Part 10, CB: McCoy? Delane? Hood? Inside the debate at the top...

... of a premier position. To win, you need corners who can keep up with today's receivers. But NFL teams have also learned the hard way — you must choose wisely.

This is the 42^nd year, and the fifth at Go Long, in which Bob McGinn has written a position-by-position series previewing the NFL draft. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-2017), BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19) and The Athletic (2020-’21). Until 2014, many personnel people were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of many scouts. Listed times in the 40-yard dash reflect the average of hand-held clockings from the combine and pro days. Electronic times from the combine aren’t compatible with most pro days and therefore weren’t utilized.

Tenth of 12 parts: cornerbacks.

By Bob McGinn

Slowly but surely, cornerback has made gains advancing in the pecking order of positions in the NFL. Much more work needs to be done.

This appears to be just another typical draft for the cornerbacks. Everyone in the industry recognizes how vital they are, but several other positions almost always have priority.

The common draft started in 1967 but it wasn’t until 1972 that a cornerback was selected among the top 10 picks. He was Willie Buchanon, who went No. 7 to the Packers.

The first top-5 cornerback arrived in 1976 when Mike Haynes went No. 5 to the Patriots.

It took another 15 years for a top-3 cornerback when the Falcons forgettably chose Bruce Pickens at No. 3. In the last 34 years the highest drafted corners also were No. 3’s: Shawn Springs to the Seahawks in 1997, Jeff Okudah to the Lions in 2020 (another bust) and Derek Stingley to the Texans in 2022.

Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey and Darrelle Revis all forged Hall of Fame careers after having been drafted between No. 4 and No. 14 from 1981 to 2007. Jalen Ramsey, with eight Pro Bowls in 10 seasons, and Pat Surtain, with four Pro Bowls in five seasons, might be Canton-bound after having been drafted No. 5 and No. 9, respectively.

An asterisk is needed for dual threat Travis Hunter. Some might argue he was the highest corner ever taken when the Jaguars selected him No. 2 last year. But the league officially categorized Hunter as a wide receiver on Draft Day, and his injury-shortened rookie season included 324 snaps on offense and 162 on defense.

For years, personnel people have pointed out that the bottom of the first round is where cornerbacks often fall. In the last five years six corners were taken with picks 1-11, five with picks 12-22 and 10 with picks 23-33 (extended to give each tier an equal number of 11 slots). Those 2021-’25 drafts averaged 35 cornerbacks taken, including 3.8 on average in the first round and 13 on average in the first three rounds. Don’t be surprised if the numbers this year fit well into those averages.

“It’s a good class numbers-wise,” said one executive in personnel. “There’s a lot of depth but just a handful of guys at the top of the top. I would say three, maybe four in the first round. Not a lot of great ones.”

“There’s no Champ Bailey or top-10 corner,” said another scout. “Are any going to be an elite corner? Honestly, they all seem like they’d be your No. 2, the alternate guy, your second corner. But to say go shut somebody down? Whew.”

Links:

• Part 1, WR: Who’s the next star wideout?

• Part 2, TE: Kenyon Sadiq and the hunt for matchup nightmares

• Part 3, T: Why Francis Mauigoa ‘n co. may define the 2026 NFL Draft

• Part 4, G/C: Why this is the year to draft a center

• Part 5, QB: The Fernando Mendoza Question

• Part 6, RB: Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love? ‘The best NFL prospect in this draft

• Part 7, DL: Secure your space-eater

• Part 8, Edge: Deep 2026 class promises to torment quarterbacks

• Part 9, LB: How should an NFL team unleash Arvell Reese?

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CORNERBACKS

1. JERMOD McCOY, Tennessee (6-0 ½, 190, 4.40, 1): Played two seasons and merely 25 games, with 18 starts, after missing all of 2025 following ACL surgery. Won’t be 21 until August. “The biggest knock is he didn’t play last year,” one scout said. “But he’s almost 6-1. He can run. He’s got ball skills. He’s got toughness. He has starter potential for sure and he’s done some punt returns.” Blew out his knee during a workout in January 2025. Was cleared to resume practice late in the season, which he did, but didn’t play in a game. After sitting out the combine, he ran an important and fast 40 to go with a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-7 broad jump. He repped 14 times in the bench press at Indianapolis. Arms were 31 ¼ inches. “He played pretty well in ’24,” said a second scout. “Is he one of those that can shut down a CeeDee Lamb? I don’t know. He’s into the game. His teammates really like him there. Played a solid brand of ball. He was at Oregon State originally, which is a little concerning. You mean, everybody in the country missed on this guy and he ended up going to Oregon State and then being the first corner taken?” Started five of 12 games for the Beavers as a true freshman in 2023 before shifting to Tennessee and starting all 13 games. “Sudden, quick, twitch, explosive,” said a third scout. “He plays with an edge … almost too much of an edge. He was getting penalties for face masks, fightin’ and all. ‘C’mon, man, just calm down.’ But it’s easier to calm them down than coach them up. He can mirror. In run support he’ll trigger and hit people. He’s really talented. He’s top 10 if everything checks out with the ACL.” Finished with 75 tackles, six interceptions, 16 passes defensed and no forced fumbles. “I liked his size and his speed but didn’t like his reactions,” a fourth scout said. “He played a little soft.” Three-star recruit from Whitehouse, Texas. All-state baseball player. Won state titles in the long jump (23-10 ½) and triple jump (50-7 ¾). Added a fifth scout: “He’s not really a first-round player. He’s like a second-rounder. He’s not elite but he’s solid.” Returned six punts for a 9.8 average in 2024.

2. MANSOOR DELANE, Louisiana State (5-11 ½, 184, 4.38, 1): Started 29 of 33 games at Virginia Tech from 2022-’24 before starting 11 times at LSU in ‘25. “He’s a cinch Pro Bowler, that guy,” said one scout. “It’s a matter of his instincts and ball skills and athletic ability. When the ball’s in the air he gets up. It’s hard to complete a pass on that guy. They can throw 20 times at the guy and he might knock down 17 of ‘em. He has great body control and close, and he knows how to play the ball whether it’s deep or underneath. It’s hard to get away from him. He’s got the athletic ability that is above everybody else.”