The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason less than a month away, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the next several weeks, we're going to take a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with this year's cornerback class.
Six Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top cornerback prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at six players to know.
Travis Hunter – Colorado
Measurables: 6-foot-0, 188 pounds
Snapshot: The Heisman Trophy winner in college football last season, Hunter – who played both cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado – is considered one of the top players in this year's class. He'll likely hear his name called within the first five selections.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 1 overall (No. 1 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 2 overall (No. 1 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Hunter is a lean, athletic playmaker who starred on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024. He has a narrow frame and is a very smooth-flowing athlete. On defense, he was much improved in 2024. He didn't take as many unnecessary risks at cornerback, relying more on discipline and technique to stay in position. He can locate the ball and picked it off seven times over the past two seasons."
PFF: "Hunter is one of the most talented players I have ever scouted. As a cornerback, he brings good mirror-matching movements and truly elite ball skills."
For more on Hunter, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Jahdae Barron – Texas
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 194 pounds
Snapshot: The Jim Thorpe Award winner last year as the top defensive back in college football, Barron recorded 11 pass-breakups and five interceptions in 16 games for the Longhorns in 2024. A versatile player, he tallied significant snaps at wide corner (679), in the box (142) and in the slot (122).
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 7 overall (No. 2 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 8 overall (No. 2 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Barron is a talented Swiss Army Knife. He aligned outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker for the Longhorns. He made impact plays in every game I studied. He's a quicker-than-fast athlete with outstanding eyes and conviction. He's at his best when he can play off and see through receivers to the quarterback. He reads the QB's drop and anticipates to beat pass catchers to the ball. He doesn't waste steps and has outstanding hands…Overall, Barron excels at taking the ball away and reminds me of Brian Branch when he was coming out of Alabama."
PFF: "The word "versatile" gets thrown around too much with defensive back prospects, but Barron is exactly that. As a natural zone defender with excellent instincts and anticipation, he is a starting-caliber pro at safety, wide cornerback or nickel defender -- sometimes as all three in the same game -- for Cover 3- or quarters-heavy schemes."
For more on Barron, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Will Johnson – Michigan
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 194 pounds
Snapshot: A three-year contributor for the Wolverines, Johnson earned Third-Team All-American honors in 2024 after tallying three pass-breakups and two interceptions in six games. His three-career pick-sixes are a Michigan record.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 13 overall (No. 3 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 13 overall (No. 3 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Johnson is a big cornerback with easy/fluid movement skills and excellent instincts. He played outside and in the slot at Michigan. In off coverage, he's very smooth and relaxed. He doesn't panic, settles on routes and can find/play the ball. He had an impressive flat-footed read against USC that he turned into a pick-six. He has the size/length to press and match up with bigger wideouts."
PFF: "Johnson is a long, lean cornerback with elite foot quickness and change-of-direction fluidity."
For more on Johnson, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Trey Amos – Ole Miss
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds
Snapshot: A First-Team All-SEC selection in 2024, Amos recorded 13 pass-breakups and three interceptions in 13 games for Ole Miss last year. Prior to joining the Rebels, Amos was a productive player at Louisiana (2020-22) and Alabama (2023).
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 40 overall (No. 4 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 41 overall (No. 5 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Amos has excellent size (6-foot 3/4, 195 pounds) and is a fluid/smooth athlete. He split five seasons between three different schools (Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi) during his college career, leading Ole Miss with 13 pass breakups in 2024…He can play the ball with his back to the quarterback as well as any cornerback in this draft. The only real question I had about his game was his top-end speed and he alleviated those concerns with a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine."
PFF: "Amos brings an ideal blend of size, movement skills and coverage scheme versatility to the cornerback position…His 2024 film shows he has a CB2 floor in the NFL with the potential to be a CB1."
For more on Amos, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky
Measurables: 5-foot-11, 183 pounds
Snapshot: Hairston logged four pass-breakups, a forced fumble and a pick-six in 2024 despite missing five games due to a shoulder injury. The season prior, Hairston tallied six pass-breakups and five interceptions (which led the SEC), two of which he returned for touchdowns. A player with blazing speed, Hairston ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any participant at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.28 seconds).
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 42 overall (No. 5 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 32 overall (No. 4 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Hairston is a lean, athletic cornerback with ideal play speed and fluidity. In press coverage, he incorporates a one-hand jam before turning and carrying vertical routes. He has plenty of burst/speed. In off coverage, he likes to settle and catch receivers at the break point…He's willing in run support and is a dynamic blitzer…Overall, Hairston offers an enticing blend of movement skills and production."
PFF: "Hairston is a feisty competitor who likes to get his hands on receivers in bump-and-run coverage from off-coverage techniques."
For more on Hairston, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Azareye'h Thomas – Florida State
Measurables: 6-foot-1, 197 pounds
Snapshot: A three-year contributor at Florida State, Thomas recorded four pass-breakups, two tackles-for-loss and an interception in 12 starts last season.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 62 overall (No. 8 CB)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 42 overall (No. 6 CB)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Thomas is a tall, long and fluid cornerback. In press coverage, he has the size and physicality to disrupt at the line of scrimmage, but he does need to clean up some footwork…From off coverage, he's effective playing from a side-turn, where he can explode and drive on in-breaking routes…He displays effort to chase plays from the back side. Sources from Florida State rave about his intelligence and character…He has the foundational tools of a dependable starter."
PFF: "Thomas is a long, quick-footed press-man cornerback who showcases good natural movement skills and playmaker instincts."
For more on Thomas, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
