There is now less than a month until the 2024 NFL draft. One of the best positions in this year’s draft is at cornerback. This year’s corner class is stacked with talent and future NFL stars. Here you will learn about the top five in the class.
2024 NFL Draft: Cornerbacks
1. Terrion Arnold – Alabama
Terrion Arnold seems like the consensus number one corner in this year’s NFL Draft. Arnold is known for his great coverage skills and his nose for the football. He is a hard-hitting cornerback and great open field tackler. The only thing that is keeping Arnold from running away from the rest of the prospects is his speed. Arnold ran a 4.5 during the combine, so he has good enough speed to be a great NFL player, but it seems to be holding him back. Either way, he should be a top-15 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
2. Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
Mitchell has debatably had the best offseason of any prospect in the NFL Draft. He came into the offseason as a borderline first-round pick. After his great showing at the Senior Bowl, he boosted himself comfortably into the first round. Mitchell then went on to blow up the combine and now seems like a lock to go inside the top 20 picks in the NFL draft. The Toledo corner is great in coverage and is a ball hawk. In one game in 2022, he had four interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns.
3. Cooper DeJean – Iowa
If Cooper DeJean could have stayed healthy for the entire 2023 season, he could easily be number one on this list. Unfortunately, DeJean broke his leg at the end of the 2023 season. DeJean is a very intelligent football player and seems to know where the ball is going at all times. He is great in coverage and known for being able to make amazing open-field tackles along with the fact he is an incredible and shifty return man. Due to the injury, he was not able to participate in the combine but should still be a lock to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft.
4. Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
McKinstry played the number one corner position at Alabama opposite Terrion Arnold. McKinstry seemed like a lock to go inside the top 10 of the NFL Draft but has started to slip down boards. Mckinstry is a very smart player and great in coverage but doesn’t seem to be much of a team player. He does not like to come up and stop the run and can get caught sleeping when he is not targeted. Even with the downsides, McKinstry should still be a first-round pick and a good starter in the NFL.
5. Nate Wiggins – Clemson
Wiggins has had a very up-and-down offseason so far. He finished the season in the conversation for the top corner of the class and seemed like a lock to go top 20, maybe top 15, but after his combine performance, he has slipped just a little. Wiggins was listed at 6’2, 185 pounds but measured into the combine at 6’1, 173 pounds. While it’s only 12 pounds, it makes a massive difference. Corners with Wiggins’ size haven’t had the best track records in the NFL. With their light build, it is easier for them to be bullied by bigger receivers. Wiggins was still the fastest corner at the combine, running a 4.29, and should still be a first-round pick.
All of these five corners should be first-round picks. There is not a large gap from five to one and there could be more shakeups in the rankings before the NFL Draft. If you are looking for more prospect rankings follow me on X @ChaseGrimm28 and if you are looking for more football content check out Gridiron Heroics.