Is Revel a hidden gem?
Cornerback is often cited as one of the more pressing needs of the New York Giants.
And as it so happens, the 2025 NFL Draft projects to have a deep, talented, and diverse cornerback class. It seems likely that value, need, and fit will all intersect at some point for the Giants and they’ll be able to find the second outside corner they’ve been looking for.
Eastern Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. has been flying below the radar at the national level. That’s to be expected given that he’s a small school cornerback who missed most of 2024 with a torn ACL. However, the NFL is well aware of Revel and his name could be a surprise to many fans early in the draft.
Could he be the rare first round hidden gem?
Prospect: Shavon Revel Jr. (28)
Games Watched: vs. Michigan (2023), vs. Appalachian State (2023), vs. SMU (2023), vs. FAU (2023)
Red Flags: Torn ACL (September, 2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-3 (estimated)
Weight: 194 (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits: Length, awareness, football IQ, zone coverage, competitive toughness, athleticism
Shavon Revel Jr. is an athletic cornerback with rare length for the position. He measures 6-foot-3, 194 pounds (school listing), but moves remarkably well for a corner of his height. He has quick, light feet that allow him to change direction relatively easily for a tall corner while also having the speed to run with most receivers down the field.
Revel shows a natural feel for zone coverage and is an active communicator both before and after the snap. He has an understanding of route concepts and is seldom fooled by misdirection. Likewise, Revel isn’t often caught up in schemed traffic and navigates rub routes well. He has great awareness in zone coverage, picking up and passing off receivers smoothly. He also does a good job of keeping his eyes in the backfield and is quick to come downhill to defend the run or underneath passes.
He’s an aggressive defender at the catch point and understands how to use his length when defending passes. Revel hasn’t come up with many interceptions but he uses his length, quickness, and awareness to attack the ball and receivers’ hands.
Revel is also a willing run defender with great competitive toughness. He shows good technique when shedding blocks from receivers and is a good form tackler. Revel isn’t a punishing hitter but reliably gets ball carriers on the ground in space.
Weaknesses
Worst traits: Backpedal transition in man coverage, play strength
The obvious concern with Revel is with the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season. He suffered the injury in September so he should be healthy for training camp with a good recovery.
Revel has rare height and length for the position, but is also a high-cut athlete and shows some slight hip stiffness. He has a tendency to play upright and doesn’t sink his hips when backpedaling. Likewise, he doesn’t really open his hips when transitioning from his backpedal to running with a receiver. He has light, quick feet, but lacks the truly oily hips of a man coverage corner, so he can lose ground when transitioning.
Revel can also lose track of the play when his back is to the offense. There are instances of him being slow to react to play-fakes or coming off of his receiver to pursue underneath passes in man coverage.
Revel has great length, but his play strength is merely “okay”. He could be bullied by powerful receivers, and struggle to get stout running backs on the ground.
Game Tape
(Revel is ECU cornerback No. 28 with a white sleeve on his left arm)
Projection
Revel projects as a starting cornerback at the NFL level, and should be a first-round selection even with his injury.
He has the traits many teams look for in man coverage corners, but he lacks the hip fluidity to excel in an aggressive man coverage scheme. Revel is a much more natural zone defender and should be a Day 1 starter in a defense that’s based on zone principles. His highest upside could be in a Cover 3 defense thanks to his long speed to cover a deep third, but he should be effective in a Cover 2, 4, or 6 defense as well.
Teams will want to do their due diligence on Revel’s knee.
Does he fit the Giants?
Potentially. It will depend on the Giants’ scheme and his medical reports.
Final Word: A first-round talent who could slip to the second round.
