The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Bills cornerback Taron Johnson, who’s coming off back to back seasons with some regression, though a transition in the system for Buffalo could be as a result as well. Johnson, turns 30 in July, and the 5’11/192 pounder has been widely concerned as one of the better nickel cornerbacks in the NFL. Johnson logged 57 tackles, a TFL, and 5 PBU in 13 games with 8 starts while allowing 42 receptions (63 targets), 398 yards, 2 TD, and a 94.6 QBR. Johnson’s biggest knock has been health, as he’s missed 9 games the last two seasons though he’s remained a high end tackler with just a career 12.2% missed tackle rate including sub 10% the last three seasons. Alongside of Johnson, Las Vegas doesn’t have any true nickel cornerbacks on the roster outside of 2025 UDFA Greedy Vance, who did appear in six games logging 9 tackles, a QB hit, and one pass breakup.
Additionally, Vance allowed 7 receptions, 69 yards, and a 98.6 QBR on 10 targets with an 11.1% missed tackle rate. Vance, 5’9/170, has shown the ability to be a decent special teams contributor and depth nickel cornerback. Despite that, Las Vegas will still continue to look for a slot defender, and the 2026 class is pretty deep in the slot, where Las Vegas can look to add someone down the board to fill out the roster and provide someone after Johnson.
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Early Round Targets:
Avieon Terrell, Clemson – potential to be a boundary CB, has been dealing with hamstring injury. Film is top 4 in the class, should very likely be a first rounder regardless of such. If he’s available at 36 there’s an easy path to take him immediately and rotate between the slot and boundary.
There’s a world a few CB’s (Devon Marshall, Keith Abney, Collin Wright, and others) could switch to NCB in the NFL, I’ll touch on them in my true cornerback’s article but for now this will focus solely on true NCB in college that will adjust to the NFL in a similar role.
Day 2 Targets:
SAF Treydan Stukes, Arizona (Consensus: Mid to Late 2nd)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 200 | Games: 52Career: 206 tackles, 12 TFL, 7 INT, 31 PBU, 11.3% missed tackle rate | 60.4% reception rate (125/207), 1303 yards, 8 TD, 77.4 QBR allowed
Stukes is widely considered the best slot defender in the NFL, and he impressed at the combine as well, with a 4.33 40, 38 vert, and 1.48 10-Split. Stukes has phenomenal size, physicality, and aggression in the slot. He has exceptional ower body fluidity, natural hip and ankle flexibility, and a fluid understanding of zone coverage. Stukes is able to consistently play through contact, fights at the point of attack on the ball, and he’s a physical tackler that can come downhill, get through the defender, and drive through the rusher in the backfield. The Arizona product, has versatility but likely will stick fully to the nickel in the NFL. He shows exceptional ball skills, a high IQ in coverage, and natural ability to utilize leverage and instincts to drive downhill on routes. Stukes tested poorly in his SAQ, and it shows on film at times getting caught up, or found flat footed. He’s aggressive and can bite on play-action/double moves though a full move to the slot will help limit that. He’s a good tackler, but needs to clean up some things, and at 24 years old it’s a little hard to tell if he’s simply more physical, experienced, and athletic or that much better of a player. He’s an early day two target for a nickel cornerback with physicality vs the run.
CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana (Consensus: Early to Mid 2nd)
HT: 5’9 | WT: 173 | Games: 41Career: 169 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 INT (2 TD), 33 PBU, FF, 6.1% missed tackle rate | 49.5% reception rate (94/190), 901 yards, 4 TD, 54.7 QBR allowed
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I really don’t like including Ponds here, but I’m going too because he’s probably kicking inside at the NFL and he should be exceptional there. Ponds has very limited nickel experience in his career, but he plays a sensational role at CB. He’s a physical, extremely explosive athlete, has incredible short area burst, and his long speed will play in the NFL. Ponds tackles well, takes clean consistent angles, and despite his size is not an ankle biter using his full body to drive through the tackle. He’s fluid in his lower body, works his hips/ankles in unision, and will consistently show an exceptional ability to bail, turn and run, or drive downhill on a route concept. Ponds is obviously limited by his size, where he’s very undersized, and it’ll push him into the nickel. He’s a little tossed aside at times because of it, and won’t matchup well vs big slots, tight ends, or offensive lineman in space as he’s out muscled and often driven around. I’d like to see Ponds utilize his frame and short area quickness to get around blockers instead of trying to go full speed and win like a pass rusher. Ponds is instinctual, athletic, and an aggressive player that should contribute in the NFL at both nickel and the boundary. He’s a top 30 player in the class, and talent wise, is arguably top 15.
CB Keionte Scott, Miami (Consensus: Early 3rd Round)
HT: 6’0 | WT: 195 | Games: 47Career: 179 tackles, 19 TFL, 3 INT (2 TD), 14 PBU, 2 FR, 2 FF, 18.3% missed tackle rate | 66.9% reception rate (111/166), 1329 yards, 4 TD, 91.7 QBR allowed
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Scott has bounced around his career, but he’s played a phenomenal NCB role at both Auburn and Miami. Scott is instinctual, physical, and shows good athletic traits. He has a quick downhill trigger, is a fluid tackler, and his angles need to be cleaned up but he’s consistently in a spot to make a tackle that others usually don’t get too, which inflates his missed tackle numbers. Scott shows flexible hips and ankles that allow him to turn and run, and also drive on the ball in bail, gate, or other coverages. Scott works leverage and the sideline well, will be physical at the POA and initially on the route to jam receivers around and play the ball. He shows NFL long speed, good short area bursts, and his biggest knock comes on trying to slow down at times, where he’ll over pursue, out run his assignment, or be too feisty on a route to give up a play. Additionally, he needs to do a better job at being patient and letting concepts develop instead of consistently attempting to make a play on the ball, which could lead to trouble at the next level. He’s an instant impact starter in the slot, and likely is a little too high for Las Vegas.
CB Chandler Rivers, Duke (Consensus: Late 3rd)
HT: 5’10 | WT: 188 | Games: 52Career: 223 tackles, 17 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 7 INT (2 TD), 31 PBU, 3 FF, 13% missed tackle rate | 62.3% reception rate (144/231), 1643 yards, 8 TD, 82.6 QBR allowed
Rivers, like Ponds, hasn’t necessarily spent the majority of his college career in the slot, but it’s a clear consensus that he’ll make the movement into the nickel at the NFL level. He’s extremely athletic, but has shorter arm length and the size is a concern which will kick him inside. Rivers moves fluidly, he has great hip and ankle flexibility, an innate ability to start and stop, and he can turn and run among the best in the class & in recent years. Rivers is physical, but his lack of length hurts him in man coverage, and he can get pushed around at times, making him a way better fit as a nickel in a pure C3 zone similar system. Rivers is physical against the run, and instinctual, he has an elite trigger, comes downhill, and can work through contact at the point of attack to make a play on receivers/runningback in the backfield or near the LOS. Rivers takes clear cut angles, though they’ll need to be improved at the NFL level, and he also shows a special ability to work as a Blitzer. The biggest knocks come with his size, where he’s lacking physicality at the catch point, can get boxed out fairly easily, and receivers have an easy time stacking the route against him and getting vertical. Rivers will far too often be caught flat footed, but he shows recovery speed to reduce it’s impact as well. Rivers is an athletic, physical, instinct first slot cornerback in the NFL, who does have outside versatility as well. He’s similar to Taron Johnson, and for a Las Vegas team seeking depth, it’s an interesting fit.
SAF Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina (Consensus: Late 3rd)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 211 | Games: 36Career: 178 tackles, 5 TFL, 8 INT, 21 PBU, 2 FR, FF, 11% missed tackle rate | 59.9% reception rate (103/172), 1397 yards, 9 TD, 83.9 QBR allowed
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Kilgore is one of the few nickels in the class, who actually played mostly nickel. He’s athletic, but lacks short area quickness leaving him tough out of breaks at times, where he’ll get caught flat footed and struggle to come downhill on a route to the outside. Kilgore has a massive physical, imposing frame, and despite his time at nickel could rotate back to a true box defender towards safety to mitigate his average initial burst. He’s an exceptional tackler, extremely physical, and understands run concepts at the best level. Kilgore is able to work through contact, maintain physicality, and consistently shed blocks to make a play while also being a phenomenal open field tackler. The South Carolina safety, has versatility, and is often best when consistently moved around, he’s fairly athletic, though it’s inconsistent and flashes of his downhill first step trigger show, but at other points he struggles. Kilgore plays pure press coverage, does have an ability to turn and run in man, and his size/physical profile allows him to work around as a TE and RB defender while working well vs big slots. Kilgore struggles to recover after initially beat, and his aggressiveness can cause him to get beat over the top, or on play action. At times, he attempts to drive the tackle through the ground and instead bounces off as the runner is better prepared for a hard hit. Kilgore has traits to work on, and he’s interesting for the rotational splits, but the South Carolina product is a pure playmaker, and it’s not hard to see an NFL role carved out.
Day Three Targets:
SAF/CB Jadon Canady, Oregon (Consensus: Mid to Late 4th)
HT: 5’11 | WT: 185 | Games: 49Career: 154 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 INT, 23 PBU, 2 FR (TD), FF, 15.3% missed tackle rate | 56.6% reception rate (103/182), 992 yards, 6 TD, 73.8 QBR allowed
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Canady has gotten recent love, and it’s deserving. He’s a good athlete, not great, having a 37 vert, 10-01 broad, 4.21 shuttle, and 4.47 40 (1.67 10). Canady’s struggles come in the short area’s which show in his testing and he can be slow out of breaks, slow driving downhill, and sometimes needs to put himself out of position in order to try and be in position with a slower initial trigger. Canady does have good long speed, and he shows a second gear, but the ability to work in space is questionable. Despite the issues, he has good twitchy legs, hips, and ankles which can show a development in his initial burst. He’s an instinctual cornerback who shows great anticipation and works on routes quickly, utilizing his fluid nature. Canady has a natural feel for zone coverage, consistently showing high end coverage traits, an ability to break down route concepts and put himself in a position to shut down two routes at once. He’s fluid and able to kick through his hips, turn and run effectively, and should be a fun nickel cornerback against the run while he’s physical and shows good technique, he’ll need to refine overall. He’s lacked an ability to develop the tackling since his time at Tulane in 2021, which is a concern, and he doesn’t show a ton of aggression at the POA in the run game, while also getting boxed out at times in contested catches. Like other aggressive DB’s, Canady has a bad problem of biting on play action and double moves without the initial quickness and/or acceleration to make up. He’s a fun early to mid 4th rounder option for a team looking to add versatility, and a high instinct, high competitiveness, nickel/boundary cornerback with immense upside.
SAF Kapena Gushiken, Ole Miss (Consensus: Mid to Late 6th)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 190 | Games: 40Career: 143 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 INT, 17 PBU, 17.9% missed tackle rate | 61.5% reception rate (107/174), 1089 yards, 5 TD, 79.4 QBR allowed
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Gushiken doesn’t get a ton of credit in the class, and he’s one of my favorite late round targets. The 6’1, 192-pound safety/cornerback put up 17 reps on the bench, a 41 vert, 11’01 broad, and 4.34 40 time. He’s an explosive, highly athletic nickel, who consistently is able to work in short yardage situations. Gushiken shows an electric downhill trigger, is able to break on routes well, and does a good job not rounding the top of his cut when in coverage. Additionally, he shows an innate ability to be physical at the point of attack, and matches up well vs majority of receivers and some tight ends as well. His hips and ankles work in unison, where Gushiken is able to turn and run on a dime, and consistently shows good strength to work through contact. He’s an extremely poor tackler, and he’ll take some poor angles at times as well where he simply gets out of position, misses the tackle with bad form, or overall over pursues leaving a cutback lane. The Ole Miss, and former Washington State, product does showcase struggles at times getting outside, where he still is learning how to utilize leverage and the sideline, something that will be necessary at the NFL level. He’s a versatile late round pick that can work in the nickel, and overall makes plays. There’s a good bit to clean up, but the upside is fairly noticeable, especially with athletic traits and at just 22 years old.
SAF/CB Devan Boykin, Indiana (Consensus: Mid 5th)
HT: 5’10 | WT: 199 | Games: 60Career: 176 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 INT, 14 PBU, 3 FR (2 TD), 2 FF, 10.2% missed tackle rate | 67% reception rate (73/109), 746 yards, 2 TD, 69.6 QBR allowed
Boykin has been in college a while, going from NC state to Indiana this season, and being an anchor for the Hoosiers national championship defense. He’s shown a relatively concerning injury history with a torn ACL, ankle injuries, and some soft tissues knocks throughout his career, and with his below average frame it could lead to concern in the NFL. Boykin is exceptionally vertical, and can work across the entire backend of a defense, specifically flashing well at FS with his high end instincts, and a special ability to have a quick first step downhill on route concepts. Boykins shows an advanced understanding as a run defender, with elite movement skills, good contact strength to get off blocks, and he tackles well with good angles. His movement is special in coverage as well, with good snappy hips, an ability to turn and run, and also exceptional short area burst that allows him to break on routes. He’s an older prospect, at 25, and Boykin also struggles at contested catch situations (72% allowed in career) with his size and strength at the point of attack. Boykin also has struggles on the ball at times, where he’ll go for an interception, and miss leaving the receiver open causing a chunk play. Boykin is best in zone, where he can sit and react, and the versatility is very intriguing for a backend safety/nickel prospect.
UDFA Targets:
CB Avery Smith, Toledo
HT: 5’10 | WT: 188 | Games: 51Career: 127 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 INT, 29 PBU, FF, 16.4% missed tackle rate | 48.7% reception rate (75/154), 768 yards, 3 TD, 61.8 QBR allowed
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Smith is likely to kick into the nickel at the NFL, largely off his frame, poor arm length, and relatively below expected athletic profile. Smith has average initial burst and quickness, he’s undersized, but he’s feisty and physical. Smith shows good strength at the point of attack, good tackling abilities, and can come downhill on routes quickly. Smith has an understanding of route concepts, and his higher end instincts, is a key reason he has the upside that he does even as a UDFA. The athletic profile is concerning, but the instincts, ball skills, and upside to grow in his technique, and be refined enough to hone into the instincts over athleticism, is a key trait for a UDFA.
Other Names to Watch:
Toriano Pride Jr, Missouri (Consensus: Early 6th)
Al’Zillion Hamilton, Fresno State (Consensus: UDFA)
Tyreek Chappell, Texas A&M (Consensus: Mid 7th)
Jaylon Guilbeau, Texas (Consensus; UDFA)
DJ Harvey, USC (Consensus: UDFA)
Michael Coats Jr, West Virginia (Consensus: UDFA)
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