Cardinals' Cornerback Struggles

By Walter Mitchell

Over the past three NFL drafts, Monti Ossenfort has selected 7 cornerbacks and yet heading into the 2026 season, there are more question marks about the seven players than answers.

Note: see if you can read down the message at the end on the blog!

Draft Selections:

* Garrett Williams, 5-10, 192, Syracuse --- R3 2023 --- 4.55

* Kei'Trel Clark, 5-10, 187, Louisville --- R6 2023 --- 4.42

* Max Melton, 5-11, 187, Rutgers --- R2 2024 --- 4.39

* Elijah Jones, 6-1, 185, Boston College --- R3 2024 --- 4.44

* Jaden Davis, 5-10, 182, Miami FL --- R7 2024 --- 4.58

* Will Johnson, 6-2, 194, Michigan --- R2 2025 --- 4.55

* Denzel Burke, 5-11, 186, Ohio St. --- R5 2025 --- 4.48

Lance Zielein/NextGen Draft Prospect Grades:

* Will Johnson --- 6.50

* Max Melton --- 6.24

* Elijah Jones --- 6.23

* Garrett Williams --- 6.19

* Denzel Burke --- 6.16

* Kei'Trel Clark --- 5.92

* Jaden Davis --- 5.66

2025 Overall PFF Grades:

* Elijah Jones --- 82.4

* Garrett Williams --- 62.8

* Will Johnson --- 60.8

* Kei'Trel Clark --- 56.1

* Denzel Burke --- 55.6

* Jaden Davis --- 52.1

* Max Melton ---45.1

2025 Run Defense Grades:

* Elijah Jones --- 67.0

* Jaden Davis --- 66.8

* Kei'Trel Clark --- 63.9

* Will Johnson --- 61.2

* Garrett Williams --- 56.1

* Denzel Burke --- 35.4

* Max Melton --- 25.8

2025 Pass Coverage Grades:

* Elijah Jones --- 83.0

* Garrett Williams --- 64.2

* Denzel Burke --- 61.2

* Will Johnson --- 60.7

* Max Melton --- 56.3

* Kei'Trel Clark --- 54.1

* Jaden Davis --- 53.1

2025 Tackling Grades:

* Elijah Jones --- 76.7

* Will Johnson --- 51.2

* Kei'Trel Clark --- 39.1

* Denzel Burke --- 34.5

* Garrett Williams --- 29.1

* Jaden Davis --- 28.9

* Max Melton --- 25.8

Conclusion:

The only CB who looks like a plus player across the board is Elijah Jones, yet the coaches played him in only one game, the last game of the season versus the Rams. Jones was the lone bright spot in the Cardinals' secondary during the team's 37-20 loss. 

What's particularly annoying about the Cardinals' poor cornerback play is the fact that former head coach Jonathan Gannon's positional specialty is with cornerbacks. One has to argue whether Gannon's "caution and cushion" defense was doing the cornerbacks any favors. 

But, regardless of scheme, when one looks at how unacceptable the cornerbacks' tackling was, that does not speak well to the players' efforts or their tackling techniques. 

Enter new cornerbacks' coach Zac Etheridge from the University of Miami (FL). At the University of Miami, regardless of the defensive positions, if you don't tackle well, then you don't play.

That's for starters. 

If you play too much cushion --- you don't play.

If you exhibit poor coverage techniques --- you don't play.

If you incur panic penalties or too many of them --- you don't play. 

At The U, cornerbacks have to be able to cover efficiently, both in man and in zones

For example, here are Keionte Scott's 2025 grades:

2025 Comparables --- Keionte Scott

Coverage Grade

87.1

Run Defense Grade

91.2

Completion %

69.6%

Man Coverage Grade

77.7

Zone Coverage Grade

80.0

The huge question for the Cardinals in 2026 is, which cornerbacks can play sticky man coverage?

The two most physically suited cornerbacks speed and agility-wise are Elijah Jones and Max Melton. 

Can either one of them play the slot? 

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Cardinals' secondary play in 2025 was how exposed the cornerbacks were in key man coverage situations. Garrett Williams (6 TDs) and Will Johnson (4 TDs) gave up a combined 10 TDs. Denzel Burke, who was a little more consistently competitive in man coverage gave up 3.

Two players who could emerge as viable slot cornerback options are Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, 5-10, 197, 4.41, 1.54, 38" V and Kitan Crawford, 5-11, 202, 4.41, 1.52 44.5" V. These ballers have the feet and the leverage strength the position requires. What they don't have as of yet are the reps.

The three top slot cornerback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft:

* Keionte Scott, The U, 6-0, 193, 4.33, 1.57, 44" V.

* Treydan Stukes, Arizona, 6-1, 190, 4.33, 1.50, 38" V

2025 Comparables - Treydan Stukes

Coverage Grade

90.4

Run Defense Grade

72.5

Completion %

59.0%

Man Coverage Grade

83.2

Zone Coverage Grade

89.5

* DeAngelo Ponds, Indiana, 5-9, 182, 4.36, 1.52, 43.5" V.

2025 Comparables --- DeAngelo Ponds

Coverage Grade

89.5

Run Defense Grade

86.0

Completion %

50.0%

Man Coverage Grade

69.0

Zone Coverage Grade

84.6

A Class All His Own:

* Mansoor Delane, LSU, 4.38, 1.50, 38" V

• Height - 6'0"

• Weight - 187lbs

• Wingspan - 74½"

• Arm Length - 30"

• Hand Size - 8⅞"

• 31.3 pass rating allowed (2025)

• 14 receptions allowed in 11 games (2025)

• 0 TDs allowed (2025)

• 0 penalties (2025)

• 8 INTs (career)

• 27 PBUs (career)

2025 Comparables --- Mansoor Delane

Coverage Grade

90.7

Run Defense Grade

74.4

Completion %

40.0%

Man Coverage Grade

89.1

Zone Coverage Grade

76.7

n next Wednesday's Red Rain Podcast we are planning to sort out the Cardinals' cornerback situation. Please let us know your thoughts.