John Nestor CB Minnesota |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #17 ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.55 seconds (29%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 05/13/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #17 | |
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.55 seconds (29%*) | |
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 05/13/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
81.2 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 56.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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72% |
| Run Defense: |
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76% |
| Coverage: |
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88% |
| Zone: |
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86% |
| Man/Press: |
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84% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#183
Position rank:
#41 (DB)
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| College Games: 21 College Snaps: 966 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coby Bryant - Cincinnati |
|
92% |
| Riley Moss - Iowa |
|
84% |
| Elijah Jones - Boston College |
|
80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
John Nestor was a captain, named his league's top defender and Class 8A all-state pick at Marist High School in Chicago, intercepting five passes in his final season while also lining up at receiver and playing basketball. The son of a former Miami (Ohio) safety, he chose Iowa over Minnesota, Purdue and Iowa State.Nestor played in 20 games over two seasons in Iowa City, earning the team's special teams hustle award both years but seeing limited defensive snaps. He transferred to Minnesota for 2025 and turned into one of the Big Ten's top ballhawks, tying for the conference lead with six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after a two-interception day against Wisconsin.
Nestor has started every game for a 4-1 Gophers team in 2026, intercepting a pass in the 27-24 win at Washington and helping hold Michigan in a 20-14 win over the No. 24 Wolverines.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Size and versatility at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, with a safety's physicality
- Ballhawk who tied for the Big Ten lead with six interceptions in 2025
- Man coverage is a slight strength over his zone work, staying in phase with receivers
- Stingy in 2026, with nine catches for 48 yards allowed through five games
- Reads the quarterback's eyes and drives on throws, as his two-interception day against Wisconsin showed
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tackling needs work, with nine misses across 11 games in 2025
- Gave up touchdowns against Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon in 2025
- Movement skills may push him to safety at the next level
- Just one season as a defensive starter before 2026
Scouting Report: Summary
Nestor spent two seasons at Iowa as a special teams standout before a transfer to Minnesota unlocked his potential, and he has been among the Big Ten's most opportunistic defenders since. He is a big, physical corner with outstanding instincts and ball skills, and he reads quarterbacks well enough to jump routes, as his six interceptions in 2025 showed. This fall he has been even sharper in coverage, allowing just nine catches for 48 yards in five games while helping Minnesota knock off Michigan.However, he does not have the profile of a traditional NFL cornerback. At 210 pounds he is built more like a safety, and he can struggle to stay with quicker receivers, as he did against Ohio State last season, when he allowed two touchdowns. His tackling also needs work after nine missed tackles in 2025. Many NFL teams will see him as a safety or a big nickel rather than an outside corner.
Overall, Nestor is a smart, productive defensive back whose ball skills and versatility give him a clear path to an NFL roster. He projects as a sixth-round defensive back whose best outcome is a starting safety or tight end matchup piece, with special teams as his immediate way onto a roster.
How other scouting services rate John Nestor (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
173.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
40.0
*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.