The popular saying is true: no NFL team can ever have enough cornerbacks. More CBs are drafted each year than any other position, with no less than 36 selected in every draft since 2020.
With such a huge demand comes a giant group of aspiring collegiate corners. The early impression on the class is that there is room for a couple at the top to seize the bull by the horns and emerge as the best, while the next grouping is slightly lower-end than the similar tiers of the past couple of seasons at the same preseason point.
These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.
After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the cornerbacks in the NFL draft class of 2024.
1. Denzel Burke, Ohio State
Ohio State has cranked out many first-round cornerbacks in recent years, and Burke has the pedigree and size to be the next. His body positioning and calm aggression stand out.
2. Kalen King, Penn State
King has outstanding play strength and playmaking hands. If he learns to curb the hand usage down the field, he’s got potential to be an impact NFL starter.
3. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
McKinstry has a sweet nickname and sweet skills in both man and zone coverage to go with it. Much like Kelee Ringo from Georgia in this timeframe for the draft class of 2023, McKinstry gets beaten over the top more than expected for a top-flight prospect.
4. Max Melton, Rutgers
Melton consistently shows a high football IQ and swift reflexes to act upon his fantastic instincts. If he cleans up his feet and his ability to get off blocks, Melton could rise to the top of the class.
5. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
DeJean flashed the playmaking with a pick-6 in the Iowa bowl game against Kentucky. He’s still pretty green, but it’s exciting to think of how he can ripen into a scheme-versatile outside corner.
6. Tony Grimes, Texas A&M (transfer from UNC)
Grimes transferred after an up-and-down time at North Carolina. He’s a classic bump-and-run outside CB with documented 4.3 speed, but he needs to play stronger. Bullish that the transfer will coax out the best in Grimes, but he’s also a prospect who could plummet this fall.
7. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Lassiter offers a high floor as a very good tackler and a savvy corner in using the sideline to help him in deep coverage. The short-range coverage and his antsy feet are the keys to being higher or lower on this list next April.
8. Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
Long, smooth corner who can handle speed on the outside, Pritchett looks like a fine man/off-man corner. Teams who value aggressive run defense from the CB spot won’t like him as much.
9. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Feisty, speedy outside corner with a big-play mentality, Abrams-Draine looks and plays bigger than his 5-11/178 listing. Improving his transition and eye discipline are key to his draft stock.
10. Jason Marshall Jr., Florida
Marshall offers length, ball skills and a willingness to mix it up on the outside. Upwardly mobile if he gets more disciplined in coverage and learns to not leave his feet so readily as a tackler.
Next in line
These are in some semblance of an order but it’s far from a hard-set one. Much more of a watch list…
Malachi Moore, Alabama
Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Cam Hart, Notre Dame
Duce Chestnut, LSU
Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
D.J. James, Auburn
Josh Wallace, Michigan
Justin Walley, Minnesota
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
Billy Bowman, Oklahoma
Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
Storm Duck, Penn State (UNC transfer)
Dontae Manning, Oregon
Cobee Bryant, Kansas
Jarvis Brownlee, Louisville
Josh Newton, TCU
Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
Marcellas Dial, South Carolina
Zy Alexander, LSU (SELA transfer)
Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State
Brandon Johnson, Duke
Christian Roland-Wallace, USC
JK Johnson, LSU
MJ Devonshire, Pittsburgh
Devin Kirkwood, UCLA
Charles Brantley, Michigan State
*Javon Bullard, Georgia is evaluated as a safety in the Brian Branch mode
