{"id":17991,"date":"2026-04-21T10:43:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=17991"},"modified":"2026-04-21T10:43:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T10:43:56","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-preview-cornerback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/2026-nfl-draft-preview-cornerback","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft Preview: Who Snags Top Cornerback Mansoor Delane and Tennessee\u2019s Duo?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve reached the end of our positional 2026 NFL<\/a> Draft previews with a look at the cornerbacks, led by LSU\u2019s Mansoor Delane<\/a>. We already covered the front seven<\/a> and safeties<\/a>, but there are a decent number of corners who should be drafted by the end of the second round too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can never have enough corners in this league, though the gap between the salaries for the top pass rushers and top corners seems to be increasing. For instance, Houston just made Will Anderson the first $50M per year defensive player with his extension. The top cornerback right now is Trent McDuffie (traded to the Rams) at $31M per year, which is just above what Sauce Gardner (Colts) makes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardner was the most aggressive trade during the 2025 NFL season when the Colts felt halfway through the year that this was their tiny window to do something in the AFC with down years from the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills. Unfortunately, Gardner was injured as was quarterback Daniel Jones, and the Colts missed the playoffs. They also gave up two first-round picks and may have cost themselves in the 2027 draft too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But outside of some aggressive trades for Gardner and McDuffie in the last year by teams who were going with an all-in approach, you can conclude that corners are still nowhere near as coveted as elite pass rushers, including any defensive tackle who can get that interior pressure in the quarterback\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also the argument on whether you want to optimize pass coverage or pass rush. They impact one another, but there is a sense that no matter how long you can hold up in coverage, you\u2019re going to eventually break down if no one is pressuring the passer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a growing trend towards having a safety act as a \u201cbig nickel\u201d and moving them around as a versatile chess piece in your defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would still contend that your cornerback room should resemble your offensive line in the sense that you don\u2019t necessarily need an elite player, but you can\u2019t have a weak link on the left, right, or in the slot and maybe even dime. That\u2019s the player who is going to be attacked all the time and likely let you down in the big games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why you can never have enough good corners, and this 2026 draft class figures to be solid and deep at that position. Maybe not any Darrelle Revis or Sauce Gardner type of prospect this year, but you should find some future starters and good depth in this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database<\/a>, we are going to look at the top eight corners who are all likely first and second-round picks. We\u2019ll look at how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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