2026 Draft: Cornerback

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

Kelley Jones, Mississippi State, 6'3 or 6'4, 195lbs

Jones is a RS sophomore so draft eligible but probably one for next year. I keep seeing him crop up as top or near the top in a number of statistical categories.

For example







The only red flag for me is that while he doesn't give up very many completions, they tend to be big ones as you can see here.

v So. Miss - 1 completion on 5 targets for 22 yards
v Arizona St. - 1/6 for 21
v Tennessee - 1/2 for 32
v Texas A&M - 1/3 for 34

In his defense though, he also shutdown his receiver against Florida, Texas and Arkansas.

If he comes out and is gettable, Kelley Jones is becoming a bit of a must draft for me. He hasn't given up a single reception in man coverage this year.

 

[mayoclinic]

2 big "ifs", but agree he is a tantalizing prospect.

Some good big CB prospects: Julian Neal, Kelly Jones, Tacario Davis, Devin Moore.

 

[manxman2601]

2 big "ifs", but agree he is a tantalizing prospect.

Some good big CB prospects: Julian Neal, Kelly Jones, Tacario Davis, Devin Moore.

Brent Austin and Hezekiah Masses of Cal are interesting but they're both zone corners. Brent Austin has really moved up onto the radar. They're not bigger corners though.

 

[mayoclinic]

I am a sucker for big CBs, but Keiontre Scott still my favorite, at a pygmy-like 6' 190#.

 

[manxman2601]

I am a sucker for big CBs, but Keiontre Scott still my favorite, st a pygmy-like 6' 190#.

Jones and Scott would be a dream couple of backups/role players/future starters for me. I would draft both.

 

[mayoclinic]

McDonald/Wheatley/Thieneman at S, Scott as a nickel/S chess piece, and a big outside CB like Scott or Davis would be my wet dream.

 

[mayoclinic]

I am not greedy. I don't expect Arvell Reese or David Bailey. I can live without Chris Bell or CK Concepcion.

I would be satisfied with Sonny Styles/Jake Golday, Jelani McDonald/Zakee Wheatley, Keiontre Scott, Julian Neal/Kelley Jones/Tacario Davis, Akheem Mesidor (all roads lead to Akheem Mesidor), Blake Miller/Niki Prongos/Monroe Freeling, Austin Siereveld/Cayden Green/Carter Smith and Kade Pieper/Brian Price.

And maybe throw in Jadarian Price and Oscar Delp since I am being so undemanding. And perhaps a WR.

 

[manxman2601]

We have good taste at Patsfans

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

Thing I learned today. Treydan Stukes of Arizona is a 3 year team captain. Vrabel stock - UP.

 

[manxman2601]

Thing I learned today. Treydan Stukes of Arizona is a 3 year team captain. Vrabel stock - UP.

It looks like I've fallen in love with another older prospect. Treydan Stukes is a 6th year senior. He's been a slot corner this year and has the 3rd best coverage grade in CFB behind Delane and Chris Johnson. His QB rating against is only 33.0 and he has one of the best man coverage grades too. What I like about him aside from all the above is that, at 6'2", 200lbs, he has the build of a safety so, in theory, could backup in the slot, on the outside and even at safety.

Keionte Scott will likely be my favourite slot corner throughout, but Stukes may be a close second.

 

[manxman2601]

Josh Moten, Southern Miss, 6-0, 185lbs
An intriguing day 3 corner.

He will be someone to wait on the combine for to decide on. Not necessarily for his athletic testing but for getting an accurate measurement of his weight. At Marshall last year he was listed at 165lbs - not very NFL friendly. At So. Miss this year he's listed at 185lbs so a huge discrepancy. He does look very lean.

However, last year he finished with a 91.5 coverage grade, PFFs highest graded CB. This year he's the 2nd best graded man coverage corner in football although, it should be noted, he's an off-man corner rather than a press corner. He's a very sticky corner,with reported 4.3 speed.

What is intriguing about him is that he can do this:

Here he is taking the ball away from Jeremiyah Smith last year.



And take a look at these instincts



And here



He also had 3 picks in a game last week.

 

[Clonamery]

Josh Moten, Southern Miss, 6-0, 185lbs
An intriguing day 3 corner.

He will be someone to wait on the combine for to decide on. Not necessarily for his athletic testing but for getting an accurate measurement of his weight. At Marshall last year he was listed at 165lbs - not very NFL friendly. At So. Miss this year he's listed at 185lbs so a huge discrepancy. He does look very lean.

However, last year he finished with a 91.5 coverage grade, PFFs highest graded CB. This year he's the 2nd best graded man coverage corner in football although, it should be noted, he's an off-man corner rather than a press corner. He's a very sticky corner,with reported 4.3 speed.

What is intriguing about him is that he can do this:

Here he is taking the ball away from Jeremiyah Smith last year.



And take a look at these instincts



And here



He also had 3 picks in a game last week.

He was pretty high (Day 2) in the first rankings back in March/April then just ignored by most of the sites.

 

[manxman2601]

He was pretty high (Day 2) in the first rankings back in March/April then just ignored by most of the sites.

I don't think he's a great fit for us being an off-man corner and at that size but he doesn't seem to be lacking for skills and athleticism at the position.

 

[manxman2601]

Just heard James Foster say that the 6'3' Miss St CB Kelley Jones has "elite speed". He's more a Carlton Davis cover 3 type of corner than a Gonzo man coverage one. If he came out this year and fell to the bottom of the 2nd round, I'd absolutely consider him. Elite speed, elite height and top level production.

 

[mayoclinic]

It looks like I've fallen in love with another older prospect. Treydan Stukes is a 6th year senior. He's been a slot corner this year and has the 3rd best coverage grade in CFB behind Delane and Chris Johnson. His QB rating against is only 33.0 and he has one of the best man coverage grades too. What I like about him aside from all the above is that, at 6'2", 200lbs, he has the build of a safety so, in theory, could backup in the slot, on the outside and even at safety.

Looks like Manx has fallen for another mature prospect.

 

[Clonamery]

Looks like Manx has fallen for another mature prospect.

What are you going to do - MILMP (Manx in Love with Mature Prospect).

 

[mayoclinic]

My binkies include a lot of 20 year old prospects. The other extreme.

 

[manxman2601]

My binkies include a lot of 20 year old prospects. The other extreme.

Ceiling vs floor. I keep trying to wean myself off high floor prospects in favour of high ceiling, higher risk ones but the naturally cautious me keeps me coming back to the higher floor prospects.