When draft day comes around, near the top of the “my guys” list will be Miami nickel corner Keionte Scott, who has been one of the best defensive backs in the nation this season. He was incredible in every facet of the game and is exactly what NFL teams are looking for in a modern nickel corner. In 2025, Scott logged 64 tackles, 5 sacks, and forced seven turnovers this season in an effort that helped take Miami to the CFB National Championship. Now he declares for the NFL draft, and I am here to tell you why he is worthy of being a 2026 first-round draft pick.
Slot corner is one of the most undervalued positions in the NFL, and having a player who can stick in coverage against quick receivers but can also blitz and tackle is a game-changer. Scott is just that, and his ability to impact the game shows up on just about every play of the game. This ability to consistently have an impact is why I have Scott graded as the nation’s top corner, and he sits at number 20 on my most recent big board. I have Scott graded higher than nearly every public draft analyst, but I can confidently say that NFL scouts are on the same page and will be clamoring to add Scott to their defense on draft day.
His coverage skills are where you can start, and in the college football playoff, Scott showed all of us that he can be effective against the nation’s best pass catchers. He was able to stick with De’Zhaun Stribling, Carnell Tate, and Omar Cooper Jr. effectively, and scouts have raved about his athletic ability to match up against anyone in the nation. Outside of coverage skills, Scott is an ELITE tackler and is more than capable of bringing down QBs, WRs, RBs, and TEs alike; his film is filled with hard hits and impactful tackles. He is also an elite blitzer, and this year, he showed scouts he was the best nickel blitzer in the nation.
From the moment he left high school, Scott was an impact player, and he was one of the best freshman DBs in the nation at Auburn in 2022. Scott took a step back in 2023, and an injury in ’24 kept him out for much of the season, but after transferring to Miami for the 2025 season, he showed scouts he still has the skills he flashed as a freshman at Auburn. Now, NFL teams are well aware of Scott’s athletic skills, and scouts will be excited to have him on their roster going forward.
The public may not end up recognizing the value of Scott as the draft approaches, and many people still struggle to recognize the value of a slot corner like him. There will be a lot of value put into outside corners like Jermod McCoy, Mansoor Delane, and Avieon Terrell, and rightfully so, but in my opinion, Scott belongs in the same conversation as the other top corners in this class. Especially in a draft class that is as thin as the 2026 draft is, Scott should be turning a lot of heads, and while he has not quite gotten the recognition he deserves, I think he will be a fast riser this offseason.
Scott will be one of my favorite players in the class this offseason, and when you watch his film, especially from the college football playoff, you see undeniable talent that is unmatched in this year’s class. As we approach the offseason, scouts will have more time to watch the film, and as they see the consistency and versatility Scott possesses, I think they will come away just as impressed as I am. I strongly recommend watching the Miami defense this offseason and keeping an eye on Scott, who has had an immeasurable impact throughout the playoffs. Scott reminds me a lot of Bills corner Taron Johnson, and if Scott can become anything close to what Johnson has been in the NFL, he is well worth a first-round pick.
