LSU CB Mansoor Delane – Photo by: IMAGN Images- Ken Ruinard

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds continues the previews with the cornerback position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at cornerback.

Adam Slivon 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

The Bucs have three talented options at the cornerback position in starter Zyon McCollum, who enters his fifth season in Tampa Bay, as well as Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish – Day 2 picks from a year ago. The problem is that talent hasn’t been fully realized yet. McCollum signed a lucrative three-year extension that paid him $16 million per year, yet had a subpar season in 2025. He needs a bounce-back year for sure in 2026.

Tampa Bay moved on from veteran Jamel Dean, an oft-injured starter who helped the team win Super Bowl LV in 2020, as well as reserve Kindle Vildor, who simply wasn’t very good. The team also didn’t re-sign veteran Bryce Hall, who spent last year on the practice squad.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Morrison is expected to compete with Parrish to start in place of Dean, but is coming off an injury-plagued rookie season. After recovering from hip surgery that shortened his final year at Notre Dame, Morrison went on to miss the final day of mandatory mini-camp with a hamstring injury, only to see that injury reoccur and cause him to miss four weeks of training camp as well as the entire preseason.

Morrison then missed seven more games due to a hamstring injury during the season, which further stunted his growth. Can Morrison stay healthy? Or did the Bucs draft another oft-injured cornerback to replace the one they had in Dean? Morrison was a ballhawk for the Fighting Irish, but has yet to collect his first NFL interception.

Parrish won the starting nickelback job in training camp over J.J. Roberts, who ultimately was lost for the season in August with a torn ACL. He stayed healthy for all 17 games and also had five starts at outside cornerback due to injuries. Parrish played well, recording two interceptions, two sacks and a fumble recovery as a rookie. If Parrish were to win the starting outside cornerback position he would shift into the slot in nickel defense and just play on the perimeter in non-nickel situations.

Josh Hayes returns for his fourth season as a special teams ace and a reserve cornerback. He’s made some strides in coverage as a defensive back, but where he stands out is on punt coverage where he is one of the league’s best gunners.

Tampa Bay signed a couple of cornerbacks to compete with Hayes for a special teams role and to provide depth. Kemon Hall and Chase Lucas have limited experience on defense, but neither has started a game nor picked off a pass or made a pass breakup. Demarion Williams was also signed early this offseason to be a developmental depth piece.

What The Bucs Need At Cornerback

The Bucs could really use another starting-caliber cornerback, as injuries have ravaged the position over the last several seasons in Tampa Bay and truly tested the team’s depth. However, the team would best be served getting an experienced veteran in free agency rather than drafting another young cornerback. Other NFL teams will be letting go of some veterans after the draft and the Bucs could target one of those cornerbacks.

Of course, signing a veteran free agent and drafting a good cornerback might be even better. Having another young developmental cornerback with talent could serve as a safety net for the Bucs in case McCollum doesn’t ascend and Morrison can’t stay healthy and live up to his draft status as a former second-round pick.

Tampa Bay could also use some more size at the cornerback position. Of the seven cornerbacks on the roster, only three are 6-foot or taller. McCollum is 6-foot-2, while Morrison and Josh Hayes are 6-foot.

Top Cornerbacks In 2026 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. LSU CB Mansoor Delane – Senior – 6-0, 182, 4.38

Delane made a strong transition to LSU in 2025 after transferring from Virginia Tech, finishing with 45 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and two interceptions while emerging as one of the SEC’s more reliable cover corners. He consistently took on top assignments and held his own, showing situational awareness, strong ball skills, and the football IQ to anticipate what his matchup is going to do.

Delane projects as a scheme-versatile outside corner. He is comfortable in press techniques and off coverage, with the ability to disrupt routes early and stay connected downfield. The main concern for him is play strength, as he has wiry thighs and ankles. Still, he is set to become an immediate NFL starter.

2. Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Junior – 6-1, 192, 4.40

McCoy did not have a chance to build on his dominant showing during the 2024 season, one in which he had 44 tackles, nine passes defensed, and four interceptions. After putting together some of the best cornerback tape in recent memory, he missed the entire 2025 season while dealing with a torn ACL in his right leg. That has dampened his draft status from being the top player at his position. While his medical concerns after something teams are working through to evaluate him, his on-field talent is undeniable.

McCoy is an instinctual cornerback with loose hips that keep him locked on to wide receivers. He seems to have an eye for what is coming next from the quarterback, with the kind of ball skills that will allow him to convert on mistakes thrown his way. If his knee comes out fine post-ACL, the biggest thing for him to clean up is his discipline, as he drew five pass interference penalties in 2024. McCoy has the potential to be a high upside outside corner with strong turnover production, though it will likely take him time to get back up to full speed.

Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kevin Jairaj

3. Tennessee CB Colton Hood – RS Sophomore – 6-0, 193, 4.44

Hood is the other Tennessee cornerback to know, and he joined the Volunteers after one-year stints at Auburn and Colorado. For just one season there, Hood emerged as the team’s most consistent and reliable corner. His above-average speed allows him to close in on matchups and crowd passing lanes, with 17 passes defensed over his past two seasons.

Hood brings a sense of fearlessness and scrappiness to the position, showing the ability to compete at the line of scrimmage and hold up in man coverage. He is a willing tackler and plays with a competitive edge, but there are some limitations given his lean frame and spending just one season as a full-time starter. With additional seasoning in the right defensive system, he can blossom into a starter in short order.

4. San Diego State CB Chris Johnson – Senior – 6-0, 193, 4.40

Johnson is a fun cornerback prospect to watch, as he was an electric contributor for San Diego State in 2025. Johnson finished with 49 tackles, eight passes defensed, and four interceptions, two of which he ran pick for 97-yard and 45-yard pick-sixes. A natural playmaker, he showed the ability to bait quarterbacks into throwing his way — and then making them pay. His high-end production for the Aztecs and impressive NFL Combine has helped elevate his draft stock throughout the process, although there are some concerns.

Johnson did not play the highest level of competition, which is something to note. He looked faster on a stopwatch than on tape, and his marginal muscle mass will reveal itself against more physical wide receivers. There are kinks to iron out, but Johnson will compete to be a starting outside corner immediately while adjusting to the next level.

San Diego State CB Chris Johnson – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Abe Arredondo

5. Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds – Junior – 5-9, 180, 4.36

Ponds had three productive seasons in college, although he put himself on the map most this past season as Indiana’s season culminated in the Hoosiers hoisting the National Championship trophy. Transferring in from James Madison before the 2024 season, Ponds recorded 116 tackles, 21 passes defensed, 8.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions during his time in Bloomington. He consistently found himself around the football, showing the ability to disrupt passing lanes and staying opportunistic.

Ponds is lightning quick, with the ability to read and react to both the quarterback and wide receiver he is guarding. He plays with keen feel and timing, but his small frame and lack of elite length will limit him against bigger receivers. He has the competitiveness and confidence teams like, and he will need those traits to make up for it in order to become an inside-outside starter.

6. Clemson CB Avieon Terrell – Junior – 5-11, 184, 4.64

It is in Avieon Terrell’s blood to become an All-Pro cornerback, as his brother A.J. earned second-team honors in 2021 and has had a productive NFL career with the Falcons. For the younger Terrell, he continued his steady development at Clemson in 2025, recording 48 tackles, nine passes defensed, and five forced fumbles while serving as one of the Tigers’ most dependable defensive backs. While undersized, he plays with a tenacity and fight for the football that does not come around often, contributing to eight forced fumbles over his final two seasons and using every pound of his frame to be physical in coverage and run defense.

Terrell plays with fluidity and mirrors routes effectively, making him a fit in press-heavy schemes. The concern with him is size and length, along with not having an interception over his last 21 college games. His polish and instincts project him to be a starting-caliber corner.

7. South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse – Junior – 6-0, 189, 4.41

Cisse went from NC State to South Carolina ahead of 2025, putting himself on the map in the process. Cisse’s production was modest, as he had 27 tackles, six passes defensed, and an interception last season. With that being said, his promise as a prospect is hard to ignore. He moves really well and that athleticism shows up in the way he attacks passes and covers ground.

His man-to-man skills also stand out, although he can be late reacting to what is happening around him. Cisse will have some refinement to do to reach his ceiling, such as cleaning up his tackling. That will mean better hand usage; not only to wrap up and knock away passes, but to come down with a few of them, too.

8. Arizona State CB Keith Abney II – Junior – 5-10, 188, 4.45

Abney turned in two strong campaigns for Arizona State, with his 2025 season serving as a launching pad to the pros. In 12 games, he had 44 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and two interceptions, showcasing how he stays active in coverage to generate pass breakups and to make his presence known.

While he stays active, Abney gets himself in trouble by not always trusting his technique. That results in some erratic moments with his feet and hands that NFL wide receivers will take advantage of. He will not be able to solely rely on athleticism over discipline at the next level. His lapses will need attention, but if he is coached up, there is a lot to like about his upside to become a starter.

9. Arizona CB Treydan Stukes – Sixth-Year Senior – 6-1, 190, 4.33

Stukes spent all six seasons of his college career in Arizona. Along the way, Stukes went from being a no-star recruit to a three-time team captain with the kind of tantalizing traits NFL teams covet. Growing as a person and player along the way, he recorded 52 tackles, six passes defensed, and four interceptions in just 10 games last season. What is intriguing about him compared to other cornerbacks on this list is his positional versatility as he can play outside, in the nickel, or even at safety.

Stukes has elite speed for a defensive back, using his wheels and fluid hips to stay locked onto wide receivers. What he will need to work on is his tackling, as his technique leads to missed opportunities. One factor he cannot control but does not work in his favor is that he will be 25 years old in September. With that being said, he will find ways to see the field and produce wherever he is asked to line up.

Arizona CB Treydan Stukes – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Mark J. Rebilias

10. Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun – Senior – 6-2, 189, 4.45

Igbinosun played a key role on Ohio State’s defense the past three seasons, serving as a full-time starter after transferring from Ole Miss. He is a long, lanky cornerback who thrives on physicality, particularly in press coverage, where he disrupts timing and competes aggressively.

Igbinosun has superb speed to boot, and the past two seasons he led the Buckeyes in passes defensed and interceptions. His main drawback is being quite grabby, as he had 18 penalties over the past two seasons. If he can continue to develop better technique and grow a bit more into his frame, he has a lot of promise as a starting cornerback.

11. Duke CB Chandler Rivers – Junior – 5-9, 185, 4.40

Rivers is a magnet for the football, as he had a total of 33 passes defensed and seven interceptions during his time with the Blue Devils. What that demonstrates is that he is always alert when the football is in the air, using his instincts and turning them into ball production. With experience on the inside and outside, Rivers is a versatile defensive back who will carve out an NFL role. What that role is to be determined given his lack of ideal size and length for the boundary, but his toughness and playmaking ability give him a path as a nickel corner at the very least.

12. Florida CB Devin Moore – Senior – 6-3, 198, 4.50

Moore comes with more risk but more reward as he enters the NFL. His size and speed profile works in his favor guarding wide receivers, as he put together his healthiest season for Florida in 2025. In 11 games, he had 35 tackles, six passes defensed, and two interceptions. The only problem? That was the only season where he played more than 10 games in four years, as he battled several injuries that held him back. Moore has flashed promise, with the tools and ability to be a scheme-versatile cornerback. The biggest thing for him will be staying healthy.

Florida CB Devin Moore – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Petre Thomas

13. Texas CB Malik Muhammad – Junior – 6-0, 182, 4.42

Muhammad has the talent and athleticism to become a factor in an NFL secondary. He became a starter for the Longhorns in 2024, and in 2025, he turned in 30 tackles, six passes defensed, and two interceptions in 10 games. Muhammad’s reaction time to routes allows him to stay attached in man and zone coverage, and his skillset gives him a fighting chance to develop into a starter. To get there, one of the biggest challenges will be adding muscle to not get outdone against bigger wideouts.

14. Georgia CB Daylen Everette – Senior – 6-1, 196, 4.38

It has hard to be a three-year starter at one of the best programs in college football, but that is exactly what Everette did the last three seasons for the Bulldogs. After leading the team with three interceptions in 2024, he led the team with 11 passes defensed in 2025. He has the physical traits to make the jump to the NFL, pairing that with enough tape of being a steady tackler and holding his own in coverage. To be more than quality depth, Everette will have to improve his footwork, keeping tempo and recovering, and working on his technique.

15. Washington CB Tacario Davis – Senior – 6-4, 194, 4.41

Davis plays at a height rarely seen by cornerbacks entering the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds though, he is slender. While that means he will need to add muscle, he can limit completions based on his length and aggressiveness for the football. It would have been nice to see Davis convert that into more ball production, and his lone season with the Huskies did not go as planned as he missed nearly half the season. Even if drafting him is a bit more of a gamble, it is one that a team will take to make the most of his unique build.

Best Of The Rest

16. Arkansas CB Julian Neal – RS Senior – 6-2, 203, 4.49

Neal spent four seasons at Fresno State before transferring to Arkansas, where he put together his best college season. In 12 games, the production was there as he recorded 55 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and two interceptions. Neal is a natural around the football and his athleticism carries over to jump ball situations and staying in lockstep with his matchup. His flashes suggest the ability to be a starter in different schemes, but areas of growth are being trustier in his technique and reading receivers better when turned away from them.

17. California CB Hezekiah Masses – Senior – 6-1, 179, 4.46

Masses bet on himself for his senior season, going across the country to California after three seasons at Florida International. It paid off for him, as he turned in a season of elite ball production that was similar to what Nohl Williams did the year before. Masses recorded 47 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and five interceptions in 2025, playing with the awareness that turns him into a wide receiver going for the football.

He shows solid instincts and feel, allowing him to break on throws and disrupt passing lanes effectively. Masses’ smaller frame made him grabby in college and will need to be worked on (eight coverage penalties last season). Given his production, it is worth betting on him to surpass expectations and become a factor in an NFL cornerback room.

California CB Hezekiah Masses – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Darren Yamashita

18. Oregon CB Jadon Canady – RS Senior – 5-10, 182, 4.47

Canady bounced around during his college career but seemed to have a found a home during his one and only season at Oregon in 2025. He brings good quickness and fluidity, allowing him to mirror routes and stay connected in coverage. What has proven to be a struggle for him is physicality against bigger receivers, which shows up when targeted and asked to tackle. Even with that, he has enough talent to be a versatile piece in an NFL secondary.

19. Washington CB Ephesians Prysock – Senior – 6-3, 196, 4.45

Prysock paired up with Tacario Davis to give the Huskies two cornerbacks with rare size for the cornerback position. Prysock uses that — along with a 39-inch vertical — to his advantage contesting catches. He is rangy enough to stay in position and close on throws, although polish is needed with his movement skills. It will take some learning to develop his game, but the foundation is there to contribute.

20. Houston CB Latrell McCutchin Sr. – RS Senior – 6-2, 191, 4.43

McCutchin has developed into a cornerback who meets many of the parameters for what teams want from the position. His biggest strengths are coverage skills and evident passion that is often on display. What stands out in a negative way is the fact he had zero interceptions in 48 games (27 starts). It will take improving his route recognition to see the field and contribute in a meaningful way.

Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds

ROUNDS 1-3: San Diego State CB Chris Johnson

It’s doubtful the Bucs draft a cornerback at No. 15 unless LSU’s Mansoor Delane somehow slides down outside of the top 10. But in this scenario, the Bucs could trade down and pick up a cornerback like Johnson, who is viewed as a late first-round prospect. The team did not interview Johnson at the NFL Scouting Combine nor did he visit Tampa Bay on an official 30 visit – to Pewter Report’s knowledge. But the Bucs did do a Zoom interview with him after the Combine leading up to the NFL Draft.

At 6-foot, 194 pounds, Johnson has adequate size to be a starting cornerback in the NFL, as well as the necessary speed to play the position, as he ran a 4.4 at the Combine. Johnson was a ballhawk for the Azetecs where he forced 15 pass breakups, six interceptions, including four last year, and five forced fumbles. He competes for the football, does not shy away in run support and plays under control and with a good football I.Q. Johnson could be too good to pass up if the Bucs were going to draft a cornerback later in the first round, and he would allow the team to hedge its bets in case Benjamin Morrison doesn’t pan out.

ROUNDS 4-7: Florida CB Devin Moore

The Bucs could use another cornerback with size and at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Moore gives Tampa Bay another perimeter corner with length. Moore has adequate speed, running a 4.5 at the NFL Scouting Combine, and is a gritty competitor. What has sidetracked his football career has been a myriad of injuries that have limited his playing time. Moore finally got healthy last year and played in 11 games where he had 35 tackles, six passes defensed, and two interceptions.

The Naples product was at One Buccaneer Place for the team’s local pro day, so there is some interest in the former Gators star. Moore played on special teams all four years and could be a starter as a rookie on punt coverage outside as a vise player while he learns Todd Bowles’ defense. Moore has good traits to be a developmental cornerback in the NFL – if he can stay healthy.