Chris Peal CB Syracuse |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #12 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.35 seconds (93%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 03/27/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #12 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.35 seconds (93%*) | |
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 03/27/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.7 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 97.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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94% |
| Run Defense: |
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78% |
| Coverage: |
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82% |
| Zone: |
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80% |
| Man/Press: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#85
Position rank:
#19 (DB)
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| College Games: 23 College Snaps: 1143 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyson Campbell - Georgia |
|
86% |
| Jalyn Armour-Davis - Alabama |
|
86% |
| Nohl Williams - California |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Chris Peal was a two-way star at Providence Day School in Charlotte, helping win back-to-back NCISA Division I state titles. He finished his high school career with 123 tackles, three interceptions and 40 passes defended on defense and 1,919 rushing yards and 36 total touchdowns on offense, and he placed third in the state long jump twice. On3 rated him a four-star recruit and the No. 21 cornerback in his class, and he signed with Georgia.Peal played sparingly at Georgia, making a tackle in the Orange Bowl win over Florida State as a freshman and appearing in four games in 2024, before transferring to Syracuse in 2025, where he became a full-time starter right away. He started all 12 games at corner, making a career-high seven tackles and a tackle for loss against UConn and six tackles and a forced fumble at Georgia Tech.
Peal was a preseason All-ACC pick and on the Thorpe Award watch list for 2026. He was ejected for targeting in the third quarter of the opening win over New Hampshire, a call many observers questioned, and under a new rule he did not have to sit out part of the next game. He has more than 40 tackles and four pass breakups in eight games for a 4-4 Syracuse team, and he has allowed 14 catches on 26 targets.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a corner, with a top-tier forty
- Allowed 14 catches on 26 targets this season
- Reliable tackler, with three missed tackles in 2025
- Two-year starter in the ACC after transferring from Georgia
- Reads the quarterback and drives on throws in zone
- Physical frame that holds up in run support
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has no interceptions in his college career at Georgia or Syracuse
- Gave up three touchdowns in 2025 and another this season
- Flagged four times this season, including a targeting ejection
- Smoother in zone than mirroring receivers in man coverage
Scouting Report: Summary
Peal is a fast, physical corner who has become a reliable starter since transferring from Georgia. He has rare speed, reads the quarterback well in zone coverage and has the frame to hold up in run support, and he has allowed 14 catches on 26 targets this season. He missed only three tackles in 2025 and has been a two-year starter in the ACC. He started all 12 games in 2025 after seeing little action at Georgia, so his growth has been quick.His 2026 season has been steady for a 4-4 Syracuse team. He has more than 40 tackles and four pass breakups, including two against Louisville, and he was a preseason All-ACC pick and Thorpe Award watch list selection. His targeting ejection in the opener against New Hampshire drew criticism from those who felt he led with his shoulder, and a new rule allowed him to play the next game in full. He has allowed 228 yards on those 26 targets, keeping most completions in front of him.
However, his ball production is the biggest gap. He has no interceptions in his college career, and he gave up three touchdowns in 2025 and another this season. He is smoother in zone than mirroring receivers in man, and he has been flagged four times this season. Teams will want to see him turn more of his speed and positioning into takeaways. His four flags this season include the targeting call, so his tackling form will be studied.
Overall, Peal's speed, size and tackling give him a clear path to an NFL role, particularly in a zone-heavy scheme. He projects as a fourth-round corner with the ceiling of a starter if his ball skills develop and the floor of a special teams contributor and reserve. His speed also gives him a path to early snaps as a gunner on punt coverage.
How other scouting services rate Chris Peal (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
89.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
21.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.