Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds continues the previews with the cornerback position – not including nickelbacks, which will spotlighted in a different preview – offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at outside cornerback.

Josh Queipo then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top cornerback prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely cornerback for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Cornerback

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have one of the league’s better up-and-coming cornerbacks in Zyon McCollum, a former fifth-round pick who is entering a contract year. At 6-foot-2, 199 pounds, McCollum has ideal size combined with his 4.33 speed to be a perfect fit in Todd Bowles’ defense. McCollum needs to work on his ball skills to turn more pass breakups into interceptions, but when focused, he’s developed into a premier cover cornerback.

Tampa Bay has decided to keep Jamel Dean, a five-year starter, on the roster for now despite his unfortunate track record for missing time due to injury. When healthy, Dean is a very solid cornerback, but the team is growing weary of him constantly getting hurt. He’s missed the second halves of both of the team’s last two playoff losses in Detroit in 2023 and versus Washington last year due to injuries.

The Bucs were snakebit at the cornerback position last year with multiple injuries, including top reserve, veteran Bryce Hall, who suffered a broken leg in the season opener against the Commanders. Now that Hall has recovered, the Bucs re-signed him for another season, but his roster spot is not assured.

Hall’s injury forced two young cornerbacks to see playing time on defense and neither proved they were up to the challenge. Josh Hayes, a sixth-round pick in 2023, is one of the NFL’s best gunners, but he was often targeted when filling in for Dean on defense. Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted free agent last year, was even worse, and he may not make the 53-man roster this year.

In an effort to add more experience to the secondary, the Bucs signed veteran Kindle Vildor from Detroit this offseason. The highly competitive Vildor comes to Tampa Bay on a cheap one-year deal and may find a role as CB4 or CB5 this year. The team also re-signed cornerback Dallis Flowers, who was on the practice squad at the end of the 2024 season, for training camp depth.

The Bucs also have issues at nickel cornerback and that will be addressed in a different positional preview for the nickelback position on PewterReport.com.

What The Bucs Need At Cornerback

Although Zyon McCollum is entering a contract year, he is expected to sign a contract extension – perhaps this offseason. But the Bucs are actively looking for a starting-caliber cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft to come in and challenge Jamel Dean for the right to start opposite McCollum. Dean is 29, and getting younger and more talented cornerbacks onto the depth chart is a must, so look for the Bucs to draft at least one cornerback this year.

Tampa Bay interviewed six cornerbacks formally at the NFL Scouting Combine – all six of which have played some outside cornerback reps or started there during their college careers. The Bucs also brought in eight cornerbacks – more than any other position – for official 30 visits. Of those players, East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. and Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston received both a formal interview and a 30 visit, in addition to nickelback Jaylin Smith out of USC.

Todd Bowles is not afraid to draft and start rookie cornerbacks right away. Look no further than 2019 when the Bucs drafted Sean Murphy-Bunting in the second round and Dean in the third round. Bowles has said that cornerback is the easiest position for a rookie to come in and learn in his defense.

Top Cornerbacks In 2025 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Colorado CB Travis Hunter – Junior – 6-0, 188 – N/A

Hunter is a unicorn. He is one of the most prolific athletes of a generation. There is no testing to support this claim as Hunter opted out of all of the pre-draft testing, but the tape says it all. He routinely moves differently than every other player on the field despite playing almost every play on both offense and defense. Hunter’s athleticism is a rare blend of explosive burst and loose, fluid hips and ankles which aid him in elite body control. His recovery speed is special, and he regularly uses it to his advantage as he baits quarterbacks into throwing into perceived open windows only to find Hunter close the window with a pass breakup or interception.

There isn’t a single player or situation that he is willing to back down from, leading to him contesting catches at an above average rate, and with his receiving skills he has the ballhawk mentality that make organizations drool. Hunter is still learning the intricacies of the position but should be counted on to learn those nuances. All reports are that he is an incredibly intelligent and grounded player, and he showed technical improvements each year. Still if there is anyone to bet on, the guy who is a two-time All-American and winner of the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, Lott, Paul Hornung and Heisman trophies seems like a good bet.

2. Michigan CB Will Johnson – Junior – 6-2, 194 – N/A

Johnson played well for multiple seasons in one of the best defensive programs in the nation. His length and footwork give a strong base to work with. He’s a natural playmaker with nine career interceptions and three pick-sixes. Johnson is physical at the route stem and smart in coverage which should mean he can play from day one. But there are plenty of questions surrounding him that has led to a possible slide on draft day.

It starts with nagging injuries that cost him more than half the 2024 season including turf toe. Then, a hamstring strain prevented him from participating in much of the pre-draft process. Once he was able to perform at his Pro Day, Johnson opted not to run a 40-yard dash, reinforcing concerns about his speed. Johnson is a poor tackler and can be baited on double moves. The instincts are what separate him from others in this draft class. With active eyes and a good feel route development and how offenses want to attack him, Johnson breaks early to contest catches.

3. Ole Miss CB Trey Amos – Junior – 6-1, 195 – 4.43

Next to more athletic corners in this class, Amos has been under the radar for much of this pre-draft cycle. He isn’t as flashy as others, but he has some of the cleanest tape. He’s physical and aggressive throughout the route, giving it out as well as any receiver tries to make him take it. He enjoys playing press and getting into throwing lanes. This helped him to break up 16 passes and pick another three while running a forced incompletion rate of 21% last year.

Amos has good size and length to play the perimeter without being overmatched by bigger receivers. His route recognition is a plus and he attacks the ball at the catchpoint. He is a good run defender who can get off of blocks to help defeat perimeter screens. Amos can lose deep and isn’t as smooth in space as other corners in this class. And his aggression can lead to unnecessary laundry and over-pursuit on tackling angles. But his instincts and play recognition, combined with plus athleticism make him one of the highest floor corners in this draft. Amos is a Day 2 cornerback who could sneak into the first round.

4. East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Junior – 6-2, 202 – N/A

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. – Photo courtesy of ECU

Revel has dominated in limited reps against middling competition. With just 880 career snaps, there are concerns with a lack of development as he enters the NFL at 24 years old and coming off an ACL tear. But Revel offers rare size and athleticism that will be tantalizing. His wingspan is enormous, and it combined with his incredible recovery speed help him make up for mistakes early in a rep. Those mistakes come mostly from press alignments where he prefers to play. Revel’s tall frame leads to an upright playstyle, especially in his backpedal. That can lead to poor foot technique and wind up with him grabbing receivers and drawing penalties.

He will also face adjustments at the NFL level as he spent his entire career on the boundary and will need to adjust to a league that works from condensed looks regularly. The durability concerns are real with Revel, and his thinner frame will do him no help in dispelling them, but few corners in this draft offer his upside in terms of becoming a shutdown, man-everywhere-he-goes eraser that can transform how defenses can operate. Revel is considered a second-round pick, but could wind up being a first-rounder due to his potential.

5. Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas – Junior – 6-2, 195 – 4.58

Thomas is a young corner at just 20 years old. And that youth, paired with his impressive size and length are foundational for Thomas’ success. He has mainly played press man, and that is what is most attractive about his game as he delivers jolts, reroutes and pushes receivers to the sideline where they have very little room to work with. Thomas has an aggressive nature that lends well to this press man style and aides him as a run defender and as a pass rusher.

But there are legitimate concerns with his speed both at the top end as well as his initial burst when he fails to land a jam. He can also struggle against shiftier receivers who transition quickly across multiple planes or push quickly at the stem break. You can see this as he slows his feet when trying to change direction or decelerate. Thomas’ ball production is not as great as others with just 17 pass breakups and two interceptions in three years. Thomas is a Day 2 cornerback.

6. Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison – Junior – 6-0, 193 – N/A

Morrison was a standout defender at Notre Dame from the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman. But a hip injury this past year has put his future prospects in jeopardy and leaving teams weary. His game is predicated on his quick eyes and patient demeanor to let the game come to him. Morrison’s footwork is solid which keeps him consistently in phase, especially on the perimeter against vertical routes. His 27 passes defensed in just 26 starts shows he has a penchant for making plays on the ball.

His balance can get thrown off by receivers who are willing to challenge and play through his jam, leaving him panicking to recover and his tackling, like many corners in this class, can be suspect. And he can struggle to work through screen blocks to disrupt plays on the perimeter. The biggest question hanging around Morrison will be his recovery from the hip surgery and how fluid of an athlete he can be going forward. Morrison projects as a Day 2 selection.

7. Iowa State CB Darien Porter – Junior – 6-3, 195 – 4.30

Porter is one of the most physically gifted corners of his generation. His Relative Athletic Score is a near-perfect 10.0.

Darien Porter is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 5 out of 2752 CB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/1fGY0XW9w5 pic.twitter.com/liTOyXZT2p

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 3, 2025

This athleticism shows up on tape as he tries to impose his size and speed in press-man reps. He can easily exceed 23 miles an hour in game action, providing plenty of recovery speed. His hip sink is impressive for his height and his long arms allow him to disrupt throwing lanes that most other defenders would have no hope to. Porter also has the added benefit of being a special teams ace, blocking four punts and a field goal over his college career.

But despite being over 24 years old on draft day, his experience is scant as he was a late convert to defensive back and only won the starting position midway through 2024. Despite his age, Porter showed incredible progress in his limited starting experience, improving on an almost weekly basis. Any team drafting Porter will be looking for him to be a one contract player as he would almost 30 at the end it. Porter is a Day 2 pick.

8. Cal CB Nohl Williams – Senior – 6-0, 199 – 4.50

California CB Nohl Williams – Photo by: USA Today

Williams is a playmaker who creates turnovers and has a penchant for scoring himself. He prefers to play press where he can violently jam and re-route without sacrificing his balance or footwork and he is seamless transitioning his hips at the top of routes. He is one of the better run defenders in this draft class and aggressively works through blocks. The combination of his 6-foot frame, shorter arms and run defending tenacity make him the perfect fit for a modern-day nickel defender.

Because of his aggressive playstyle, flags will be a worrisome part of his game, and his long speed is more adequate than good. He lacks explosive traits, and because of that he can struggle to decelerate and will relinquish space on curls and comebacks. But his special teams value and experience, with over 50 college starts will make him a favorite mid-round pick for teams and fans alike. Williams’ 4.5 speed will likely make him a third- or fourth-round pick.

9. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke – Junior – 5-11, 186 – 4.48

Burke comes from a premier defensive program at Ohio State where he was a four-year starter. But Burke’s stock never seemed to rise from his promising freshman year. This is due primarily to athletic limitations and his instincts being more average than great. He profiles to be a better to a zone concept where he can keep his eyes in the backfield and react to throws in front of him. Burke can disrupt passes at the catch point, but lacks true ball skills to force turnovers.

Burke’s limited athleticism causes him to struggle in man coverage and will reduce the number of teams interested in him. But defenses that are cover-3/4 heavy may target him as a mid-round pick. He’s an effective run defender and a competent tackler which could help him in a possible transfer to the slot, but he has extremely limited experience there.

10. Virginia Tech CB Dorian Strong – Junior – 6-1, 185 – 4.50

Strong played in parts of five seasons, starting three, at Virginia Tech. He was an Honorable Mention All-ACC his final year as a Hokie. He shows plus skills in both zone coverage as well as jamming at the line of scrimmage. His length and frame make him an ideal fit on the boundary. He works well to disrupt route timing by using his own body to ride and cap receivers, slowing their progress through the route.

Strong struggles to recover when he misses early in the route as his speed is below average. His footwork can get sloppy at times, and his breakdown is slow. This causes him to give up too much space on vertical stems that come back to the line of scrimmage. Strong’s best attribute is his tenacity. It pushes him to contest catches and create plays on the ball. It also helps mask for average footspeed and tighter hips.

11. Rutgers CB Robert Longerbeam – Junior – 5-11, 175 – 4.39

Longerbeam led his team three times in pass deflections. The first was in 2021 with 10 despite starting just one game that year. The second was in 2023 with 11 and finally notching 13 this past season while earning an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. With sub-4.4 speed he has both the quick burst and long speed that should play in the NFL. But his advanced age, at 24 years old, bring doubts about how much upside he provides from his current level of play.

He uses plus fluidity to sink and transition against route stems, staying in phase well. This aide him best in zone coverage where he can click and close while keeping his eyes on the ball and reading through route progressions. But he lacks the strength to get off of blocks as a run defender and his lack of length can routinely get the best of him. The lack of strength limits his prospects as a nickel in the modern NFL. And when physical receivers bring the fight to him, he can get grabby leading to penalties.

12. LSU CB Zy Alexander – Junior – 6-1, 187 – 4.56

Alexander is a competitive player who lacks the elite athleticism that typically makes for NFL starters. Still, his progression from SE Louisiana to SEC starter shows a determined young man who can overcome adversity. He is a tall and lanky player who can disrupt throwing windows and he has plus ball tracking when the ball is in the air with 13 career interceptions and multiple picks in the each of the last two years at LSU. And he provides a solid base skillset as a strong tackler and good run defender.

Alexander is a liability in deep coverage where his sub-par speed becomes exposed. And his hip tightness and general slow movements leave him susceptible to plane changes on outs, digs and slants. Due to his size profile and his physicality, his best shot at finding a starting or reserve role on defense is as a boundary corner in a cover-3 system or as a safety.

Best Of The Rest

13. UTSA CB Zah Frazier – Senior – 6-3, 186 – 4.36

UTSA CB Zah Frazier – Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics

Frazier should remind Bucs fans of Zyon McCollum, even more so than other similar-sized corners, Shavon Revel and Damien Porter, in this draft. But unlike Porter and Revel, who played at larger programs, Frazier comes from a smaller school in UTSA just as McCollum came out of Sam Houston. Frazier’s height and speed are enviable, and his explosive and agility scores representing well, if not elite. Frazier set a school record for single-season interceptions last year with six while adding 15 passes defensed showing rare ball skills. But given the lack of competition and his overall lack of experience with less than 600 snaps at the college level, he figures to be a Day 3 selection.

Zah Frazier is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.35 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 179 out of 2752 CB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/eBK9KiaAX7 pic.twitter.com/VcX9MWOF92

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 3, 2025

14. Nebraska CB Tommi Hill – Junior – 6-0, 213 – N/A

Hill is a rocked-up defender who is built like a safety who is willing to play through physical ailments. That competitiveness will endear him to coaches, fans and teammates alike. But those ailments will also be some cause for concern as the league assesses his medicals coming off of a foot injury that cost him six games last year and affected his play for the rest of the season and during his pre-draft events. He’s a natural playmaker with good speed and strong pop as a hitter. Despite his solid traits, Hill was targeted relentlessly, consistently getting targeted once every seven coverage snaps and Shedeur Sanders targeted him 11 times in 2024.

15. Minnesota CB Justin Walley – Senior – 5-10, 190 – 4.40

Walley is an uber-competitive who overcomes his size deficiency with excellent technique. That’s why he will likely be an outside corner at the NFL level, despite his sub-six-foot frame. He’s smooth transitioning his hips and intelligently undercuts crossers and slants to eliminate throwing windows and make plays on the ball. This helped him to 21 passes defensed over the past two years and a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024. His tackling is sporadic, and he ran a near-20% missed tackle rate in 2024.

16. UCF CB B.J. Adams – Senior – 6-2, 187 – 4.46

Adams’ height and length, paired with his efficient hips make him a fit for man-heavy teams. He likes to reroute receivers at the line of scrimmage and use the sideline to reduce route spacing. His punch is solid. But his technique needs work, and he will need to build some play strength to avoid getting bullied by physical receivers. His high-waisted frame makes hip transitions clunky so he can fall off routes more than one would like. Adams shows effort as a run defender, but his effectiveness in that area isn’t great. In zone coverage, he can be manipulated out of his assignment and needs to better learn route developments and how he should react to them.

17. Kansas CB Mello Dotson – Senior – 6-0, 184 – 4.57

Kansas CBs Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant – Photo by: USA Today

Dotson will be a target for a heavier zone defense as his upright pedal and moderate speed will make him a liability in man coverage. His more unassuming demeanor belies the playmaking he has shown at Kansas where he recorded 37 pass break ups and 12 interceptions, including six interceptions returned for touchdowns. Despite checking the box for height, his weight is on the lighter side, giving him a wiry frame that lacks a lot of mass and strength. Because of this he can get thrown off of stems by physical receivers and he isn’t a positive add-on as a run defender.

Bucs Best Bets By Scott Reynolds

Rounds 1-3: East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr.

If Revel hadn’t torn his ACL in practice after the third game of his senior season, there is a very good chance that he would be a mid-first-round pick in this year’s draft. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Revel has ideal size to play in Todd Bowles’ scheme as an outside cornerback. While he was unable to do any athletic testing this offseason as he recovered from ACL surgery, Revel was timed at 4.4 at East Carolina and is plenty athletic and twitchy to be a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL.

Although he only played in three games this year, Revel had two interceptions, including a pick-six, along with four pass breakups. He only had one interception as a junior, but did recover a fumble for a touchdown, in addition to breaking up 12 passes. Revel also blocked two field goal attempts in 2023. He’s a physical cornerback who doesn’t shy away from tackling in run support and also recorded a sack on a blitz off the edge during his junior season. The Bucs had Revel in for an official 30 visit and formally interviewed him at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a legit option for Tampa Bay in either the first or second round.

Rounds 4-7: California CB Nohl Williams

Todd Bowles wants ballhawks in the secondary, and Williams was the nation’s best ballhawk last year, leading the country with seven interceptions, including a pick-six against Miami’s Cam Ward. Williams also had 15 pass breakups last year at California. After three years at UNLV, Williams transferred to Cal for his final two seasons. He amassed 14 career picks and 38 career passes defensed along with three forced fumbles. While playing for the Rebels, Williams picked off Jayden Daniels when he was the quarterback at Arizona State.

Williams scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries in 2023, and the consensus All-American also had an 80-yard kick return touchdown last year. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, Williams can play outside cornerback or nickelback in Tampa Bay’s scheme. His pedestrian 4.5 speed will keep him out of the first two rounds and may even cause him to slide to the early part of the fourth round. The Bucs had Williams in for an informal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine and had him in for an official 30 visit.