With just about a month-and-a-half to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins and the rest of the league are tightening up their draft boards, and we’re working to do the same.
This is part one in a series in the coming weeks that details Aqua & Coral Report draft evaluations by position, as well as a loose ranking of the prospects at each spot.
POSITION OF NEED, RELATIVELY DEEP
It is not a secret to draft watchers that this year is not considered to be one of the best, namely because there is no steep dropoff in talent like most years, a small group of quarterbacks and few sure-fire picks.
Cornerback is one of the deeper spots this year and the talent will really start coming off the board toward the end of round one through probably early round three. It’s almost as likely this year that a team scores a high-end started on day two as it is day one, which speaks to the lack of talent differentiation.
In this series, the corners worth watching based on film, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley’s stated vision thus far, and then finally measurables and testing.
A LUCKY 13 CBs TO WATCH
These are the top cornerbacks for Miami in our estimation, as of this week. Like theirs, our board will stay dynamic until the final college pro days are conducted, most notably in this case – LSU’s.
Below are the Top 13 cornerbacks, with 2026 ACR Dolphins Draft Guide bios included for a few favotires:
(⭐denotes favorite players respective of draft range; “round” listings are more ranking than prediction)
1) CB Mansoor Delane, LSU: real good at VT, steps up to best league in CFB and performs just as well; not huge but former S; good in press; excels at covering with the play on front of him, eyes are always on the ball; not sure on top end speed but sticks with everybody; is the best cover corner in this draft; in his career posted 8 interceptions, 18 PBUs and 4 FFs; comes off as a high IQ player, both angles to the ball and play speed are good; could be a better tackler but isn’t bad by any stretch, he’s willing so maybe with a little added strength; fits Miami scheme needs; wonder if Miami lost interest with arm length (30”); JES and Hafley prioritize length, but also versatility, which Delane provides in his scheme-diversity; eyes on LSU Pro Day in hopes he runs and answers the only question remaining (R1)
2) ⭐ CB Chris Johnson, SDSU: best Group of 5 corner; 6-0 185; seems to have high football IQ; ballhawk with a good final burst to the ball; sticky in man, good in zone, solid tackler despite not being too big; good at everything except deep outs where it seems like he’s focused on running with his guy so much he doesn’t get his head turned; played mostly outside but has the instincts for either; several big plays/picks came when he read a play and left his man to attack the ball++; fearless tackler; football player, tape is great; like Delane, arm length not ideal but other combine measurables were very good: (4.40 40 (1.54 10 -yard split), 38-inch vertical, 10-6 broad; 17 reps bench (R1-R2)
3) CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson: (R1-R2)
4) CB Brandon Cisse, So. Carolina: (R2)
5) ⭐CB Julian Neal, Arkansas: 6-2, 203 and long; long looking arms (32 ¾-inches at combine) and physical but also good in the air on contracted balls; transferred from Fresno; former basketball player; press coverage skills; good at re-routing receivers; has fluid hips and is a strong tackler; real strong hands; could use some refinement but unlike most, he’s great playing with his back to the ball as he is real good at covering and tracking at the same time; rarely caught face guarding; quick hips; good body control in the air and good physical awareness around receivers to stay within space without penalty; could probably be good in man or zone but man is what will get him paid; 4.49 40 (1.59 split), 40-inch vertical (6th among CB), 11-2 broad (1st), 16 reps (3rd); could be diamond in the rough of this class; good fit for Hafley defense (R2-R3)
6) CB Daylen Everette, UGA: (R3)
7) CB Keionte Scott, Miami: if he could handle man coverage he would be probably second or third corner off the board; as it stands, Miami used him inside as a bit of a hybrid player and it worked well; okay in zone coverage but shines as a tackler and a tracker of the ball carrier; if he was bigger, he could be a devastating safety; 6-0, 192 and he’s pretty fearless; reminded me at times of Caleb Bullock with the play style then I have to remember he’s not a safety; football player, plays fast; had a real good freshman year at Auburn then slid each year before breakout senior year at UM; is twitchy, but struggles a little to match patterns in coverage; really like him, not sure he’s a fit (R3)
8) CB Devin Moore, Florida: (R3)
9) CB Tacario Davis, Washington: hurt 5+ games and looked like his transfer efforts a bust after a sub-par previous season at Arizona, but was real productive in the time he did play; first noticed at Arizona in ’23 when he had a strong season, 15 PBUs; real long (6-4, 194, 33 3/8-inch arms++) and specializes in man coverage; 19 tackles, two interceptions and three PBUs; loses receivers mid-route sometimes but seems to have surprisingly good recovery speed; 40 time will be a big deal (4.41, impressive); instinctive in his breaks; short area quickness not so great; could be very good but needs a lot of work and not likely a day 1 starter; high ceiling; solid tackler; size will be of great interest in MIA; needs to tighten up but could be good (R3-R4)
10) CB Will Lee III, TAMU: (R4)
11a) CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin: (R4)
11b) CB Hezekiah “Zeke” Masses, Cal: (R4-R5)
13) ⭐CB Andre Fuller, Toledo: haven’t seen much chatter about him but really like the tape; a stacked 6-2, 202 (see above) and the Rockets played him all over but primarily played him at field corner++; plays big but is also pretty sticky in coverage, though he does occasional show coverage breaks he needs recover from; curious what he runs (long speed at combine was average (4.49) but other numbers were good (1.56 10y split, 35-inch vertical, ; played zone mostly when inside and man when outside; real good, aggressive tackler; 49 tackles, 1 interception and 10 PBUs last year; doesn’t have great hands and needs work in ball recognition; provides positional versatility++ (R5)
14) CB/S Phillip Dunnam, UCF: (R7)
CBs EVALUATED, BUT “DNW”
To be clear, the DNW (Do Not Want) designation doesn’t mean that I would not want a player under any circumstance. It is more a response to the expected draft position of that player as well as their fit for Miami. (For example: Jermod McCoy is a DNW in the first round, but would gladly select him in the second. He’s still a DNW because he isn’t expected to make it to round 2.)
It is a risky thing to do so I understand national draft analysts not ever doing this (certainly leaves one subject to criticism), but it’s the type of evaluation I would send in if scouting for the Dolphins, so that’s the idea.
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (R1/DNW)
CB Colton Hood, Tennessee: (R2/DNW)
CB D’Angelo Ponds, IU : (R2/DNW)
CB Keith Abney, ASU: (R3/DNW)
CB Malik Muhammed, Texas: (R3-R4/DNW)
CB Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State: (R3/DNW)
CB Chandler Rivers, Duke: (R4/DNW)
CB Paco Austin, Cal: (D3-UDFA/DNW)
THE SCHEDULE
- Thu. Mar. 12 — Part 2, Guards and Centers
- Tues. Mar. 17 — Part 3, Tight Ends
- Thu. Mar. 19 — Part 4, Edge rushers
- Tues. Mar. 24 — Part 5, Wide Receivers
- Thu. Mar. 26 — Part 6, Defensive Tackles
- Tues. Mar. 31 — Part 7, Quarterbacks
- Thu. Apr. 2 — Part 8, Running Backs
- Tues. Apr. 6 — Part 9, Offensive Tackles
- Thu. Apr. 8 — Part 10, Safeties
(Full bios on all players listed will be available on all players in the ’26 ACR Dolphins Draft Guide).
Aqua & Coral Report 