An intriguing cornerback picture at the 2026 NFL Draft features small school standouts and injury returnees, even beyond the elite headliners.
Defense wins championships, and if any football-loving city has figured that out, it’s Pittsburgh.
The Steel City, of course, is the site of the 2026 NFL Draft that gets underway Thursday. Those tasked with stopping the elite aerial attacks of the league have a bright outlook, as cornerback is perhaps one of the deeper freshman bunches up for grabs.
Plenty of cornerbacks could go at the top of the draft — Mansoor Delane (LSU), Jermod McCoy (Tennessee), D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana), and Avion Terrell (Clemson) are among those leading the way— but there several diamonds in the defensive rough that could prove to be treasured when all is said and done.
5 Underrated Cornerback Prospects To Know In The 2026 NFL Draft
Who are the deep-rooted secondary standouts? TeamFB7 has five to keep an eye on below …
Keith Abney vs. quick slants in 2025: 12 targets (most in FBS), 3 receptions, 36 yards, 0 TD, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups pic.twitter.com/gCmeRvysqJ
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) April 15, 2026
Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Abney has certainly heard the concerns about his 5-foot-10 size, but several of his undersized contemporaries (i.e. Marcus Jones, Kenny Moore) have made names for themselves in the secondary. While a handsy reputation leaves him susceptible to penalties, Abney has a strong gridiron IQ and reads both quarterbacks and routes very well.
Abney also has perhaps one of the best forms of practice beyond the game field: he’s developed a strong reputation while spending his Tempe practices covering hyped receiving prospect and pre-draft darling Jordyn Tyson.
.@UW_Football CB Tacario Davis is 6’4″, 194 pounds.
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2026
He just ran a 4.41u
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/OiKDHm38HN
Tacario Davis, Washington
Limited to seven games by injury after transferring from Arizona, Davis needed to find a way to make up for lost time. He did so in Indianapolis, stealing the show with a 4.41 tally in the 40-yard dash. That probably won’t be enough to get an early call in Pittsburgh but there have been flashes of brilliance to get the scouting departments excited: he had 21 pass breakups in his last two seasons in Tucson and had two interceptions in seven showings as a Husky before ribs and hamstring issues ate away at his final collegiate tour.
It’s official, CB Charles Demmings SF Austin is on my “Crush” list! He’d be a great Day 3 pick for the #Packers #GoPackGo
— Angry Mike! 🧀 (@Angrymike23) April 20, 2026
6’1
193 lbs
4.41 Speed
9 Career INTs
9.97 RAS pic.twitter.com/oM0gLljgH0
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
SFA is no stranger to producing hidden NFL talents (i.e. Mark Moseley, Jeremiah Trotter) but Demmings was the first Lumberjack that brought his talents to Mobile’s Senior Bowl earlier this winter.
While Demmings could use some work on his tackling, his athleticism (on display at the combine with a top-five time in the 40 (4.41) and a top-two tally in the vertical jump (42″)) readily allows teams to overlook his small-school status. Demmings further pressed his issue with 18 pass breakups and six interceptions over his last two collegiate seasons.
Jalen McMurray. Clamps🔒 pic.twitter.com/vvXpzj067K
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) January 31, 2026
Jalen McMurray, Tennessee
With a 184-pound frame, one interception to his name, and two secondary teammates (Jermod McCoy/Colton Hood) projected to hear their names called on Friday at the latest, McMurray faces an uphill battle to make a name for himself. But McMurray could impress the vultures at the end of the draft with a strong ability to get into the backfield, notably notching six tackles for a loss and two sacks during the latter of two Knoxville tours.
He won’t be relied upon as a ballhawk, but he might emerge as a dark horse for a team seeking reinforcements in this blitz packages.
The Seahawks met with Florida CB Devin Moore, and he’d be the perfect Riq Woolen replacement 👀
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 26, 2026
6’2+ with long arms, awesome ball skills, and is expected to run in the 4.3s pic.twitter.com/BHiYnvRLJW
Devin Moore, Florida
A Naples native, Moore had to meander around the purgatory of medically-induced absences before breaking out in his senior season back in his home state (after a switch in commitment from Notre Dame). Moore made for an imposing figure in the secondary and did a little bit of everything to the tune of 35 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
The relative inexperience will likely turn him into a bit of a project pick but his length makes him an intriguing fixer-upper on the outside (as well as run defense with a strong tackling ability) that could be obtained during the latter stages.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
