NFL Combine highlights elite athleticism for a special handful of rising cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Combine always gives fans a few cornerbacks to get excited about based on their freak athleticism and this year did not disappoint. Yes, there were a surprising number of sub 25th percentile athletes as well, but that made the handful of special rising cornerback talents feel even more impressive.Let's take a dive […]
The 2025 NFL Combine always gives fans a few cornerbacks to get excited about based on their freak athleticism and this year did not disappoint. Yes, there were a surprising number of sub 25th percentile athletes as well, but that made the handful of special rising cornerback talents feel even more impressive.
Let's take a dive into all the elite NFL Combine winners among the cornerbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Caleb Ransaw, CB Tulane
Caleb Ransaw began quite a meteoric rise in NFL Draft circles following his invite to the Senior Bowl, the instincts he showed during that week of practice, and the showing during the game to make an interception against some of the top competition in the country. Now it's clear why he looked the part at the Senior Bowl.
Ransaw posted a 98th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score. 4.33-second forty-yard dash. 40-inch vert. Nearly 11 feet in the broad. Ransaw is an absolutely unreal athlete who likely hears his name called inside the Top 100 picks now despite coming from a lower level of college football competition.
Darien Porter, CB Iowa State
Darien Porter was just as impressive if not more than Caleb Ransaw since he actually participated in every facet of the NFL Combine (including the agility drills). Porter's 4.30-second forty-yard dash at 6'3", 195 pounds isn't completely unprecedented, but it's close. That's good for a 98th percentile speed score. Any questions about him simply being physical versus athletic enough to succeed have been answered. He was already a fringe second round pick. Porter definitely won't drop out of the Top 60 picks on draft day now.
Maxwell Hairston, CB Kentucky
Maxwell Hairston told us all during his NFL Combine podium time to get our popcorn ready for the show he was about to put on and he totally followed through. Hairston posted the fastest forty-yard dash time of any player at the 2025 NFL Combine running it in just 4.28 seconds. Then he followed that up with a burst score around the 92nd percentile. Hairston's elite athleticism is likely going to lock him in for Top 40 NFL Draft capital now, despite his thin frame at 183 pounds.
Jacob Parrish, CB Kansas State
Jacob Parrish stood out at the Senior Bowl, making a couple interceptions in practice, but coming from Kansas State many scouts that I talked to wondered about his peak athleticism. Not any longer. Parrish posted a 91st percentile speed score as he ran a 4.35-second forty-yard dash, impressed in the jumps, and looked the part during on-field drills as well. Parrish' physical approach, quick instincts, and now elite athleticism likely see him sneak into round three of the 2025 NFL Draft now.
Justin Walley, CB Minnesota
Justin Walley has real late-riser potential now that he answered athletic questions with a 4.4-second forty, huge hands, fast feet, and agility. He didn't do the timed agility drills, but showcased those skills well anyway. His height and weight likely keep him capped in early day three of the 2025 NFL Draft, but his NFL Combine was a pleasant surprise.
Jahdae Barron, CB Texas
Jahdae Barron was the most incredible cornerback at the NFL Combine overall. Not just on the field or with his athletic testing, but during his podium time and other interviews as well. He's a leader, a strong speaker, and clearly knows every single role in the back seven of a defense given his variety of positional experience with the Longhorns.
He was already rising quickly into first round consideration. Now that should be a lock. Sub-4.4-second forty-yard dash speed mixed with his high level intelligence and versatility is rare.
We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to see how Maxwell Hairston's wild athleticism translates on the field just check out his 2024 highlights in the video below!
