Fantasy managers are regularly faced with difficult Begin-and-sit decisions at the wide receiver position. In-depth familiarity with All wide receiver’s primary coverage defender gives astute managers an edge in making these decisions, regardless of the scoring Arrangement.
The article below breaks down four cornerbacks from the 2025 NFL draft class and identifies their ideal landing spot. Should these pairings come to fruition, fantasy managers must think carefully as to how the Newcomer cornerbacks can negatively impact their fantasy-scoring results.
CB/WR Travis Hunter ‘s best fits : Indianapolis Colts , Seattle Seahawks
Colorado cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter collected 11 honors and awards in his 2024 junior season, most notably earning the Heisman Accolade, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Fred Biletnikoff Award. The latter two are awarded annually to college football’s best Safeguarding player and most outstanding receiver, respectively. Hunter has Created clear that he intends to Shift “100.0%” of both offensive and Safeguarding snaps for whichever NFL Club drafts him. While that rate is likely unattainable, Hunter can be deployed as a part-time offensive and Safeguarding player for an NFL Club that needs a speedy perimeter wide receiver and whose No. 1 cornerback shifts from the perimeter to the slot in nickel and dime formations. Both the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks fit the bill. Hunter’s 86.3 PFF Assault grade ranks third among 38 Power Five wide receivers with at least 700 offensive snaps. His 88.2 PFF Protection grade ranks third among 33 Power Five cornerbacks with at least 750 Safeguarding snaps.
In 2024, Hunter respectively tallied triple-digit offensive and Safeguarding snap counts at perimeter wide receiver, perimeter cornerback and slot Safeguarding back. He lined up as a slot receiver 36 times. In 2023, Hunter lined up 287 times as a slot receiver and Only 176 times as a perimeter wide receiver. For this reason, his 2023 sophomore slot data is included in the sample below.
The table below ranks in parentheses:
- Hunter’s perimeter receiver data among 45 Power Five perimeter wide receivers with at least 320 perimeter receiving snaps in 2024.
- Hunter’s slot receiver data among 94 Power Five slot receivers with at least 240 slot receiving snaps in 2023 and 2024.
- Hunter’s perimeter cornerback data among 73 Power Five perimeter cornerbacks with at least 300 perimeter coverage snaps in 2024.
- Hunter’s slot coverage data among 168 Power Five slot Safeguarding Defenders with at least 70 slot coverage snaps in 2024.
| Receiving/Coverage Snaps | 508 (No. 2) | 254 (T-No. 86) | 319 No. 63) | 76 (T-No. 155) |
| PFF Receiving Grade | 87.3 (No. 4) | 77.5 (T-No. 20) | N/A | N/A |
| Yards/Route Stretch | 2.37 (No. 9) | 2.12 (T-No. 24) | N/A | N/A |
| Deep-Target Rate | 22.1% (No. 15) | 13.5% (No. 63) | N/A | N/A |
| PFF Coverage Grade | N/A | N/A | 90.6 (No. 1) | 62.6 (No. 94) |
| Targeted Rate | N/A | N/A | 9.1% (No. 1) | 15.7% (No. 52) |
| Forced Incompletion Rate | N/A | N/A | 21.4% (T-No. 6) | 18.2% (T-No. 21) |
| Yards Allowed Per Coverage Snap | N/A | N/A | 0.47 (T-No. 3) | 1.00 (No. 54) |
Hunter excels on the perimeter, both offensively and defensively. Although he can Shift efficiently as a slot receiver, he struggles to maintain high-level Shift as a slot Safeguarding back.
Both Indianapolis and Seattle lack difference-making, perimeter wide receivers who possess Best Velocity.
Indianapolis invested second-Period picks in wide receivers Alec Pierce (2022 NFL draft) and Adonai Mitchell (2024 NFL draft) to solve the issue. Neither player panned out. Pierce delivered unreliable results in his Occupation-best 2024 season, averaging 1.82 yards per route Stretch (YPRR) via a 22.8-yard average depth of target (aDot) while earning a 75.3 PFF receiving grade. Mitchell likewise averaged 1.51 YPRR via a 14.7-yard aDot while earning a 61.4 PFF receiving grade.
Seattle’s Leading wide receiver duo now consists of two slot receivers, ascending superstar, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who earned an 83.5 PFF receiving grade while averaging 1.81 YPRR via a 9.2-yard aDot last year, and the newly signed Cooper Kupp, who earned a 72.3 PFF receiving grade while averaging 1.88 YPRR via an 8.7-yard aDot with the Los Angeles Rams.
Neither Assault would be bereft of talent with Hunter sitting out for roughly 45.0% of snaps but his insertion into the lineup would Develop an unpredictable and explosive Vibrant.
Indianapolis’ No. 1 cornerback Kenny Moore II and Seattle’s No. 1 cornerback Devon Witherspoon both line up on the perimeter in their Club’s base Safeguarding Arrangement but Boot inside to the slot in nickel and dime packages. Moore’s 68.2 PFF coverage grade ranks second among Indianapolis cornerbacks. Witherspoon’s 69.2 PFF coverage grade ranks second among Seattle cornerbacks.
Indianapolis’ 2024 Protection logged 372 base Arrangement snaps, 758 nickel package snaps and 25 dime package snaps.
Moore totaled 1,013 Safeguarding snaps in 2024, the second-most among Indianapolis cornerbacks. In base formations, Moore logged a 71.4% pre-snap alignment perimeter rate (232 Safeguarding snaps). In nickel packages, Moore logged an 83.3 % pre-snap alignment slot rate (545 Safeguarding snaps). In dime packages, Moore logged a 69.6% pre-snap alignment slot rate (16 Safeguarding snaps).
Indianapolis’ Obtainable agent-signee, cornerback Charvarius Ward, is Predicted to man one of the two perimeter spots. His 58.2 PFF coverage grade from his age-28, 2024 season compares unfavorably to Moore but Ward’s family tragedy undoubtedly impacted his Shift. Ward earned an 86.5 PFF coverage grade in 2023.
Ward’s Previous San Francisco 49ers teammate, cornerback Samuel Womack III, continued building his quietly Powerful resume with Indianapolis last year, earning a 71.3 PFF coverage grade on 440 coverage snaps. Womack deserves a Leading NFL role, but Previous fifth-Period castoffs rarely fend off Best prospects.
Seattle’s 2024 Protection logged 219 base Arrangement snaps, 792 nickel package snaps and 96 dime package snaps.
Witherspoon totaled 1,103 Safeguarding snaps in 2024, the most among Seattle cornerbacks. In base formations, Witherspoon logged a 76.8% pre-snap alignment perimeter rate (162 Safeguarding snaps). In nickel packages, Witherspoon logged a 56.6% pre-snap alignment slot rate (441 Safeguarding snaps). In dime packages, Witherspoon logged a 76.0% pre-snap alignment slot rate (73 Safeguarding snaps).
Seattle No. 2 cornerback Tariq Woolen earned a 69.5 PFF perimeter-coverage grade on a position group-high 772 perimeter Safeguarding snaps.
Indianapolis’ 32.2% base Arrangement snap rate and Seattle’s 19.4% base Arrangement snap rate allow Hunter time to rest.
Both Indianapolis (No. 14 overall Option) and Seattle (No. 18 overall Option) must trade up for the right to draft Hunter. Indianapolis, possessing only the standard seven NFL draft picks allotted to them, may have a more difficult time doing so. Seattle, conversely, possesses 10 picks, including five on Periods 1 and 2. A trade into the top four is easily executed, if general manager John Schneider sets his mind to it.
Hunter brings Best offensive and Safeguarding traits, particularly when lined up on the perimeter. He is a perfect fit for Indianapolis and Seattle.
CB Jahdae Barron‘s best fit: Chicago Bears
Previous New Orleans Saints head Mentor and new Chicago Bears Safeguarding coordinator Dennis Allen inherits a talented Protection from Previous Safeguarding-minded head Mentor Matt Eberflus. Chicago No. 1 cornerback Jaylon Johnson and Snug end-coverage specialist, safety Jaquan Brisker, provide Allen with the mismatch opportunities his Protection attempts to capitalize on via various personnel formations, yet the No. 2 perimeter cornerback spot remains a glaring deficiency. Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron is a perfect fit for the role. His 90.7 PFF Protection grade ties for No. 1 overall among 33 Power Five cornerbacks with at least 750 Safeguarding snaps. Johnson’s 74.2 PFF coverage grade ranks ninth among 32 NFL cornerbacks with at least 910 Safeguarding snaps. Brisker’s 84.6 PFF coverage grade against opposing Snug ends ranks Primary among Chicago safeties and linebackers.
Chicago slot cornerback Kyler Gordon’s 83.9 PFF slot-coverage grade ties for third among 34 NFL slot Safeguarding Defenders with at least 199 slot-coverage snaps.
Chicago’s No. 2 cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has failed to earn even a 60.0 PFF coverage grade through two NFL seasons. His 63.7 PFF Stretch-Protection grade is his Occupation-best Safeguarding PFF grade, falling well Brief of second-Period draft capital expectations. Among 64 NFL perimeter cornerbacks with at least 515 perimeter-coverage snaps, Stevenson ranks third-worst in yards allowed per coverage snap (1.57) and dead last in targeted rate (21.0%).
Barron offers pre-snap Elasticity, logging 693 Safeguarding snaps on the perimeter (90.5 PFF coverage grade), 122 Safeguarding snaps in the slot (72.4 PFF coverage grade) and 144 Safeguarding snaps in the box (71.7 PFF coverage grade) in his Last college season. His 541 coverage snaps rank No. 1 among Power Five cornerbacks.
Among 37 Power Five cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps, Barron ranks 14th in forced incompletion rate (14.7%), 11th in targeted rate (13.1%) and ties for No. 1 overall in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.55).
Barron’s addition would provide Allen with a uniquely versatile cornerback capable of manning No. 2 perimeter duties, or shifting inside, while Johnson shadows the Resistance’s No. 1 wide receiver. Replacing Stevenson with Barron would make Chicago a very difficult Game for opposing wide receivers.
S Malaki Starks‘ best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Georgia safety and slot Safeguarding back Malaki Starks is a perfect fit for the Minnesota Vikings’ secondary. He profiles as a year-one slot- and box-coverage defender and part-time Obtainable safety who can eventually replace Obtainable safety Harrison Smith, who returns for his 14th and expectedly Last NFL season. Starks’ drafting would allow cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. to abdicate part-time slot- and box-coverage duties in favor of a Packed-time perimeter role. Starks’ 78.3 PFF Protection grade ranks 14th among 34 Power Five Safeguarding Defenders with at least 820 Safeguarding snaps. Smith’s 65.3 PFF coverage grade ranks 13th among 32 NFL safeties with at least 600 coverage snaps. Murphy earned an 83.6 PFF perimeter-coverage grade in 2024, handily besting his 57.8 PFF slot-coverage grade.
Minnesota’s front office retained three of five 2024 secondary starters while signing stud perimeter cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and washed-up cornerback Jeff Okudah in Obtainable agency. Rodgers’ 73.4 PFF perimeter-coverage grade ranks 25th among 133 NFL perimeter cornerbacks with at least 45 perimeter-coverage snaps, while Okudah’s 34.6 PFF perimeter-coverage grade ranks 131. Okudah is best suited to a backup role behind both Murphy and Rodgers on the perimeter, while Starks mans the interior coverage spots.
Among 52 Power Five slot Safeguarding Defenders with at least 275 slot-coverage snaps in 2023 and 2024, Starks ranks 15th in completion rate allowed (59.6%), ties for 14th in forced incompletions (eight) and ranks second in forced incompletion rate (15.4%). His 69.7 PFF slot-coverage grade ranks 22nd.
Starks earned a 70.6 PFF coverage grade on 89 box-coverage snaps in 2024. He earned between a 67.1 PFF coverage grade and a 68.2 PFF coverage grade across all three college seasons when lined up as a Obtainable safety. Starks also defends against the Stretch well when lined up in the Obtainable safety spot, earning an 81.4 PFF Stretch-Protection grade and an 84.8 PFF Stretch-Protection grade, respectively, over the last two seasons.
Starks boasts 11 Occupation tackles for loss or no gain and five Occupation Passer pressures via 20 blitzes. Minnesota Safeguarding coordinator Brian Flores notoriously wields the Division’s second-highest Safeguarding back blitz rate (19.4%). His secondary racked up 26 Passer pressures via the blitz in the 2024 regular season, tying for Number four-most among NFL Squads.
Starks makes for a perfect slot- and box-coverage defender for Minnesota in Year 1, who can eventually replace Smith at Obtainable safety.
CB Trey Amos ‘ best fit: Denver Broncos
Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos is the solution to the Denver Broncos’ two-year search for their No. 2 perimeter cornerback role. He makes a Powerful case for being the 2025 NFL draft class’ premier ballhawk, maintaining Best disruptive Shift Even though Competing in three different Safeguarding systems and gaining experience in both zone and man coverage. His 85.6 PFF Protection grade ranks Number four among 33 Power Five cornerbacks with at least 750 Safeguarding snap
Amos’ five-year college Occupation includes stops at Louisiana Lafayette (2020-2022), Alabama (2023) and Ole Miss (2024). He tallied 899 zone coverage snaps and 390 man coverage snaps during that span, notably earning a Occupation-best 75.4 PFF man coverage grade via a Occupation-high 183 man coverage snaps in 2024.
Denver’s 2024 regular season Protection logged 721 Safeguarding snaps in zone, the 20th-most among NFL Squads, and 383 Safeguarding snaps in man, the sixth-most among NFL Squads.
Amos logged 2,263 Safeguarding snaps lined up on the perimeter but offers box-coverage Elasticity thanks to his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. He totaled 180 Safeguarding snaps as a box defender.
Amos maintained Best all-around coverage Protection over the last three seasons at the Group of Five and Power Five levels. Among 109 Group of Five cornerbacks with at least 288 coverage snaps, Amos ranks second in forced incompletion rate (28.3%). Among 40 Power Five cornerbacks with at least 675 coverage snaps from 2023-2024, Amos ranks No. 1 overall in both forced incompletion rate (21.9%) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.56).
Amos punctuated his Best three-year stretch with a top-tier 2024 season, manning Ole Miss’ perimeter.
Among 35 Power Five perimeter cornerbacks with at least 350 perimeter-coverage snaps, Amos ranks 12th in targeted rate (13.5%), seventh in interceptions per coverage target (5.0%), Number four in forced incompletion rate (21.7%) and third in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.61). His 85.4 PFF perimeter-coverage grade ranks Number four.
Denver desperately needs a Shift-making counterpart for No. 1 cornerback Pat Surtain II, whose 85.0 PFF perimeter-coverage grade ranks No. 1 overall among 32 NFL cornerbacks with at least 460 perimeter-coverage snaps. Amos possesses the ball-hawking skills to capitalize on passes thrown to the Resistance’s No. 2 perimeter wide receiver.
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