2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: CB

Emmanwori will likely be an immediate impact player at the next level, particularly for defensive coordinators creative enough to maximize his unique skill set. His rare blend of size and speed screams modern NFL safety, capable of matching up with tight ends, supporting the run, and roaming the deep middle. Think a more explosive version of Kam Chancellor with better man coverage skills.

Any team running a heavy-quarters coverage scheme should have Emmanwori circled in red on their draft board. His ability to play in the box, handle man coverage responsibilities, and deliver bone-crushing hits makes him an ideal fit for defenses that ask their safeties to wear multiple hats. While he'll need some technical refinement in zone coverage, his athletic traits and football intelligence suggest a high ceiling as he develops.

The NFL is trending toward hybrid defenders who can counter modern offensive attacks, and Emmanwori fits that mold perfectly. His combination of size, speed, and physicality should make him an early contributor, with Pro Bowl potential if he lands with a defensive staff willing to move him around the formation.

I would expect Kwesi will have Revel and Morrison higher than most on his board. He definitely has no fear of taking a guy coming off injury.

FA will be a less likely solution in my opinion. With the emphasis on building both lines, FA dollars aren’t quite as plentiful as they appear. We’ve got 30 something guys under contract which is going to take that now $50 something million cap and stretch it pretty thin pretty quickly. Brez will have to get creative but he’s done more with less over the last 5+ years.

Ask yourself this: Who had Greenard, Ginks, Cashman, Jones, Darnold, Griffin, Gilmore and the like on their FA wishlist? You did? GTFO. And still we haven’t had a FA class like this in team history.

 I think the most likely outcome is later in FA types again like Griffin and Gilmore. The guy from the Eagles who got displaced by their two rookies (Mitchell and DeJean, both of whom I mocked endlessly last year) might get a look. I think Nudie gets a long look and Blackmon probably nails down one CB.

Kentis wrote:

Strike a bell…?  :P

Thanks. I’m blind now.

Dorian Strong out of Virginia Tech is a CB I think is highly underrated. He has the ability to be a strong outside starter in the NFL. If we can trade down and get a pick around 60, we can go CB, DT, CB with our first 3 picks. Probably won't happen, but I wouldn't mind it. Denzel Burke as well I really like.

JustInTime wrote:

Thanks. I’m blind now.

Welcome back, would you like to hear some Jeff Healey music…?  :cool: :angel:

Kentis wrote:

Welcome back, would you like to hear some Jeff Healey music…?  :cool: :angel:

Back on the lawn again, huh kid?  :P

Here’s an under the radar guy who’s growing on me. Showed up in the Shrine Bowl. PFF metrics other than Run D are damn good.

Another guy who’s growing on me but definitely not under the radar. S could be a bigger need with Bynum and Jackson not under contract.

Byron Murphy is “as big as a priority as anyone” for the #Vikings this offseason, @DWolfsonKSTP mentioned on @SKORNorth. Minnesota has “significant interest” in bringing back the veteran corner.

The love is mutual between Murphy and Minnesota, but he is expected to have a hefty market after a career high 6 interceptions this season.

Travis Hunter reportedly "has a small chance" of slipping out of the Top-5 picks, despite being one of the most generational prospects of recent memory.

Several NFL scouts reportedly believe the Top-5 could realistically be "composed of" 3 QB's, Abdul Carter, and an OT/WR.

There are some NFL GM’s who reportedly believe Hunter isn’t the No. 1 CB or WR in this year’s draft.

Hunter has recently been compared to names like Trevon Diggs and Patrick Peterson.

Hunter is planning to participate in every drill at the NFL Combine and put on a show for scouts to solidify a high draft position.

The draft day drama this year will CERTAINLY include Hunter.

Interesting

Another Day 3 guy who is growing on me. 

Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
Size:

Height: 5’11” | Weight: 190 pounds

Accomplishments:

Four-star recruit

“Jaylin Smith is a twitchy and physical cornerback whose fluid movements underneath take away quick passing lanes and get him involved in the run game.”

Strengths:

Release mirroring

Willingness against the run

Football IQ

Versatility

Concerns:

Size for the boundary

Downfield speed

Catch-point ball skills

Film Analysis:

Jaylin Smith made the 2020 PrepStar All-American as a senior cornerback, wide receiver, and running back at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills. He missed out on football in his senior year due to COVID-19, but as a 2019 junior, he had 60 tackles (4 for loss) and two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and added ten catches for 211 yards with two touchdowns to go with 159 yards on 14 carries with two more touchdowns. Smith has played all four college football seasons at USC and every position possible in the secondary before finally landing and sticking at cornerback his senior season. He registered 59 tackles, four for loss, with two interceptions and two passes defended.

While he may be undersized for playmaking on the boundary at the next level, Smith doesn’t let it show in his style. He’s a coverage-diverse player who likes to mix it up at the line of scrimmage with well-timed strikes and patience, trusting his twitchy lower half to turn and run at any moment. He doesn’t over-pursue crafty release packages and always appears calm at the line of scrimmage. He breaks on underneath routes quickly with quick recognition and good click-and-close ability; his experience as a safety shows up in off-coverage and run support. He’s willing to mix it up in the run game and does well to square up ball-carriers in space to make tackles, but his length and size create arm tackles that are easily broken. He has good hip movement to change direction in his backpedal, in pursuit, and move with routes underneath.

Bigger receivers will trouble him through the route stem with physicality and length, even with his mentality. He doesn’t possess the strength to impact those receivers at the catch point or the length to frequently create ball production. He’s prone to double moves and speed down the field and is better suited to play nickel corner or safety in the NFL, but the willingness to be physical and do what’s asked of him shows up in every phase. He closes on receivers quickly and has good burst to prevent yards after the catch when targeted. His versatility also extends to being a blitzer; even if he doesn’t get home frequently, he does a good job of showing coverage and quickly blitzing with the element of surprise.

Smith projects as a nickel cornerback/safety hybrid in the NFL with his short-area quickness, football IQ, and willingness to support in the run game. His experience as an outside corner will be an asset in case of injury, but his size will limit his impact down the field against bigger receivers.

FWIW...

I'm told the #Vikings are "all-in" on CB DJ Reed. The Vikings tried to strike a deal at the deadline but talks failed as the Jets were looking for draft picks in 2025. With Reed now a FA the Vikings could snag him without giving up any compensation pic.twitter.com/ctREMQDJbX

— Paul Hampton (@PaulHampton_) February 23, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:
FWIW...

https://x.com/PaulHampton_/status/1893752225492566026

That would make our draft a lot easier if we could get a star CB in FA.

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison… I forgot how much I loved his ‘23 tape. Here’s 5 plays vs. OSU ‘23. Step-for step w/ MHJ but gives one up. Then watch how he responds on the rest of game!

Not biggest, nor fastest. But DAMN good football player. Instincts, leverage, ball… pic.twitter.com/oxvBCKxU2S

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 24, 2025

If you want to bemoan injury history, here’s the guy to raise a red flag for. Not seeing any details on the severity or specifics. Every time I hear hip I think Bo Jackson.

JustInTime wrote:
If you want to bemoan injury history, here’s the guy to raise a red flag for. Not seeing any details on the severity or specifics. Every time I hear hip I think Bo Jackson.

I've watched a lot of Notre Dame football over the years and he is the best corner I've seen come through since Todd Lyght. If he were healthy, he would have been a top ten lock in my opinion for this draft. Medicals and showing he is healthy to test at the Combine are going to be big for him.

Interesting note on 2025 CB draft class: There are more top prospects than usual who are best suited for zone-heavy NFL schemes. Here are my top-6 cornerbacks (pre-combine) ranked by scheme fits:
Man:
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. Will Johnson, Michigan (can play both)
3.…

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 24, 2025

East Carolina CB Shavon Revel — a first-round draft prospect who had ACL reconstruction Oct. 15 — is on schedule to be fully cleared this summer, his surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper told NFL teams in a letter.

Revel is in Indianapolis this week for interviews and medical checks. pic.twitter.com/UQc0AngPw3

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 24, 2025

Trey Amos has a chance to earn a first round grade from me with a big time Combine performance.

Allowed a 54.5 passer rating in 2024 with 10 PBUs and 3 picks. Currently a top 40 player.

Dominant in press, elite in zone and can also thrive in man. pic.twitter.com/ejmUnhmbfM

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 24, 2025

CB3. Excellent fit for BFlo.

The #Vikings have a formal meeting with Ole Miss CB Trey Amos, per @JustinM_NFL. Amos is speculated to be a top 50 pick in this years draft. pic.twitter.com/Mb6cNFYzaM

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) February 26, 2025

#ECU CB Shavon Revel will be interviewing with NFL clubs this week as he gets back to 100%.

He’ll be able to show his football IQ, leadership role at ECU, and how much he’s grown as a player the last six months. Based on how he did at @ShrineBowl interviews, it’s going to… pic.twitter.com/M5RJNPWsSt

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) February 25, 2025

CB1 and WR1. Unicorn. https://t.co/AAvHomJPJe

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 26, 2025

Extremely impressed by Texas DB Jahdae Barron’s podium session. Talked about the mentality of playing corner and accepting the failures that come with it:

“Can I be committed to the process without being emotionally attached to the result”

Teams will love this dude pic.twitter.com/aCY6glolnJ

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 27, 2025

Perfect mentally for the position. Doubt he makes it to 24.