback since 2002. 5. Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama 5-11 199 Top-10 overall prospect before last season raised some deep-speed and press-coverage concerns. Ran 4.47-second 40-yard dash before scheduled foot surgery (March).
Player School Ht Wt 6. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Missouri 5-11 183 Don’t let size fool you. Plenty of fire and physicality in that body. An extra perimeter defender to upend a running back. Brings contagious energy. Of 24 career passes defended, only one was an interception. Takes away underneath routes. 7. Max Melton Rutgers 5-11 187 Swaggy four-year starter whose older brother is an NFL receiver. Rose to the challenge against Ohio State’s prolific receivers. Reads quarterback’s eyes and drives on the ball to break up passes. Inside/outside versatility. Showed knack for blocking punts. Paintball-gun-related arrest in 2021. 8. Kamari Lassiter Georgia 5-11 186 Always around the ball to challenge the catch because of instincts. Doesn’t miss tackles. Better suited for zone coverage. Didn’t allow more than two catches in a game or draw a pass interference penalty in 14 games last season, per The Athletic. 9. T.J. Tampa Iowa St. 6-1 194 Tampa is from St. Petersburg, Fla. Jams receivers at the line of scrimmage and uses long arms to get breakups, but deep speed is a concern. Takes some risks jumping routes. “Gamer” who rarely comes off the field. 10. Mike Sainristil Michigan 5-9 182 First-team All-American slot in just his second season playing defense. Twitchy former receiver’s ball skills showed up with six interceptions in 2023. A coach on the field. Size is a factor against highpoint catchers. Not a shy tackler.