1010XL Draft Guide: 2024 Cornerback Rankings

Welcome to the latest edition of our 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings! All the football heads at 1010XL/92.5 FM have gathered to preview the upcoming draft in April. Today, we’ll be focusing on cornerbacks.

Here’s how our internal panel of experts ranked* this year’s class.

*Subject to change. Final rankings will be released in a full Draft Guide in March. 

Here’s more information on our consensus top-five prospects.

Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Our consensus rank: 1 | National consensus rank: 1

Bio: Arnold was a five-star recruit out of John Paul II Catholic High School, where he played receiver, safety, and point guard in basketball. He committed to Alabama, and after redshirting as a freshman, Arnold played in 9 games in 2022 and 13 games in 2023. He earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors after recording 5 interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his final season. 

Player comp: Jaylon Johnson

Strengths: Speed, length, competitiveness

Weaknesses: Consistency, tackling in space, slot coverage

Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

Our consensus rank: 2 | National consensus rank: 2

Bio: Mitchell was a three-star recruit out of Williston High School, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He committed to Toledo and played six games as a true freshman before becoming a starter in 2022. Mitchell tied a school record with 4 interceptions to earn his first of two first-team All-MAC selections. In 2023, he recorded the second-most pass breakups in the country (18) and became Toledo’s first player nominated for the Chuck Bednarik Award for college defensive back of the year. 

Player comp: Trent McDuffie

Strengths: Speed, football IQ, ball skills

Weaknesses: Tackling in space, transition out of breaks, consistency

Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Our consensus rank: 3 | National consensus rank: 4

Bio: DeJean was a four-star recruit out of Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, where he set school records as a quarterback and defensive back, became Iowa’s second all-time scoring leader in basketball, and recorded the sixth-best long jump in state history. DeJean committed to Iowa and redshirted after spending most of his true freshman season on special teams. He became a starter as a sophomore and earned 2022 Music City Bowl MVP as well as his first of back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2023, DeJean won the conference’s Defensive Back of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year awards, plus a unanimous All-American selection.

Player comp: Jalen Ramsey

Strengths: Versatility, burst, football IQ

Weaknesses: Man coverage, hip flexibility, balance

Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Our consensus rank: 4 | National consensus rank: 3

Bio: Wiggins was a four-star recruit and the 7th-ranked cornerback in his class out of Westlake High School, where he also played wide receiver. He originally committed to LSU before flipping to Clemson. In his own words, Wiggins had an immature freshman year, but he started as a sophomore and recorded a 98-yard pick-six in the 2022 ACC Championship Game. He earned first-team All-ACC honors after allowing a 44.4 quarterback rating in 2023. 

Player comp: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Strengths: Length, fluidity, football IQ

Weaknesses: High pad level, physicality, tackling

Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, Alabama

Our consensus rank: 5 | National consensus rank: 5

Bio: McKinstry was a five-star recruit out of Pinson Valley High School, where he was named Alabama’s Mr. Football and USA Today’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He committed to Alabama and played in every game as a true freshman to make the SEC All-Freshman team. McKinstry then received first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore and junior with 22 pass breakups in that span. He earned a first-team All-American selection in his final season. 

Player comp: Marshon Lattimore

Strengths: Length, fluidity, competitiveness

Weaknesses: Consistency, ball skills, tackling in space

Follow along as we rank each position group leading up to the draft!

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Tackles

Interior Offensive Linemen

Tight Ends

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Edge Defenders

Defensive Tackles

Inside Linebackers