The Raiders secondary has struggled, fans were concerned all off-season that it would be a concern, and those concerns were justified. The Raiders have seen good play from free agent signing Eric Stokes and beyond him they have struggled to find consistency at cornerback. Veteran Darnay Homes has worked primarily in the slot but has struggled at times. On the boundary, the Raiders have rotated between Kyu Blu Kelly, who prior to Sunday’s week 4 matchup vs the Bears has allowed a 118.7 QBR. 3rd rounder
Darien Porter hasn’t played often but he’s seen the field recently in weeks 3 and 4. 2024 4th rounder Decemarion Richardson has seen limited playtime and is struggling to develop the traits Las Vegas saw coming out of college.
The Raiders are likely to sign a free agent cornerback, and could hold onto Stokes if his level of play continues. The 2025 season has been rough for projected rookie CBs with many seeing injuries but there have been some high quality play out of those at the top of the board. The cornerback position is often determined by team scheme, with the Raiders running primarily cover 3 (over 55% on the season) the need for a man coverage cornerback is low. Arguably the best corner in the class, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell fits the system well. The brother of Falcons star AJ Terrell, Avieon has put together a strong start to the 2025 season with a 56% completion rate allowed, 108 yards, an 83.2 QBR and 4 PBU with 1 TD in coverage. Terrell has a fluid lower half, good speed and initial burst to keep up in man coverage along with break on route concepts. He’s an elite run defender as well who has missed just 5% of his tackles this season. Terrell’s largest struggle comes in his frame and arm length at just 5’11/190 and he could be forced to move to the slot in the NFL. Along with Terrell, Texas CB Malik Muhammad fits the Raiders heavy zone coverage system. The 6’0/190 DB has a career 23 PBU and a 79 QBR allowed including just allowing 22 years on 4 receptions this season. Muhammad is extremely physical, defends the run well, and has elite lower body athleticism that allows for him to move in space and make plays on the ball. The biggest concern for Muhammad comes with his weight and tackling in open space, where he has struggled at times with a near 30% missed tackle rate last season. Additionally, Muhammad needs to get better at man coverage and his footwork can be choppy. The last of the top five to be a primary zone CB comes with Texas A&M’s Will Lee III who has an ideal frame for the Raiders at 6’1/195 though he’s struggled at times this season allowing 247 yards, 2 TD, and a 116.6 QBR despite his 4 PBU (138 yards, TD allowed at Notre Dame). Lee defends the run well, is a good tackler, and does have elite athletic traits that will make him an intriguing prospect, should he declare. Lee has quick feet, smooth hips, and is a physical CB that can make plays in both aspects. Despite this, he does struggle out of his breaks at times and can draw penalties with being too physical. The former JUCO CB has intriguing traits and would fit the Raiders in size/athleticism.
The top man coverage CB’s are headlined by Penn State’s AJ Harris who’s allowed just 81 yards this season with 3 PBU. He’s 6’1/190 and plays primarily on the boundary. A sound tackler, Harris has the hips and feet to work in man coverage along with elite speed that allows him to turn and round downfield with quick receivers. He’s able to be subtle out of his breaks and make a play on the ball or stick with the WR. Harris does lack physicality at times and can get beat in contested catch situations, along with this his arm length is below average for his height and he needs to show that he can compete against top receivers. Harris does have the ability to play man and zone paired with his size which makes him a suitable candidate for the Raiders. In addition to Harris, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is likely the best CB in the class, despite missing time this year with injuries. McCoy is expected to make his season debut next week, and hasn’t logged a snap this season. The 6’1/195 CB was a preseason All-American after his 4 INT, 9 PBU season in 2024 where he allowed a 50% completion rate and 53.6 QBR as well. McCoy is explosive with a fluid lower half and an elite ability to turn and run with receivers. He has a knack for the ball and consistently makes plays in man coverage downfield along with a couple splash plays breaking on the route and grabbing a forced incompletion. McCoy is physical and tackles well while having a knack to make plays in the run game. McCoy will need to stay healthy after injury this season and to end last year, while also needing to refine his technique. The last CB also comes from the SEC in Georgia’s Daylen Everette, who despite having majority of his time in man coverage is a better fit for the zone systems of the NFL. Everette is 6’2/205 with good speed. The senior CB missed a game this season with injury, which has happened in his career but he’s logged 2 PBU off 16 targets and has a career 4 INT and 17 PBU with a 93.9 QBR allowed. Everette has quick footwork and strong hips, he tackles well but needs to clean up his form, and he’s also shown great acceleration and IQ at the position to jump routes and be clean out of breaks. Everette has extremely long arms, a well built frame, and is physical throughout the game.
Mansoor Delane will get his own paragraph because of how sensational he’s been in 2025, the 6’0/190 CB has played exceptional in 5 of LSU’s game though he is coming off his worst game vs Ole Miss. The Virginia Tech transfer has a career 71.7 QBR allowed and 7 INT to go along with 24 PBU. He’s an extremely sound CB in tackling, where he’s missed just 10.4% of his tackles with just 8% this season. Delane is allowing a 19.0 QBR in 2025 with an INT and 5 PBU along with allowing just 6 receptions on 20 !!! targets. He has extremely long arms, plays physical in all aspects of the game, while also having the athleticism to run with all type of receivers. The LSU standout has a fluid lower half, doesn’t struggle to flip and run in concepts but also has spent time in zone coverage systems where he’s able to sit and jump on routes due to high instincts. He’s a slim but physical CB and it could cause issues in the NFL however he looks to be an extremely NFL ready CB that can fit any system.
Other notable names to watch, in a really strong and deep cornerback draft class include:
- Thaddeus Dixon, UNC: The 6’1/190 junior has popped after a strong 2024 season at Washington. Dixon has logged 3 PBU and 12 tackles while allowing a 61.1 QBR. He’s a long physical CB that works well in man coverage with fluid hips but he needs to clean up his tackling (14% missed in career) while also refining technique at the POA in coverage.
- Chandler Rivers, Duke: One of the top prospects coming into the season, Rivers has struggled a little. He’s a fit for the slot in the NFL due to his 5’10/180 frame but Rivers plays bigger than his size. He’s logged a career 21 PBU and 5 INT while allowing a 82.6 QBR. He’s a strong CB who is able to press and run in man coverage while also having experience in a cover 3 system. Rivers tackles well and is physical playmaker, he has good hips but needs to clean up his footwork to succeed in the NFL.
- Tacario Davis, Washington: Davis meets Carrolls size requirements at 6’4/210 and he’s bene productive in his career between Arizona and Washington logging 17 PBU and 2 INT. After a strong 2023 season where he ran primarily zone coverage, Davis has struggled at times in man coverage. He’s a long CB that tackles exceptionally well and has a knack for playing the ball in zone. He has sharp feet and hips which allow him to be fluid out of breaks, though he has struggled with staying healthy.
- DJ McKinney, Colorado: McKinney has struggled with his tackling this season, at a 27% clip but he’s been as advertised in coverage. An extremely fluid and elite athlete, McKinney can make plays on the ball at every position. He’s 6’2/185 and works well in coverage at the POA. McKinney has a knack for making plays on the ball (4 INT and 19 PBU in career) while also showcasing the ability to turn and run with receivers. McKinney needs to clean up the tackling but he has the coverage traits and lower half to play in the NFL.
- Domani Jackson, Alabama: The USC transfer is struggling in 2025 after allowing only a 63 QBR in 2024. Jackson is 6’1/195 and works well but can look stiff in coverage which allows him to get beaten off the LOS and struggle to showcase makeup speed to recover. He’s best fit for a zone system, but Jackson needs to refine his aggression in coverage which allows him to be beat. He’s an average tackler as well.
- Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State: After a strong 2024 season, Igbinosun decided to return to Ohio State instead of declaring and he’s done well fixing his flaws. Igbinosun remains a strong tackler with just 10.1% missed in his career (5% in 2025). He has a knack for the ball at 6’2/190 with 15 PBU and 2 INT in his career. He is physical in coverage, showing an ability to run with most receivers and play them through the route, however he does get flagged drawing 26 career penalties (16 in 2024, but 1 in 2025). Igbinosun is likely a top 60 pick due to his size and athletic ability and does have versatility in man/zone and the slot.
- Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina: Primarily a NCB, the 6’1/210 SAF has logged 1000+ snaps in the slot and he’s been successful. With 5 INT and 10 PBU in 2024, Kilgore hasn’t been tested as much in 2025 logging just 1 PBU while allowing a 46.2% completion rate. Kilgore is an elite athlete, with strong hips and quick feet. He’s physical in coverage and is a good run defender as well. He’s a high quality NCB that can turn and run with any receiver, runningback, or tight end.
- D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana: Despite being 5’9/175 Ponds is a standout CB. He’s posted an 85+ PFF Coverage grade in 3 straight seasons while allowing a 52.8 QBR. He was targeted over 60 times in 2024 and 2023 allowing just 501 yards and 3 TD in that time. He has a career 18 PBU, 6 INT and has been a shutdown boundary CB for the Hoosiers. Ponds will rotated to the slot in the NFL where his physicality, athleticism, and tackling ability will likely make him a multi time pro bowler. Ponds is going to be overlooked at his size but he’s among the best CB’s in the class and showcases all the traits you want.
- Xavier Scott, Illinois: Primarily a NCB, Scott tackles well and showcases good athletic traits and IQ to succeed in the NFL. He’s allowing a career 78 QBR with 19 PBU and 6 INT across four seasons. Scott is 5’11,/195 but plays with elite physicality and great film as a round defender.
- Christian Gray, Notre Dame: Gray has been tested heavily being opposite of Benjamin Morrison and Leonard Moore and while there’s been ups and downs he’s shown flashes. At 6’1/190 he’s best fit in a zone system unlike Notre Dame’s man coverage. Gray has allowed a career 79.4 QBR with 12 PBU and 5 INT. He lacks long speed showing a sign in man coverage, but has an excellent knack for the football in coverage. He’s physical and strong in coverage pairing size with good foot speed.
- Jyaire Hill, Michigan: Hill has been a standout the last two years at Michigan and at 6’2/190 is one of the more underrated CBs in the draft. He’s got a knack for the football with 11 PBU and 2 INT in two seasons while allowing a 78.4 QBR. Hill tackles well but needs to refine his traits in coverage. He’s aggressive and it does limit him though he’s a good fit for the Raiders system especially at his size. Hill can make plays in zone with his IQ.
- Josh Moten, Southern Miss: Moten has been a standout the last two seasons. After logging 6 PBU and 5 INT in 2024 teams have relatively avoided him in 2025 where he’s allowed just 126 yards and a 57.5 QBR while also snagging a 99 yard pick 6. Moten has made strides in his tackling (3.8% missed in 2025 after 15/21% in the last two seasons). He’s on the smaller side at 5’11, 180 but he shows good athletic ability and can play both the slot and boundary. Moten has a lot to like about him and can be a long time corner in the NFL.
There’s more CBs to keep an eye on but in an effort to keep this article “short” I’ll expand on them later into the draft cycle. The Raiders will have to draft at least one, and if Carroll is sticky solely to size then there’s not a ton of options in the 2026 class with only 6 of the CB mentioned being 6’1 or taller. Despite this, there’s plenty of CB that display the traits to be NFL caliber players and also have logged numerous high level forced incompletion rates.
