2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Cornerback

8/19/23: While Joey Porter Jr. received all of the attention, King was Penn State’s best cornerback in 2022 and made more big plays. King totaled 30 tackles, three interceptions, 21 passes defended and one forced fumble on the year. Teams avoided throwing at Porter at times, and King was phenomenal when targeted. The Detroit, Michigan product King has quality size, is physical, tough and instinctive, plus makes a lot of plays on the ball.

8/19/23: Carson was a solid corner for the Demon Deacons during the past two seasons. In 2022, he recorded 21 tackles, seven passes defended. He totaled 31 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups for 2021. Carson has good size, speed, and movement skills.

8/19/23: Dial will continue South Carolina’s tradition of producing draftable cornerbacks for the next level, as he flashed ability in 2022 in the starter role across from Cam Sutton. During 2022, Dial recorded three interceptions, 12 passes broken up and 45 tackles. He totaled 33 tackles and six breakups in the previous season.

Dial has a good skill set with size, speed and athleticism. He needs to get more consistent, but he could be a riser for the 2023 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: DeJean was all over the field for Iowa in 2022, making big plays on his way to totaling 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight passes defended. It was a breakout season for him. DeJean is a gritty and instinctive defender. While he has played cornerback for Iowa, some team sources who have already done tape study on DeJean say they believe he would be a better fit at safety and nickel corner in the NFL. They feel that would let him use his instincts to make plays and keep him around the ball while also protecting a potential lack of juice as an outside corner to run with twitchy pro receivers.

8/19/23: Before Melton decided to return to Rutgers, WalterFootball.com reported in the Hot Press that some team sources thought Melton could have ended up as their highest-graded corner for the 2023 NFL Draft. They also felt he could have had the best 2022 tape of any cornerback prospect eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2022, Melton went under the radar because of playing for a bad Rutgers team that did not qualify for a bowl game. He totaled 33 tackles, two interceptions and nine passes broken up on the year.

Melton is listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, but NFL team sources say he might be more like 5-foot-11, 188 pounds. They note that Melton has excellent speed. He is super fast, which lets him shut down the deep part of the field. Receivers can’t outrun him, and he is a superb athlete who can mirror the route to prevent separation. Melton is a tough competitor and has a lot of upside.

8/19/23: Bullard is a corner/safety hybrid who is similar to Detroit Lions defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch. In 2022, Bullard recorded 46 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up and 3.5 sacks. Bullard is highly instinctive, tough and physical, and has excellent feel and awareness. Bullard has a thinner frame, so it would help him to gain some weight for the NFL.

8/19/23: Lassiter was behind some more experienced players before, but he has a good skill set and could be a breakout cover corner for the Bulldogs in 2023. He recorded 38 tackles and four passes batted in 2022. Like some other recent Georgia corners, Tyson Campbell and Kelee Ringo, Lassiter has speed and good size. However, his instincts are lacking along with not making plays on the ball.

8/19/23: Arnold played well for Alabama in 2022, recording 45 tackles, an interception and eight passes broken up. He has quality size to go along with quickness and athleticism. While Arnold has a really good skill set, he lacks instincts and makes some mental mistakes. Arnold struggles to find the ball in flight and has issues with awareness and feel. If Arnold can show improvement in his instincts, awareness and feel, he could rise.

8/19/23: Burke had an excellent 2022 season in terms of keeping receivers from getting open. He blanketed wideouts and was very consistent in preventing separation. In 2022, Burke recorded 34 tackles, five passes broken up and zero interceptions. He totaled 37 tackles. an interception and 12 passes defended in 2021. Burke could help himself in 2023 by showing an improved ability to pick off passes and make splash plays.

8/19/23: Most freshman don’t play immediately for Nick Saban, but McKinstry was an anomaly. McKinstry notched 26 tackles, an interception, a pass broken up and a sack in 2021. In 2022, McKinstry recorded 35 tackles, a sack, an interception and 15 passes broken up.

There is no doubt that McKinstry has the size and talent to rise as he gains experience. He possesses upside and potential, but is more of a press-man corner only for the NFL. McKinstry is not a good fit to play zone or off-man coverage. Because of being an Alabama cornerback, McKinstry could get overhyped.

8/19/23: Illinois has produced some excellent defensive back prospects for the NFL in recent years, and Nicholson could carry the torch for the program into the 2024 NFL Draft. In 2022, Nicholson recorded 19 tackles, an interception and seven passes defended. With Devon Witherspoon in the NFL, Nicholson should take over as the No. 1 corner for the Fighting Illini.

8/19/23: Vaughn is a big cornerback who has excellent size and length. In 2022, he recorded 25 tackles and nine passes defended. Even though Vaughn is a big corner, he moves well for his size. It would help Vaughn to show more ball skills and produce some interceptions in 2023.

8/19/23: Torrence is a very tall and long cornerback who had an impressive 2022 season for the Sun Devils, recording 36 tackles, an interception and eight passes defended. Torrence’s fluidity and speed will be examined closely in 2023 to see if he can be more than a press-man corner.

8/19/23: Dixon could be a mid-round talent for the 2024 NFL Draft. In 2022, he recorded 23 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defended while forming an excellent trio with Joey Porter Jr. and Kalen King. With King as Penn State’s No. 1 corner for 2023, Dixon should see favorable matchups against No. 2 and 3 receivers. Dixon could stand to add some weight to his frame for the NFL.

8/19/23: Walley was a gritty defender for the Golden Gophers in 2022, recording 39 tackles, three picks and two passes defended. For the next level, Walley might fit best as a nickel corner.

8/19/23: Moore recorded 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five passes broken up in 2022 as the backup star-position defender behind Brian Branch. Now that Branch has moved on, Moore should take over as the starter in 2023. Moore is a quality athlete with instincts. However, he struggles to stay with receivers in man coverage and lacks a burst out of his break and in transition. Moore also lacks some power and does not play strong.

Moore put together a phenomenal freshman season in 2020, totaling 44 tackles, one forced fumble, three interceptions and six passes broken up. He had 16 tackles and an interception in 2021, but also missed the final four games of the year with an injury. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has quality size to go with speed and instincts. He can play safety or nickel corner.

8/19/23: Duck had a decent 2022 season for North Carolina, recording 46 tackles, an interception and 14 passes defended. While Duck has good size, he has some limitations for the next level. He transferred to Louisville for 2023.

8/19/23: Marshall has some talent, but he needs to become more consistent. In 2022, Marshall recorded 29 tackles, an interception and eight passes defended. He has the potential to rise if he can improve his technique and consistency.

8/19/23: Hart was decent in 2022, but he did not make big plays. Hart recorded 25 tackles, zero interceptions and four passes defended in 2022. He needs to produce more in 2023.

8/19/23: In 2022, Grimes recorded 36 tackles with seven passes defended. He collected nine passes broken up and 47 tackles in 2021. He did not record an interception for North Carolina in either season. After the 2022 season, Grimes transferred to Texas A&M.

8/19/23: Lewis recorded 29 tackles, an interception and four passes defended in 2022. He played better in 2021, having put up 53 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. Similar to teammate Cam Hart, Lewis needs to make more plays in 2023.

8/19/23: Battle started out his college career at Alabama before transferring to the Wolfpack for the 2022 season. In 2022, he had two interceptions, five passes broken up and 34 tackles. Battle recorded 36 tackles, an interception and 10 passes defended in 2020 with the Crimson Tide.