All articles tagged with #cornerback
The Colts released veteran cornerback Kenny Moore after no trade materialized despite an April request, freeing about $7.06 million against the cap ($6.05 million dead cap). Moore, 30, had spent his entire Colts tenure since 2017 (132 games, 111 starts, 21 interceptions, 68 passes defended, 6 forced fumbles, 11.5 sacks) and earned a Pro Bowl in 2021. Indianapolis also waived linebacker John Bullock.
Jaguars GM James Gladstone says Travis Hunter will play on both sides of the ball in 2026, with an expected uptick in cornerback usage while continuing his wide receiver duties. Hunter’s rookie season featured 28 receptions for 298 yards and a TD on offense and 15 tackles on defense before a season-ending knee injury; the team emphasizes Hunter’s dual-role fit and is prioritizing corner depth this season. He has expressed a long-standing desire to play both ways, and Jacksonville plans to support that to help win games.
Packers’ second-round pick Brandon Cisse is praised by South Carolina coach Torrian Gray as a true football junkie with elite football IQ and relentless work ethic, a player who transformed his body and shows strong run defense and potential in press-man and zone coverage; while his ball skills and turnover production are still developing, his intangibles and love of the game make him a strong fit for Green Bay under GM Brian Gutekunst.
Pro Football Focus unveils an early 2027 NFL Draft top-five-by-position board, led by Julian Sayin as the QB1, Colin Simmons as the top edge rusher, and Leonard Moore as the premier lockdown corner; the piece also notes Dante Moore among early passer contenders and emphasizes that this is a provisional snapshot that will evolve as players develop toward next year’s draft.
Las Vegas traded up to select Jermod McCoy at 101 in the fourth round, adding a cornerback who slid due to knee concerns despite a 4.3-second 40 at his Pro Day; McCoy missed 2025 with an injury and endured a tense two days waiting to hear his name, but the Raiders see upside and hope he can stay healthy and contribute in 2026 to bolster a previously inconsistent secondary.
The Las Vegas Raiders moved up to select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 101st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a multifaceted playmaker who starred at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee and earning second-team All-SEC. McCoy, who returned from an ACL injury in 2025, impressed scouts with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at his pro day after posting 14 bench reps at the Combine, and brings a track-and-ballskills background from Whitehouse, Texas.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy, who missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL after two strong college seasons, was drafted 101st overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. He says he’s mentally resilient and will do whatever the Raiders’ medical staff require to get back on the field, stressing that this opportunity isn’t something to take for granted. He’s set to reunite with Tennessee teammate Dont’e Thornton Jr. and recalled his first college interception against Mendoza as a reminder of the journey ahead.
The Detroit Lions selected Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II in the fifth round (No. 157) to bolster the secondary, with a focus on nickel depth. Abney brings solid tackling and coverage, giving Detroit a potential starter at nickel or valuable depth behind McCreary and Rakestraw Jr., while also offering versatility to play outside. His size and history of penalties are factors the team will weigh as he transitions to the NFL.
Green Bay drafted Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson with the 201st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a second cornerback to the room alongside Brandon Cisse. Jackson, listed at 6-0 ¾, 194 pounds, started 23 of 28 games for Alabama with 91 tackles, eight passes defended, and two interceptions; he ran 4.41 in the 40 at the combine (4.45 at Alabama’s pro day) after two seasons at USC before transferring to Alabama, where he regained a starting role for the SEC title game.
Detroit drafted Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II with the first of two fifth-round picks, adding a versatile two-year starter with 21 passes defended and five interceptions, who allowed just 44.4% completions on 60+ targets in 2025 and projects as a flexible back-end defender who can play inside or outside, potentially earning the Lions’ nickel corner spot.
Detroit selected Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II with the 157th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Abney, a 5-10, 187-pound back who posted pro day times (40-yard dash 4.45, short shuttle 4.38, 3-cone 6.91) and earned an 86.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade last season, is projected as a physical cover man who could swing inside to Detroit’s nickel spot, supported by a positive assessment from Lions media and Twentyman's notes on his football IQ and energy.
New England selected Wake Forest cornerback Karon Prunty with the 171st overall pick in Round 5 after extensive pre-draft contact, despite him being far down many consensus boards. Prunty is a 6-1, 190-pound outside corner with a 4.45 40 and strong college coverage grades, including eight career interceptions. Pundits were mixed on the pick: some praised the Patriots’ diligence and potential upside, while others viewed it as a value reach given the cornerback depth in this class. The selection tackles a long-term need for outside corner depth as the team continues to build its secondary.
Chicago traded up five spots in the fourth round to select Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad with the 124th overall pick. The 6-foot-0, 182-pound defender appeared in 41 games with 29 starts for Texas, recording 97 tackles, three interceptions, 16 pass breakups and 1.0 sack, plus a 4.42-second 40 at the NFL Combine. Bears scouts praised his ability to play man and zone with instincts, and Muhammad said he can play outside, inside, nickel and multiple coverages. He joins a defense that led the NFL in takeaways in 2025 and will work with defensive backs coach Al Harris, drawing inspiration from Peanut Tillman and Jaylon Johnson.
The Raiders traded up with Buffalo to move to No. 101 and selected CB Jermod McCoy with the first pick of the fourth round; McCoy sat out the 2025 season after tearing his ACL in January 2025, had one year as a starter at Tennessee after transferring from Oregon State, and earned second-team All-SEC in 2024 with four interceptions. Buffalo received a 2027 seventh-round pick in the deal.
Detroit selected Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney with the 157th overall pick, adding a 6'0", 190-pound defender who projects as a nickel and brings a productive two-year stretch (21 passes defended, five interceptions) plus First Team All-Big 12 in 2025. Abney impressed at the combine and could provide depth at corner and nickel for Detroit as it continues to bolster its defense on Day 3, following earlier picks Blake Miller, Derrick Moore, and Jimmy Rolder; four picks remain and the Lions have multiple defensive and offensive needs to address.