CLEVELAND, Ohio — You can’t tell the story of the 2025 NFL Draft cornerback class without talking about injuries. A good chunk of the top players at the position had abbreviated 2024 seasons because of injuries. Starting at the top is Michigan’s Will Johnson. Arguably the best cornerback in college football the last two seasons, Johnson played only six games in 2024 due to turf toe. Johnson still had three pass breakups and two interceptions in 2024 despite the limited time on the field. Another top corner who played just six games was Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison. He felt like a first-round lock, especially considering how well he played vs. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2023 game at Notre Dame. Morrison is still recovering from a season-ending hip injury, and he did not do on-field work at the NFL Combine. East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr., who also had first-round potential coming into the season, played only three games before suffering a torn ACL. While those injuries will impact where those players get taken in the draft, it shouldn’t take away from the caliber of player they are. That’s why I still value the cornerback class in this draft as highly as I do. Where this position ranks in the 2025 NFL Draft As part of our 11-part position group ranking series for the 2025 NFL Draft, we have the cornerback position ranked No. 4. We will unveil one position group per weekday until Apr. 8, so come back to cleveland.com each day to meet the next highest-ranked position group. You can catch up on the rest of the series here. No. 11: Off-ball linebackersNo. 10: SafetiesNo. 9: Interior offensive linemenNo. 8: QuarterbacksNo. 7: Offensive tacklesNo. 6: Tight endsNo. 5: Wide receivers What do the Browns need at cornerback? Unlike most positions on this roster, the Browns have proven top-end talent at corner. Denzel Ward, despite his health concerns, is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Martin Emerson Jr. had a down season in 2024, but he has shown enough where he’s earned another season to prove if 2024 was just an off year. Behind them, Greg Newsome II is on the last year of his rookie deal, Cameron Mitchell has not had a chance to prove much and Andrew Berry has drafted a corner in each of the last four drafts. Those three factors say it won’t be a shock if the Browns again draft a corner in 2025. Meet the top five cornerbacks 1. Travis Hunter, Colorado Height, weight: 6-1, 185 pounds. 2024 stats: 36 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 11 pass breakups. Projected slot: Top four. More about Hunter: I addressed Hunter the receiver on Wednesday when talking about the receivers. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t address Hunter the cornerback because it would be shocking if he didn’t at least play some corner in the NFL. While Hunter’s size may need work as a receiver, his frame is ideal for the cornerback position. His combination of world-class athleticism and elite ball skills make him such a weapon at corner. He has seven INTs and 16 pass breakups in 22 games at Colorado. He may need to get stronger to be a better run-support tackler in the NFL. But it’s rare to get a cornerback with receiver-quality ball skills, and that is what makes him so appealing to teams looking for help in the secondary. 2. Will Johnson, Michigan Height, weight: 6-2, 202 pounds. 2024 stats: 12 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 INTs, 3 pass breakups. Projected slot: Top 15. More about Johnson: A former five-star prospect out of high school, Johnson quickly lived up to that billing and became a key factor on Michigan’s national championship team in 2023. He’s a bigger corner and can change directions extremely quickly. Johnson excels in zone defense with his ability to read and react to the ball. Outside of the health concerns with Johnson working his way back from turf toe, he will need to be better as a run stopper. 3. Jahdae Barron, Texas Height, weight: 5-11, 200 pounds. 2024 stats: 46 solo tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFLs, 5 INTs, 11 pass breakups. Projected slot: Top 20. More about Barron: No player took advantage of the injuries affecting other corners in this class than Barron, who won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back in 2024. The fifth-year senior easily had his best season in terms of pass breakups and interceptions. Barron can clearly play well on the outside, but he’s versatile enough to play the nickel because he has good size and strength. However, he will need to watch his hands usage in coverage when he gets to the NFL. 4. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame Height, weight: 6-0, 193 pounds. 2024 stats: 14 solo tackles, 4 pass breakups. Projected slot: Late first to early second round. More about Morrison: When Morrison helped hold Marvin Harrison Jr. to just 53 yards on five catches in a 2023 loss to Ohio State, he announced himself as a player to watch. He’s a very long corner who has a great football IQ. His nine interceptions and 18 pass breakups in 31 games showcase his level of ball skills. However, Morrison is recovering from hip surgery which will impact when he gets picked. He will also need to add some strength to his frame. 5. Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky Height, weight: 5-11, 183 pounds. 2024 stats: 15 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles. Projected slot: Late first to early second round. More about Hairston: Like Barron, Hairston is a player who has worked his way into first-round consideration thanks in part to an NFL Combine best 4.28-second 40-yard dash, including a 1.5 10-yard split. Hairston played just seven games in 2024 due to a shoulder injury. But he played well when he did play. While he is slender, he is a better tackler than his frame would suggest. He also has long arms and anticipates well.