The 2025 NFL Draft will commence in two weeks, drawing plenty of speculation as the calendar date nears. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the 19th overall pick in the first round and the 53rd overall pick in the second. Most mocks are predicting a heavy defensive draft for the club. The Bucs did re-sign Bryce Hall to a one-year contract and brought in cornerback Kindle Vildor on a one-year deal to add depth in the secondary. While both incumbent starters Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean are in place for 2025, competition breeds success. If the best player available at 19 is a cornerback, the Bucs' brass will not hesitate to add a ballhawk. Elite CB/WR unicorn Travis Hunter is expected to fly off the board as early as the top-three, so he is left off the rundown. Hunter is off the table but several valuable prospects could be available for the Buccaneers in the first or second round. Here is an overview of some of the best cornerbacks in the 2025 class:
Will Johnson, Michigan
Several mocks have Will Johnson going in the top-10 so he may be out of reach for Tampa Bay, but the Honorable Mention All-Big Ten phenom is worth noting. In 2024, he nabbed an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown. Johnson lined up on the outside in Michigan's zone-heavy scheme. He posted an All-America sophomore season before missing the majority of the 2024 campaign due to injury. He has the size to match with larger receivers and possesses outstanding route recognition and read-react skills to drive from zone. Johnson maintains positioning out of breaks to stay in-phase and will have to be vetted by teams on medical.
Jahdae Barron, Texas
Jahdae Barron, a consensus All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2024, played the versatile STAR role in the Longhorns' zone-heavy scheme. He saw time at corner, safety, nickel and dime. Barron moved primarily to the outside in 2024 and it paid dividends. Last season, he led the SEC in both interceptions (five) and passes defensed (16). Barron has advanced football knowledge with an understanding of blocking schemes and diagnosing offenses. What he lacks in size for prototypical NFL cornerback standards, he makes up for with instinctual play. Barron has natural footwork and drives downhill quickly. He constantly hunts the football and looks for ways to cause disruption. Barron did not allow a single touchdown catch in 2024 and could bolster the Bucs' secondary.
Trey Amos, Ole Miss
Trey Amos is projected to go in the second round, so if the Buccaneers select an edge or an inside linebacker in the first, Amos could be a target on April 25. After three seasons at Louisiana, Amos entered the transfer portal and committed to Alabama. After the retirement of Nick Saban, Amos re-entered the transfer portal and signed with Ole Miss for his final season. In 2024, he led the team in interceptions and an SEC-best 16 passes defensed. Amos was an outside cornerback in a diverse scheme. He is lethal at blanketing receivers on underneath routes and plays through the hands of receivers to disrupt the catch window. He makes an impact in the run game as well and has a feel for leverage in both man and zone.
Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Like Amos, Shavon Revel Jr. is projected to go in the second round of the draft but has tantalizing ability in press. Revel missed the final 10 games of the 2024 season with an ACL injury and will have to be vetted by interested clubs. He was a full-time boundary corner in East Carolina's quarters-centric scheme. Revel utilizes his length to re-route receivers and smothers on the perimeter. He pairs ball-tracking skills with an elite wingspan. Revel brings physicality at the top of routes and has acceleration to close. He nabbed three interceptions in his final four games and returned two-of-three career interceptions 50 yards-or-more for touchdowns. Revel is highly regarded for his mental toughness and commitment to his craft – qualities that are a prerequisite to becoming a Buccaneer defender.
