Defensive Back Rankings 2024 NFL Draft

Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Kalen King (4) breaks up a pass intended for Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Jacob Copeland (2) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0.  Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Kalen King (4) breaks up a pass intended for Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Jacob Copeland (2) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

DEFENSIVE BACK RANKINGS 2024 NFL DRAFT

The 2024 defensive back class is led by Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama. He's a hugely talented corner prospect with prototypical size, he also combines elite technique, speed, and agility, and is able to mirror receivers deep. He made first-team All-SEC in 2022, and assuming continues to develop could be a top-five selection.

Denzel Burke of Ohio State, a former four-star recruit, showed promise with a 58.3 QB rating when targeted in his freshman year. Despite some regression in 2022, Burke's explosive athleticism, flexibility, and physicality still make him an exciting cover man prospect, with some room for refinement.

Javon Bullard from Georgia brings versatility and an aggressive mentality to the table. As an active nickel defender in 2022, he showed agility, and obvious technical skills as he surrendered a QB rating of just 77.6

The top safety prospect is USC's Calen Bullock this former wide receiver stands 6’3” and weighs in at 180 pounds, he's got some elite athletic skills. His impressive man coverage skills and high energy make him a potential first-round prospect.
LAST UPDATED: 09/15/2023

Player Rankings - Defensive Back

# Player Pos Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
1

Kool-Aid
McKinstry

CB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
188lbs 6-1 4.55 1 11.1
90.5
Lean, athletic build with plenty of room for additional muscle mass. Legitimate NFL-caliber athlete. Aware zone cornerback who is also...
2

Kalen
King

CB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
188lbs 5-11 4.50 2 17.6
89.6
Shows the click-and-close ability to backpedal and the ball skills to make plays. King has loose hips to go along with good top-end...
3

Cooper
DeJean

CB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
209lbs 6-1 4.50 4 23
87.9
Good energy and toughness, although he needs to improve his tackling technique for consistent results. Has the violent hands to...
4

Kamren
Kinchens

S
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
202lbs 5-11 4.45 3 23
87.5
Reads receivers' routes and anticipates throws at the first down marker. Covers a lot of ground in a hurry when in space. Reads the...
5

Javon
Bullard

CB
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
180lbs 5-11 4.50 5 33.3
87.5
Instinctive, adept at reading routes and anticipating throws, and strong in zone coverage. Aware zone cornerback who also shows...
6

Andrew
Mukuba

S
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
185lbs 6-0 4.33 7 38.1
87.3
Excellent sitting back as a single-high safety, taking in routes and reading the quarterback’s eyes Tracks the ball well downfield and...
7

Kamari
Lassiter

CB
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
180lbs 6-0 4.58 8 38.4
86.6
Has quick feet and above-average straight-line speed with improving patience as a runner. Follows pulling guards and makes smart...
8

Nate
Wiggins

CB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
185lbs 6-2 4.55 9 39.2
86.6
He’s a willing and capable hitter in run support and closes fast to make plays against quick screens. Has the fluidity, speed and quick...
9

Caelen
Carson

CB
Wake Forest   Mascot
Wake Forest Mascot
195lbs 6-0 4.48 12 44.1
86.4
Carson tracks the ball well and does a nice job of getting his head around in plenty of time to avoid flags. Flashes some physicality as...
10

Calen
Bullock

S
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
180lbs 6-3 4.55 6 37.7
86.3
His length and leaping ability allow him to high-point the ball and make plays. Bullock would have had bigger interception numbers in...
11

Tyler
Nubin

S
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
210lbs 6-2 4.60 13 50.9
86.1
Can get up under a receiver’s chin and has the speed to flip his hips and run downfield. Nubin has the quick and surprisingly powerful...
12

Max
Melton

CB
Rutgers   Mascot
Rutgers Mascot
190lbs 6-0 4.44 18 70.3
86.1
Great on route recognition, albeit with some room for improvement in footwork during transitions. Exceptional hand-eye coordination and...

2024 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Back

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2024 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Back

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.