Josh Moten CB Marshall | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Josh Moten CB Marshall
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Dual-Role Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/21/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.43 seconds (75%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Dual-Role Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 05/21/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.43 seconds (75%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 83.8 | |
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Run Defense: |
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68% |
| Coverage: |
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86% |
| Zone: |
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80% |
| Man/Press: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#101
Position rank:
#18
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| College Games: 27 College Snaps: 1231 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Greg Newsome II - Northwestern |
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86% |
| Elijah Jones - Boston College |
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85% |
| Kamal Hadden - Tennessee |
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83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A highly-touted four-star recruit out of Maryland's National Christian Academy, Josh Moten's collegiate journey has been anything but conventional. After securing offers from blue-blood programs like Michigan, Oregon, and Oklahoma, Moten surprisingly landed at Texas A&M in 2020, where his career stalled amid personal struggles and limited on-field opportunities – logging just two tackles across three seasons before entering the transfer portal in December 2022.The cornerback's career trajectory dramatically shifted upon transferring to Marshall, where he immediately claimed a starting role for all 13 games in 2023. His defensive instincts flashed with a momentum-swinging pick-six against NC State, but it was his 2024 junior campaign where Moten truly found his footing. Starting 12 games, he snagged five interceptions (tied for 3rd nationally and 1st in the Sun Belt), demonstrating remarkable ball-hawking skills that earned him Hero G5 All-American Honorable Mention and All-SBC Honorable Mention recognition.
Moten's 2024 season showcased his evolution as a defensive playmaker, culminating in a statement-making performance against powerhouse Ohio State where he went toe-to-toe with All-American wideout Jeremiah Smith, recording five tackles and an interception. His season concluded with a diving interception in Marshall's Sun Belt Championship victory, before he again entered the transfer portal in December 2024, committing to Southern Miss to finish his collegiate career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite ball tracking ability shows up repeatedly on film – five interceptions in 2024 weren't accidents but calculated positioning and anticipation that had him arriving at the catch point with perfect timing.
- Possesses exceptional length (6'1") for the position that allows him to disrupt passing lanes and challenge taller receivers at the catch point without sacrificing leverage in coverage.
- Shows fluid hip mobility when transitioning from backpedal to turn-and-run coverage, maintaining proper leverage while carrying receivers vertically without wasted movement or balance issues.
- Demonstrates calculated gambling instincts that paid dividends against top competition – notably baiting Ohio State's quarterback into an interception while defending All-American Jeremiah Smith.
- Exhibits above-average route recognition skills, particularly in zone coverage where he consistently maintains proper depth and positioning while keeping eyes on quarterback.
- Accelerates quickly when breaking on underneath routes, showing explosive closing burst that translated to multiple pass breakups when working downhill from off coverage.
- Plays with surprising physicality despite lean frame, particularly evident during his championship game performance where he attacked receivers' hands at the catch point.
- Displays natural confidence in one-on-one situations that borders on cockiness – consistently carries himself with the short memory and competitive swagger necessary for island coverage.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Severely underweight at 164 pounds with a concerning weight measurement, raising legitimate questions about his ability to withstand NFL punishment and tackle bigger runners.
- Tackling technique is inconsistent and sometimes reckless – tends to launch rather than wrap up, contributing to his pedestrian tackling efficiency despite good effort.
- Run support involvement is hesitant and lacks physicality when taking on blocks – often gets washed out completely when forced to engage with pulling guards or aggressive blocking receivers.
- Struggles with recovery when initially beaten off the line – lacks elite top-end speed to regain positioning if he misreads initial release or gets caught flat-footed.
- Background concerns from Texas A&M days including multiple reported arrests require thorough character vetting – two transfers in five years raises questions about stability and team fit.
Scouting Report: Summary
Moten has shown he can rise to the occasion – just watch that Ohio State tape. His ball-hawking instincts and length give him legitimate Sunday upside, though his rail-thin frame will get exposed early and often if thrown into the wrong defensive system. The multiple transfers raise questions about stability that NFL front offices must thoroughly investigate, weighing his on-field production against the off-field concerns.Day 3 value feels right for a corner with clear strengths in coverage situations but glaring limitations against the run. Moten thrives playing with vision on the quarterback in zone looks where his anticipation skills shine, but he'll be a liability when asked to come downhill and tackle in space. Defensive coordinators will need to deploy him strategically while the strength staff works overtime adding muscle to his slender 164-pound frame without compromising his fluidity.
The cornerback who twice changed collegiate homes brings enough natural playmaking ability to warrant developmental investment – five interceptions in 12 games last season proves the ball skills aren't a fluke. With proper technique refinement and physical development, Moten could carve out a specialized role by year two and push for more significant snaps by his third season if he stays clean off the field. The tools are there for a contributor; whether he maximizes them depends entirely on landing with a patient defensive staff willing to acknowledge both his ceiling and his floor.
How other scouting services rate Josh Moten (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
116.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
24.0
*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.