2025 NFL Draft Preview – Cornerbacks

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April 1, 2025

By Noonefromtampa

Washington did a good job in free agency of improving the secondary by signing Will Harris, Jonathan Jones and re-signing Noah Igbinoghene. As always, any improvement in the secondary will be somewhat dependent on how much of a pass rush the team can generate. It is likely that Washington drafts a cornerback since they waived Emmanuel Forbes and lost Benjamin St-Juste free agency.

Top Cornerbacks

Prospect Ht Wt 40 Time College
Travis Hunter 6-1 185 4.40 Colorado
Will Johnson 6-2 202 4.39 Michigan
Shavon Revel Jr. 6-2 188 4.40 East Carolina
Benjamin Morrison 6-0 185 4.39 Notre Dame
Jahdae Barron 5-11 192 4.39 Texas
Maxwell Hairston 5-11 179 4.28 Kentucky
Trey Amos 6-0 195 4.43 Ole Miss
Azareye’h Thomas 6-1 191 4.50 Florida State
Darien Porter 6-2 197 4.30 Iowa State
Denzel Burke 6-1 190 4.48 Ohio State
Quincy Riley 5-11 194 4.49 Louisville
Dorian Strong 6-1 179 4.50 Virginia Tech
Tommi Hill 6-0 213 4.55 Nebraska
Cobee Bryant 5-11 171 4.53 Kansas
B.J. Adams 6-2 182 4.53 Central Florida
Jaylin Smith 5-10 187 4.45 USC
Nohl Williams 6-1 200 4.50 California

Travis Hunter and Will Johnson will probably be the first two defensive backs to come off the draft board on day 1.  They have the size, fluidity and speed the NFL looks for in a “shutdown” or number 1 cornerback. Both are also viewed as high “football IQ” players, meaning they understand the various roles they play in different defensive scheme. Hunter is a versatile athlete, having played wide receiver also in college, will probably see some reps there also in the NFL. In his analysis, Jon Gruden said he would play Hunter more at wide receiver and spot play him at cornerback, which definitely goes against the grain of conventional NFL thinking.

Revel and Morrison are nearly in the same caliber; however, they are coming off injuries so that may push them down slightly in the draft. Barron and Harrison round out the top group of cornerbacks in the draft.  Any or all of these players could be day 1 picks depending on how the draft flows.

Travis Hunter

Will Johnson

Shavon Revel

Benjamin Morrison

Jahdae Barron

Maxwell Hairston

Day 2 picks likely include, Amos, Thomas, Porter, Burke, Riley and Strong, with the rest being day 3 picks.

Trey Amos

Azareye’h Thomas

Darien Porter

Thoughts

While I think Washington looks to upgrade their pass rush in round 1, taking a cornerback with one of their other four picks is an option.

Azareye’h Thomas or Darien Porter would be players Washington could select based on their prototypical size that Dan Quinn looks for in the position. Thomas is projected to be picked in the 38 to 45 range, while Porter is in the 56 to 63 range. Washington holds the 61st pick in the second round.

Several of draft prognosticators have Washington trading out of the first round. There are nine teams who have 10 or 11 picks in the draft, so there are teams that have the capital to make a move back into the first round. A move like that could add a couple of new players to the team through the multiple picks the team would receive in return for the trade. It also could be the avenue Adam Peters takes to add an edge rusher and cornerback to the roster since both positions are deep through the first two rounds.

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