Las Vegas Raiders Summer Scouting: CB Rankings

I broke down the 2027 scouting classes in my early summer scouting series, and the room has a ton of potential with a long list of potential standout players. I broke down the offense and defense in articles and I suggest reading those for a broad aspect of the room. The Raiders do have some talent on the interior OL, and I’d expect Las Vegas to add more in 2027 as John Spytek does.

These rankings are extremely early, and they will evolve over not only the summer but the next 8-10 months throughout

the season, and into draft season. Some lists will feature 10, 15, 20, or more ranked prospects but I’ll include others on the list below to note.

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1. Leonard Moore, Notre Dame – 6’2/195, Jr
   • Even as a Notre Dame fan, I promise I’m not being bias here there’s a very good chance that the Irish have the best CB, SAF, and linebacker in college football and arguably the best safety duo and cornerback trio. Leonard Moore is exceptional, and arguably a near generational cornerback. He’s physical, big, and smart and it shows with a career 80 tackles, 7 interceptions (including 5 in 2025), 19 PBU, and 3 FF while being a 2x All-American. Moore is long, he uses his length well, and he’s going to take away almost every contested catch situation allowing 4 in his career. Moore has elite awareness, a ton of lower body athleticism, and he’s an exceptional run defender as well. The true junior has a knack for the ball in space, will break off his routes, and in man coverage he’s sticky on the hip with elite contact balance. He’s a smart, highly physical, and highly talented cornerback who shows an ability to anchor a secondary for years.
2. Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia – 6’0/180, R-So
   • Georgia and Notre Dame have competed before for top players with Bowers/Mayer, then this year with their safety and corner battles. Robinson is smaller, but he’s a good player and paired with KJ Bolden makes an elite secondary duo. Robinson had 20 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 9 PBU in his frst season as a starter, largely due to his athleticism and ball skills. Robinson is best in zone coverage, he has a quick snappy first step, elite hip and foot speed, and he’ll drive on the ball quickly. Robinson baits quarterbacks, uses leverage to his advantage, and he’ll sink and drive on the ball exceptionally well to take away a route or take the ball away. Robinson is physical, he’ll fight defenders at the line, boxes out receivers in coverage, and he does a good job using the sideline to his advantage. Robinson stays low, plays with good foot speed, and he mirrors defenders well. There’s a lack of tackling, and his frame is concerning, but the ball skills are the best in the class with elite athleticism as well.
3. Xavier Scott, Illinois – 5’11/190, Sr
   • A safety/nickel hybrid, Scott had an injured year in 2025 but I expect a bounceback in 2026. Scott is undersized, but he plays similar to Devon Witherspoon. He’s shown elite hip flexibility, has smooth snappy hips, and his footspeed is exceptional. Additionally, Scott does a great job to mirror defenders, use his ball skills to fight the ball in the air, and he’ll be an elite nickel defender in the NFL. Scott doesn’t have the size, but he’s shown good strength to take on blocks, is able to jam defenders at the line of scrimmage, and he has above average length which allows him to get his hand into the catch point and knock the ball out. Scott is fluid athletically, and he’s shown good long speed. The NFL is valuing the nickel heavily & Scott should be a top 20 pick in April with a year similar to his 2024 season with 50 tackles, 4 INT, and 11 PBU.
4. Ashton Hampton, Clemson – 6’2/200, R-So
   • Hampton is a former WR moved CB and he’ll be asked to take on Avieon Terrell’s role in 2026. Hampton is big, but he’s able to move which is rare for a CB his size. He has decent foot speed, snappy hips, and he sinks into the route well which allows him to break onto the ball consistently. Hampton does have some moments he’s immediately beaten off the line but has good recovery speed. Additionally, he shows the best traits in man coverage to match and mirror defenders, play with a quick mind, and he is able to utilize his leverage and the sideline to push defenders routes. He’s physical, and will get flagged but Hampton enjoys to fight for the ball, though it can be a bailout for average first step speed and inconsistent long speed which cause him to lag behind at times. He’s a good athlete, moves well, and shows a ton of instincts and good man coverage skills.
5. Kelley Jones, Mississippi State – 6’4/195, R-So
   • Jones moves well, something rarely any 6’4 CB does. He hauled in 2 interceptions & 12 PBU in 2025 and his length is elite. Jones is able to reach into the receivers pocket, knock out the ball, and he’s able to use his length to close passing windows or smack the ball away at the catch point. Jones isn’t great in man coverage, he’s shown inconsistent long speed and his immediate burst is average as is his recovery speed. In zone, Jones moves well going forward with an elite first step, and his length helps to take away a variety of passing angles. Additionally, he’s smart & patient with an ability to sit on concepts, use the sideline, and drive on the ball well. He’s an average tackler, with good size, and physicality, but I’d like to see better angles and more physical nature.
6. Zabien Brown, Alabama – 6’0/192, R-So
7. Jayden Bellamy, UCF – 6’1/180, R-Jr
   • Bellamy is a sleeper. H’s a zone coverage corner, and he’s extremely lean with good length. Additionally, Bellamy is exceptionally smart, with an ability to read and react immediately, preview route concepts, and he does a great job to drive on the ball and take away route concepts. Bellamy excels with his football IQ and while an average athlete, you can’t teach his instincts and ball skills. He does over commit at times, has some concerns when it comes to his tackling angles, but it’s hard to deny the instincts.
8. Brice Pollock, Texas Tech – 6’0/195, R-Jr
9. Vicari Swain, South Carolina – 6’0/185, Jr
   • Swain made headlines as a returner, despite 28 tackles, 2 INT, and 7 PBU while adding 19 PR, 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. He will rise with a good season, and it’s off the pure athletic nature he possesses. Swain is quick footed, he has elite foot speed, and he does a great job in start stop situations as he sinks his hips well. Additionally, Swain does have elite quick feet in first step situations, long speed, and explosiveness. There’s likely no corner in the class more athletic, or faster, than Swain, but he needs to improve in the positional instincts, technique, and rely less on his athleticism. Swain shows good length, has elite balance, and there’s a lot of immediate reaction in his game which allows him to fly to the ball. There’s a high level upside for Swain, but a large floor also though he’ll succeeed in the NFL for his return ability.
10. OJ Frederique Jr, Miami – 6’0/180, R-So
11. Chris Peal, Syracuse – 6’1/200, R-So
12. Eli Bowen, Oklahoma – 5’9/185, R-So
    • Bowen the brother of fellow Oklahoma DB Peyton Bowen is kinda fascinating as a prospect. He’s a likely nickel in the NFL but plays physical enough to play the boundary with 2 TFL, 3 INT, and 11 PBU in his career. Additionally, Bowen has some snaps at FS though I think a nickel move is likely in his future. He’s twitchy in coverage, moves exceptionally well, and fires off the ball with good hip flexibility. Bowen shows good start/stop ability, he decelerates quickly and tracks the route concept incredibly well. In addition, Bowen is physical in the run game, he’ll play big works off blocks, and is a willing tackler with good form (10% career missed tackle rate). Bowen does need to improve his strength, which can become an issue for him at times, but he’s shown a big ability to grow into a player, and his natural instincts/ball skills make his ceiling as a high end NCB.
13. Zach Lutmer, Iowa – 6’0/205, R-So
14. Jamari Sharpe, Indiana – 6’1/190, Jr
15. Evan Johnson, BYU – 6’0/190, Sr

Other Names To Watch:

• Elijah Green, Tulsa – 6’2/195 CB. Long, physical, rangy DB with good size. 5 INT, 15 PBU in 2025, tackles well, moves well in coverage. Top Non P4 CB in the country, should hear his name early with another season.
• Christain Gray, Notre Dame – Extremely physical, grabby CB. Ton of ball production & penalties. Inconsistent
• DJ McKinney, Notre Dame – Former 1st round prospect, big/physical zone CB with ball skills
• Jyaire Hill, Michigan
• DJ Barksdale, UCLA – Elite NCB/FS hybrid prospect. Ton of ball production, small (5’8/185)
• Jermaine Matthews, Ohio State
• Mikey Munn, Rutgers
• MJ Cannon, Cincinnati – Tremendous ball skills & instincts, limited athlete
• Smith Snowden, Michigan State – Transfer from Houston Christian, big frame, plays larger than his frame, understands passing windows well, tremendous ball skills. Quick riser possibly
• AJ Harris, Indiana – Former 1st round potential prospect, bad year in 2025, looking for rebound.