The Triple Take crew of Dale Lolley, Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in April. Today, they delve into the cornerback position.
The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dale's First Look
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6-0 , 188 lbs.
2. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 , 194 lbs.
3. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 , 194 lbs.
4. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5-11 , 183 lbs.
5. Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina, 6-1 , 194 lbs.
Dale's Second Look
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6-0 , 188 lbs.
2. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 , 194 lbs.
3. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 , 194 lbs.
4. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5-11 , 183 lbs.
5. Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina, 6-1 , 194 lbs.
Dale's Thoughts:Johnson completed an on-field workout earlier this week after not having done anything at any of the all-star games, NFL Scouting Combine or Michigan's pro day due to his recovery from a toe injury and than a hamstring issue. He still did not run a 40, which is concerning. So, teams will have to trust the tape on him. His 2023 tape was better than his 2024 tape. Revel is a bit of a projection, as well, as he suffered a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season. But at just a shade under 6-2 and nearly 200 pounds, he's a classic matchup corner on the outside for today's NFL. Trey Amos of Ole Miss just missed my top 5. At nearly 6-1 and 195 pounds, he's got good size. He's also good in press coverage. He's got definite starter qualities. Azareye'h Thomas of Florida State (6-1 , 198 pounds) also has good size and played a lot of press-man coverage in college. But his 40 time of 4.58 seconds at his pro day was disappointing and might limit his potential in the NFL. Nohl Williams of California had 12 interceptions over the past three seasons, including seven in 2024. He's played a lot of man coverage, as well. He was used, at times, to shadow the opposing team's top receiver. His 4.50-second 40 time at the Combine wasn't great, but he's a good player who takes the ball away. Jacob Parrish of Kansas State, Quincey Riley of Louisville, Mac McWilliams of UCF and Upton Stout of Western Kentucky all profile as nickel corners in the league, but they all profile as players who might be able to come in and help right away. Riley also has enough size that he could play outside, as well.
Matt's First Look
1. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 3/4, 194 lbs.
2. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 3/4, 194 lbs.
3. Shavon Revel, East Carolina, 6-1 7/8, 194 lbs.
4. Maxwell Hairston, Memphis, 5-11 1/4, 183 lbs.
5. Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State, 6-1 1/2, 197 lbs.
Matt's Second Look
1. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 3/4, 194 lbs.
2. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 3/4, 194 lbs.
3. Shavon Revel, East Carolina, 6-1 7/8, 194 lbs.
4. Trey Amos, Mississippi, 6-0 3/4, 195 lbs.
5. Maxwell Hairston, Memphis, 5-11 1/4, 183 lbs.
Matt's Thoughts:Once again, Travis Hunter was intentionally left off these rankings and he clearly would be the top cornerback (let alone wide receiver) in this entire draft class. He is special. Johnson vs. Barron for the top spot remains a very close race and really comes down to what you are looking for. The NFL won't get a 40-yard dash time from Johnson and his straight-line speed remains a concern. He is best in off coverage as a zone player and while Barron is also best in zone, he is a jack-of-all-trades cornerback that can excel all over the defensive backfield, particularly out of the slot. Thomas, who is best in man to man, drops out of the top five because of serious pure speed concerns. Amos could hear his name called in the first round. He has good length and traits overall. Amos could help any secondary regardless of scheme after appearing in 61 games at the college level. Another very interesting player is Kansas State's Jacob Parrish. Even though he is undersized, Parrish plays the game with aggression, is a very fluid athlete, and is highly capable inside or on the perimeter. If he were a few inches taller, Parrish might compete for the top spot on this list. Nebraska's Tommi Hill is another name to know that could vastly outkick his draft position. A foot injury slowed him down this past season and hindered his pre-draft process. Hill is thickly built with very good size overall and has an extensive wide receiver background, which shows up with his ball skills. Hill is best as a press-man coverage player, which makes him very appealing. Hill also plays the run well and has a special teams background, but don't assume that he is only a depth piece on defense. In a year or so, Hill might be a fine starter.
Mike's First Look
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6-1, 185 lbs.
2. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 3/4, 194 lbs.
3. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5-11 1/4, 183 lbs.
4. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 3/4, 194 lbs.
5. Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State, 6-1 1/2, 191 lbs.
Mike's Second Look
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado, 6-1, 185 lbs.
2. Jahdae Barron, Texas, 5-10 3/4, 194 lbs.
3. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, 5-11 1/4, 183 lbs.
4. Will Johnson, Michigan, 6-1 3/4, 194 lbs.
5. Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State, 6-1 1/2, 191 lbs.
Mike's Thoughts:No need to rearrange the stack at the top of what looks to be an intriguing class of cornerbacks, after further review. That includes Iowa State's Darien Porter (6-3, 195 lbs.) positioned as a sleeper initially in the wake of switching from wide receiver midway through his college career and playing just 12 career games (seven career starts) at cornerback. He's a project but one that appears well worth the effort, potentially East Carolina's Shavon Revel (6-3, 193 lbs.) had two interceptions, including a pick-six, in his first three games in 2024 before losing the rest of the season to a torn ACL. As long as the medical checks out, Revel will hear his name called sooner than later Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison (6-0, 190 lbs.) is another player who will need to pass medical muster to a potential drafting team's satisfaction. His 2024 campaign was limited to six games (hip) but he's the author of nine career interceptions in three seasons (six as a true freshman in 2022). Morrison was a captain at Notre Dame and his father Darryl played safety at Arizona and in the NFL for four seasons Kansas State's Jacob Parrish (5-9 3/4, 191 lbs.) plays fast, as his time of 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine would suggest. He projects as an option in the slot but has also played outside and plays bigger than his size wherever he lines up California's Nohl Williams (6-03/8, 199 lbs.) led FBS with seven interceptions in 2024, including two against Auburn and a pick-six against Miami's Cam Ward, this year's presumptive QB1. Williams also had an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in his second season at Cal after three at UNLV Texas San Antonio's Zah Frazier (6-2 7/8, 186 lbs.) ran a 4.36 40 at the Combine in Indianapolis. He made the first 10 starts of his career in 2024 and responded with six interceptions and nine passes defensed Mississippi's Trey Amos (6-0 3/4, 195 lbs.) is a press-man cornerback who tackles as well as covers. "He is smooth and fluid, has outstanding instincts and can find and play the ball," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah assessed Cobee Bryant (6-0, 180 lbs.) of Kansas can, likewise, find the football and catch it. He's one of three Power 5 players to have at least four interceptions in each of the last two seasons (running his career total to 13) Louisville's Quincy Riley (5-10 5/8, 194 lbs.) intercepted 15 passes (including two pick-sixes) in six seasons (three at Middle Tennessee State, three at Louisville). His instincts were on display at the Senior Bowl. "He's a third- or fourth-round player," Jeremiah maintained. "I think he can make an impact right away." Minnesota's Justin Walley (5-10 1/8, 190 lbs.) intercepted seven passes in four seasons with the Gophers and led Minnesota with 10 passes defensed on the way to earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024. He ran a 4.40 40 at the Combine.
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