Malik Muhammad CB Texas | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Malik Muhammad CB Texas
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.47 seconds (61%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.7 DOB: 09/14/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.47 seconds (61%*) | |
| Age: 20.7 DOB: 09/14/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 87.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 83.4 | |
| Tackling: |
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68% |
| Run Defense: |
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77% |
| Coverage: |
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84% |
| Zone: |
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78% |
| Man/Press: |
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83% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#14
Position rank:
#2
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| College Games: 29 College Snaps: 1320 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Morrison - Notre Dame |
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92% |
| Cooper DeJean - Iowa |
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86% |
| Christian Gonzalez - Oregon |
|
84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Born into the football-rich environment of Dallas, Texas, Malik Muhammad established himself as a force in the secondary during his high school days at South Oak Cliff. The 6'0", 190-pound cornerback wasn't just a participant in back-to-back state championships – he was instrumental, notching 60 tackles and 14 passes defended as a senior while returning an interception for a touchdown in the title game. His athletic prowess extended beyond football, as he excelled in track and field with impressive marks in triple jump (43-6.5), long jump (18-8.5), and as an anchor in relay events.Muhammad's transition to Texas was seamless, contributing immediately as a freshman in all 14 games and recording 31 tackles, one interception, and four pass breakups. His special teams acumen showed when he scooped a blocked punt for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. By his sophomore year, Muhammad had secured a starting role for all 16 games, amassing 36 tackles and eight pass breakups while testing himself against elite competition in the College Football Playoff.
Throughout his career at Texas, Muhammad has been battle-tested against the nation's premier receivers. From defending Michigan's aerial attack to matching up against Georgia's NFL-caliber wideouts in the SEC Championship, he's been thrown into the fire repeatedly. Even when dealing with an injury scare in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Arizona State, Muhammad displayed toughness by returning to action in the fourth quarter.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional positional versatility with legitimate skills to play outside corner, nickel, or even drop back to safety in certain packages.
- Quick-twitch athlete who explodes out of his breaks, showing elite plant-and-drive ability that lets him close on underneath routes like he's shot from a cannon.
- Fluid hip transition allows him to mirror receivers through stems and breaks without losing positioning or leverage in man coverage.
- Disciplined eyes in zone coverage – rarely gets manipulated by quarterback movement or bites on double moves that compromise his assignment.
- Shows surprising play strength against the run despite his frame, setting firm edges and redirecting ball carriers toward his help.
- Natural instincts for route combinations – anticipates throws before they happen and jumps passing lanes with calculated aggression.
- Brings legitimate special teams value from day one, having already proven capable of game-changing plays in the third phase.
- Demonstrates advanced communication skills pre-snap, often directing traffic and making coverage adjustments against motion and shifts.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Struggles with technique consistency against vertical routes – opens his hips too early, sometimes giving free releases to savvy receivers.
- Tackling form needs refinement, as he occasionally leads with his shoulder rather than wrapping up, resulting in missed opportunities.
- Ball production doesn't match his positioning – gets hands on passes but hasn't converted deflections to interceptions at the rate his coverage deserves.
- Can get caught peeking into the backfield against play action, creating separation windows that more precise quarterbacks will exploit.
- Has moments where he plays too conservatively, giving unnecessary cushion against receivers who don't warrant that respect.
Scouting Report: Summary
Muhammad brings immediate value as a defender who can contribute in multiple packages from day one. What jumps off the tape is his natural feel for route distributions and ability to process passing concepts – he sees the game unfold with veteran anticipation despite his youth. Watching him navigate complex coverage assignments against elite SEC competition revealed a corner who rarely finds himself out of position and consistently plays above his experience level.His best NFL fit appears to be with defensive schemes employing pattern-match principles that maximize his instincts and football IQ. Coordinators who prioritize versatility in their secondary will appreciate his ability to execute both man and zone techniques with equal proficiency. While Muhammad doesn't possess elite length, he compensates with exceptional footwork and transitional quickness that lets him mirror even the craftiest route runners. The technical refinement he displays in press technique and zone spacing indicates a prospect who's been meticulously coached.
The comparison that resonates when studying Muhammad is a young Marcus Peters – a corner with football intelligence beyond his years who can process route combinations at an elite level. He's not the type who generates pre-draft buzz with highlight-reel interceptions, but instead wins with consistent positioning and technique. In a cornerback class filled with one-dimensional specialists, he stands out as a complete defender who can align anywhere in the secondary – the kind of cornerstone talent that transforms a unit's identity and elevates the entire defensive structure.
How other scouting services rate Malik Muhammad (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
36.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
5.0
*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.