Ajani Cornelius OT Oregon | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ajani Cornelius OT Oregon
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (73%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: Right Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 03/04/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.15 seconds (73%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.7 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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81% |
| Run Blocking: |
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79% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#163
Position rank:
#28
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 3297 | ||
247 RATING: 92/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wanya Morris - Oklahoma |
|
99% |
| Cade Mays - Tennessee |
|
91% |
| Caedan Wallace - Penn State |
|
90% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Born in Harlem, Ajani Cornelius honed his craft at Archbishop Stepinac High School where he helped lead his team to back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018. Despite his success, Cornelius flew under the recruiting radar and landed at Rhode Island, where he quickly established himself as a mainstay on the offensive line, starting 22 games over two seasons and earning First-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors in 2022.Cornelius' performance at Rhode Island caught the attention of bigger programs, leading him to transfer to Oregon where he immediately stepped in as the starting right tackle. In Eugene, he continued his ascension, earning Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 in 2023 and Third-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2024. During his time with the Ducks, Cornelius was part of one of the nation's elite offensive lines, helping Oregon lead the country in fewest sacks allowed since 2022 with just 22. His consistency was remarkable, starting all 28 games at right tackle over his two seasons with the program.
The 6'5", 315-pound tackle amassed 3,297 offensive snaps throughout his college career, displaying exceptional durability while appearing in 51 games. During his junior season at Oregon, he allowed zero sacks and just 11 total pressures in 512 pass-blocking opportunities, earning an impressive 85.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. His senior campaign saw similar success as part of an offensive line that was named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award for the second consecutive season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Brings an impressive frame with broad waist and powerful lower half that creates natural barricade against power rushers when he maintains leverage.
- Delivers a jolt on contact when timing is right – shock value in his hands can stun defenders and create immediate advantage.
- Showcases vice-grip strength once he secures inside position – like trying to break free from quicksand when he latches on.
- Arm length serves as natural deterrent forcing rushers to take wider paths, creating crucial extra milliseconds for the quarterback.
- Runs his feet through contact and looks to bury defenders – plays with some genuine dog when he smells blood in the water.
- Excels at angle-drive blocks and double teams where he can use his mass advantage to seal and create movement without overextending.
- Displays good control on skip-pulls, maintaining balance while working to the second level with surprising precision.
- Battle-tested across 51 career games at both FCS and Power 5 levels – won't be overwhelmed by NFL competition or schemes.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Consistently sacrifices leverage with tall pad level – plays like he's standing on stilts, robbing himself of natural power and anchor.
- Lacks the twitch and redirect ability to mirror counters – feet get stuck in cement when forced to change direction mid-rep.
- Strike timing runs chronically late, allowing defenders access to his chest before he can establish proper hand placement.
- Struggles to maintain balance through contact – will lunge and overextend like a boxer reaching for punches from too far away.
- Red flags with penalty production (25 flags in three seasons) that stem from recovery attempts after losing initial positioning.
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape reveals a bruiser in the run game who wins with raw power but shows concerning technical deficiencies in pass protection situations. Cornelius brings the lunch pail mentality teams covet, but his limitations handling speed off the edge and recovering against counters will restrict his immediate impact. He's shown more comfort creating movement in tight spaces than handling the challenges of pass protection on an island.Finding the right fit will be crucial for Cornelius's development. Systems that emphasize downhill running with heavy tight end usage will maximize his strengths while masking his current limitations. Teams picking in the fourth round should see him as an appealing developmental piece rather than an immediate contributor. His physical tools scream potential, but patience will be required from any coaching staff that selects him.
Cornelius's ideal landing spot would be offenses that commit to the ground game and employ heavy personnel packages that provide tackle assistance. He brings starter-caliber raw materials but backup-level refinement.
Written By:
Lennox Tate
Ajani Cornelius percentiles vs other Offensive Tackles (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Ajani Cornelius (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
154.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
28.0
*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.