Top 5 cornerbacks in 2023 NFL Draft

Finally, we’re just over a week away from the Carolina Panthers making the first selection in 2023 NFL Draft.

Having already highlighted the talent available at quarterback and wide receiver, we now take a look at the cornerbacks.

It’s another stacked cornerback class, with a few players potentially going within the top 10 selections. Infact, the class is so stacked, that is becoming increasingly to predict which corner is the best available, and who will be the first to be taken.

Here is our list of the top five cornerbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft:

Honourable mentions: Emmanuel Forbes, Kelee Ringo, Julius Brents

5. Cam Smith, South Carolina

A four-star recruit coming out of high school, Smith was an explosive, agile and physical cornerback for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He’s gained comparisons to a top ten selection from 2021 in Jaycee Horn, particularly as the two played together in 2020. But Smith took the mantle as the CB1 for his college, and allowed just 211 yards in 11 games last season.

He comes in the draft as an under-the-radar prospect, and his frame may struggle at the next level. But Smith is easily a top 50 NFL Draft pick, and will have plenty of teams after his signature.

4. Deonte Banks, Maryland

Deonte Banks is an incredible athlete. In fact, with a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash, a 42-inch vertical and an 11-foot-4 broad jump at the NFL Combine, he’s possibly the strongest player athletically at his position coming out of college.

In fact, Banks could be a lot higher on this list, and his potential makes him one of the better prospects in the class. Injury concerns and sometimes over-aggressiveness in press coverage may be concerns, but in a couple of years, we may well be viewing the Maryland star as the best corner taken in 2023.

3. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Son of a five-time All-Pro edge rusher of the same name, Porter Jr. is a recognisable name already. But young Joey can go on to create a reputation for himself regardless of his family background.

A crafty young player who is a real force in press coverage, the Penn State star has impressive measurables with good length for a cornerback to excel in the NFL, following a career year this past fall in which he allowed only 143 yards in 10 games. He’s one of the many in his position expected to be drafted in the first round, and expect Porter Jr. to be one of the first selected.

2. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

It’s hard to split the top two players in the cornerback position, particularly given Devon Witherspoon is coming off one of the greatest seasons we’ve seen from a college cornerback in recent memory. The Illinois standout was targeted 63 times in 2022 and allowed only 22 catches for 206 yards with three picks and 14 pass breakups. 

He’s physical stature is as good as anyone up for selection this year, and he should be taken very early in the first round of the upcoming draft if all bodes well.

1. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

What sets Gonzalez apart from this impressive group of young players is incredible athleticism. He has the size and speed that teams will crave, and the length, hips and ball skills that makes him an attractive prospect to possibly go in the top ten of the draft.

Coming off a a breakout season in 2022 after transferring to Oregon from Colorado, in which he recorded four picks and six pass breakups, Gonzalez is an also an effective run defender and tackler, so has multiple assets to offer to NFL defenses.

With the right coach and the right setting, Gonzalez can go on to become one of the best in his position in the NFL.