2026 NFL Mock Draft reveals surprise landing spots for Delane, McCoy, top cornerbacks

Who are the top cornerbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft and where will they land?

With draft day just days away, NFL Mocks’ contributor John Blair posted his final 2026 NFL Draft class cornerback rankings.  In a loaded class lead by LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, there are a lot of talented defensive backs who could go on Day 2 of the draft.

In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft featuring the cornerback position, we predict where top cornerback prospects will go in the 2026 NFL Draft to be held from April 23-25.

Top 10 Cornerbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft with projected landing spots

1. Mansoor Delane, LSU

Projected pick: No. 9 – Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs received an additional first round pick in this draft via the blockbuster trade that sent Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.  Ironically, it was with a late-round pick that the Chiefs drafted McDuffie in the 2022 NFL Draft.  With the additional pick, the Chiefs have a chance to draft a replacement in the top 10. 

The prediction is the Chiefs do so by selecting LSU’s Mansoor Delane who will be the first cornerback off the board. With his instincts, size and scheme versatility, Delane has the upside to replace McDuffie as the team’s top corner.  Unless an intriguing pass rusher or wide receiver falls to the Chiefs at No. 9, Delane should be the man in Kansas City.

2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Projected pick: No. 20 – Dallas Cowboys

The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t top heavy when it comes to cornerbacks, but it is a very deep draft.  After Delane, the next cornerback off the board will be Jermod McCoy who has received some buzz as a top 10 pick, but he slides here to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 20.

Another team with two first round picks, the Cowboys land a player in McCoy who could compliment DaRon Bland.  If the knee, which kept him out most of the 2025 season at Clemson, is 100 percent, McCoy has the skillset and ballhawk ability to be the top corner of the draft. Again, although there is some concern about his knee, McCoy is a high-reward impact player when he is on the field.

3. Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Projected pick: No. 32 – Seattle Seahawks

Avieon Terrell will be the third cornerback to go off the board in the first round as he is selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.  Now, Terrell could go higher, but there are plenty of cornerback options with late-first round, Day 2 grades other teams will opt to focus on.  That will leave Terrell as the man for the Seattle Seahawks.

After losing Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant in free agency, the Seahawks will seek a corner to take over CB3 behind Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe.  Terrell fits that role and could potentially roll into that CB2 role by the time the 2026 NFL season is over.

4. Colton Hood, Tennessee

Projected pick: No. 44 – New York Jets

The Jets have two second round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to go along with their two first round picks.  That gives the Jets four picks in the top 50 to address some key needs.  As a team that made history in 2025 by not recording a single interception, a top-level cornerback will be one of those needs.

Well, they had one of the best in Sauce Gardner.  But the blockbuster trade that sent Garnder to the Indianapolis Colts for multiple first round picks has left the Jets thin at the position. Unless the Jets feel comfortable enough to take McCoy at No. 16, there next best option at corner is Tennessee’s Colton Hood who has lost some of the buzz due to McCoy’s offseason showing.  Don’t’ get it twisted, Hood is a cornerback with first round potential and one of the best press corners in the draft.

5. Chris Johnson, San Diego State

Projected pick:No. 46 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The run on corners in Day 2 of the draft continues with the Buccaneers selecting Chris Johnson with the No. 46 overall pick in the draft.  A Corner with great size as far as height, Johnson is another one of those cornerbacks with great ball-hawking ability to go along with discipline in coverage.  He does have to work on his slender flame, but a Buccaneers team looking to replace Jamel Dean, the San Diego State product could compete as a long-term option alongside Zyon McCollum.

6. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

Projected pick: No. 48 – Atlanta Falcons

With no first found picks entering the draft, the Atlanta Falcons need to make their top pick a good one on Day 2.  With key needs at defensive tackle, wide receiver and depth at corner, the Falcons add the talents of Brandon Cisse to their secondary as a player who can be a No. 2 boundary corner alongside A.J. Terrell.  At 6-0, 189 pounds, Cisse has the size and elite speeds to be another lockdown type corner for the Falcons.  He would be a great No. 2 option for the Falcons in the secondary.

7. Keith Abney II, Arizona State

Projected pick: No. 49 – Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings take Keith Abney II with the No. 49 overall pick.  A draft board riser, Abney II will be one of the highly sought cornerbacks in the draft on Day 2.  The Vikings are a team that lacks depth at corner and the former Arizona State star will provide that playing behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers.  He will always have both veterans looking over their shoulders as potential starter sooner rather than later.

8. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

Projected pick: No. 50 – Detroit Lions

The Lions have talent at the cornerback position, but there is a concern about health.  Although they could address the cornerback position later in the draft, it will be hard to pass on D’Angelo Ponds at this spot.  They have D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold holding it down as starters, but the health of Ennis Rakestraw Jr, will drive the Lions to seek a reliable cornerback who could also secure the slot corner role.  When it comes to slot corners in this draft, Ponds is at the top of the class, especially as a corner who excels in nickel packages.

9. Keionte Scott, Miami (FL)

Projected pick:No. 52 –Green Bay Packers

Another team without a first-round pick, the Green Bay Packers will look to take care of one of their top positional needs with their top pick in the draft.  At No. 52, the Packers go cornerback with the selection of Keionte Scott.  A corner who is both physical and versatile, Scott is great in off-ball zone coverage and doesn’t mind getting gritty inside the box as a corner who can be utilized as a blitzer and very active in run support.

10. Treydan Stukes, Arizona

Projected pick:No. 67 – Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are another team looking for cornerback depth in the draft.  With Eric Stokes as the top corner and Darien Porter looking to make a Year 2 leap, the Raiders use No. 67 overall on Arizona product Treydan Stukes.  Another versatile defender in the secondary, Stukes has great size for a nickel corner and will bring a lot of physicality to the Raiders’ secondary.  With top tight ends like Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers in the division, a big slot corner like Stukes will come in handy.

Other notable 2026 NFL Draft projections - cornerback class

Biggest takeaway from the 2026 CB Class

Although not top-heavy, the 2026 NFL cornerback class is very deep. Delane and McCoy are the top prospects, but there is a cluster of late-first round, high Day 2 picks who could be starters. Several of those prospects could go in the 40-70 range, making this a position to keep a eye on and a group that could see several teams double dip to help solidify their cornerback units. A few value picks to watch are Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds and Georgia's Daylen Everette as corners who could have a higher immediate impact than projected.

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