If you ask Los Angeles Rams fans what are the biggest needs are in the upcoming draft, cornerback would rate pretty high on all lists. While it is true that the starters (minus the Tre White experiment) return intact from last year, most followers feel it’s of a patchwork design and in need of an upgrade.
Since the 2017 Les Snead/Sean McVay union, L.A. has drafted five true corners and a couple of slot/safety hybrids. David Long at #79 in 2019 was their most significant expenditure of draft capital. Interestingly, none of the draftees were over six foot tall. That’s the category of this article, in fact, it’s cornerbacks that stand 6’ 2” or better.
Meet the prospects
Will Johnson – Michigan – 6’ 2” 194 lb. 30 1/8”
Johnson is the consensus #2 cornerback in this draft class, the true junior was a five-star high school recruit and turns 22 in a week. Over three seasons, he started 22 of 32 games, but missed six games in 2024 with a turf toe injury. He was named to All-American teams in each of his three college years. He was credited with 68 tackles, four for loss, nine interceptions, and 19 passes broken up.
Built tall and lean with adequate arm length, Johnson has shown to be more of a smooth mover with plus body control/fluidity, rather than an athletic freak. this looseness allows him to stop/start, change direction, and react to circumstances in a flash. He ’s good tackler and willing in run support. Excels in coverage, particularly in zones when he’s able to use his eyes on the QB, his football IQ to recognize routes and instincts to break on them. In man he uses the sideline to advantage and shows the speed to bump-and-run. Ballhawking skills are stellar, but bites at doubles moves.
While Johnson may not have the ceiling that other Round 1 corners have, he has a very high floor. Critics may claim there’s durability issues, but nothing serious. He’s a plug-and-play prospect that would fit like a glove into the Rams defense, the problem is, I have him with a Top 10 grade and will be gone before L.A. gets their chance. If he were to fall past #15, I’d be open to see Les Snead move up to get him.
Shavon Revel – East Carolina – 6’ 2” 194 lb. 32 5/8”
Starred not only in high school football, was also a track star. Started his college career at Louisburg, a JUCO in rural North Carolina. In two years, didn’t get much action on the field because of COVID19 shutdowns. Moved on to East Carolina for his final three years. Started 15 of 24 games 71 tackles, four for loss, three interceptions, and 19 passes defended. Suffered a torn ACL at practice three games into his final season.
Outside corner with all the traits to be a lockdown press/man operator. He’s a smooth and fluid mover that plays with a chip on his shoulder. He can disrupt receivers off the snap with his long arms and re-direct/squeeze them towards the sideline. He stays attached all the way down the field. Although he didn’t play a lot of zone, his size and length, along with his reaction, change of direction, and burst makes him a fit. A willing tackler in space and run support. Revel’s knee injury is on target to be completely head by 2025 training camp.
Indeed, similar to Darrien Porter later in the article, Revel’s lack of game action and its film makes for a high ceiling and low floor considering the draft capital a team will have to shell out for him. What film there is rates well, so I’m not scared off, grading him in the mid/late Round 1 range. Revel can learn as he goes by leaning on his prototypical physical traits, explosive athleticism, and natural sticky coverage skills. Technique polish and savvy will come with experience.
Azareye’h Thomas – Florida State – 6’ 2” 197 lb. 32 3/8”
Thomas comes out as 20 year-old true junior. He was a four-star recruit and started 13 0f 37 games, with 12 of those coming in 2024. His numbers included 96 tackles, one intercept, and 15 passes broken up. Named to the Senior Bowl where he was a standout.
Solidly put together with great length. Quite fluid for his cut. Outside lockdown corner with the size/strength to cover linebackers when the opposing offense shifts away. Opponents often stayed away from his side of field. Thomas didn’t do speed/burst/agility tests at the NFL Combine, but showed enough athleticism in Senior Bowl workouts. Realistically, his game is not built on speed, but rather getting on receivers off the snap, sticking to their hip with route recognition, body control, size and strength. Has the awareness and read/react skills to work in zone, as well. Opinions are often negative on his run support, film shows he’s willing to mix it up coming downhill, but takes poor pursuit angles. Not great, not bad, but a little work needed.
Ultra-competitive play style and demeanor. I grade him late Round 2, but many draft pundits are mocking him into Round 1. Rams fans seem to love this prospect and Mel Kiper’s latest mock puts Thomas in L.A. at #26. Long special teams history at Florida State.
Darrien Porter – Iowa State – 6’ 3” 195 lb. 33 1/8”
Porter is a 24 year-old, sixth year senior. Before joining the Cyclones as a three-star recruit, he was a high school track star, setting records and harvesting medals in state meets. He spent his first three college seasons at wide receiver and on special teams. Before the 2022 season, he moved to cornerback and changed his life path. He never became a full-time starter, with only seven of 36 games after the move to defense. Modest stats, considering he played in 61 games, 51 tackles, three for loss, three interceptions, and nine passes broken up.
Elite combination of size, length, and speed. Although he long strides like a track man, his change of direction and agility numbers at the combine were strong. Played outside and can win in both zone and man coverages. In man, he can mirror, stay sticky when turning and running, and gets his head around at the catch point. In zone he’s aware of receivers going through his area, and can close quickly, his wingspan and leaping ability narrowing windows. Surprisingly good technique, most of his problem areas have more to do with inexperience than fatal flaws.
Easy to fall in love with his athletic and physical traits, but Porter is a raw developmental project. The late transition to corner, lack of starts and overall playtime creates a boom/bust aspect for his future. That said, I grade him in Round 3. He has 1000+ special teams snaps with multiple blocks to return value while continuing to grow.
Zah Frazier – UTSA – 6’ 3” 186 lb. 32 7/8”
Came to UTSA out of JUCO as a four-star prospect. Didn’t play much during his first two seasons before breaking out in his final college season. He booked 35 tackles, six interceptions, and broke up 10 passes. Named to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Tall, high-cut player with stellar length and huge hands. Strong all-around athletic testing at the NFL Combine. Frazier played exclusively outside for UTSA and with the height and long arms it would be easy to put him in the press/man slot, he’s very aggressive off the snap and can re-direct, flat out stymie, or turn and run on sideline patters, but needs better footwork and lateral agility when staying with in-breaking routes. He looks to be a better fit into a zone coverage defense. Good awareness, read/react and explosive burst downhill. Willing tackler and in charging in on run support. With his wingspan, very difficuly to throw over/around on corner blitzes.
There is natural talent there, but Frazier is a one-year production wonder. The difficulty is projecting his draft grade. He’ll turn 25 in October, he’s a raw developmental project, and inconsistent due to inexperience. On the flip side, the things he does well, he does very well, shows aggression/hustle, particularly in pursuit, and has a special teams upside. I grade him in Round 7, but put a sleeper asterisk beside his name.
BJ Adams – Central Florida – 6’ 2” 183 lb. 31 3/4”
Adams started 29 of 48 games and charted 88 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 passes defended. Named to the Senior Bowl and, by consensus reports, had a strong showing. Covering routes 1on1 at these showcase workouts strongly favor the receivers, there’s no time limit on the throws and routes can be very pinball-esque.
Outside corner with press/man coverage being his strong suit, nice technique and footwork, plays aggressively with a good press/punch, can mirror receivers moves and then flip his hips open and run with them. Doesn’t show the same instincts when in more passive zone coverages. Very long arms, but his athleticism is only adequate, not a twitchy or explosive mover. He wins with physicality and tenacity. He doesn’t have those tendencies against the run. Not a particularly a good tackler and doesn’t offer much in run support.
Shows an agressive, competitive nature and knows how to use those arms in contested catch situations. I have an undrafted grade on Adams, but his showing in the Senior Bowl put him in the “riser” ranks.
Devin Kirkwood – UCLA – 6’ 4” 205 lb. 33 1/8”
Four-star recruit with high school sprints background. Started 16 of 46 games, missed a chunk of 2022 with a broken wrist. Over his four seasons, Kirkwood logged 98 tackles, four for loss, three interceptions and broke up 13 passes. Named to the Tropical Bowl.
Long, athletic outside corner with a huge wingspan. Kirkwood’s strength is in pass coverage, posting strong snaps per target numbers, behind only Travis Hunter and Azareye’h Thomas. Loose enough to turn and run in press and stays connected. Could be an even better zone coverage player, has good read/react and ball skills, but lacks aggressiveness and physicality when tackling.
Longshot undrafted free agent. Played under four different defensive coordinators in four years. A developmental project that needs polish, until then, physical traits will get Kirkwood a look in the NFL and how long he stays on the path will be determined by his work on special teams.
Do the Rams have room for another cornerback?
While it is true that L.A. has 10 corners currently on the roster, they certainly have room for another starting grade corner. One for sure, maybe more.
Cobie Durant seems to be finally getting accustomed to the pro game, but 2025 is the final year of his rookie deal. Neither Darious Williams, nor Ahkello Witherspoon appear to be much more than a band-aid. 2023 Round 1 pick Emmanuel Forbes is struggling to fight off the insidious “bust” tag. Derion Kendrick played his way off the field in consecutive seasons and the final five are all undrafted free agents with less than 175 career defensive snaps amongst them.
With NFL wide receivers trending bigger and tight ends more athletic, finding taller, longer corners is no longer just an outside press/man scheme fit, it’s a necessity for all defenses.
