The Dallas Cowboys are in the cornerback market, and the expectation is that it will be high on their list of needs in the NFL Draft.
Mansoor Delane has become a frequent target for mock drafters at No. 12, but what if he’s not available or if the Cowboys decide to go elsewhere with their first pick? Are there any other cornerbacks worth considering in Round 1?
One player who has gained a lot of steam in the pre-draft process is Colton Hood, the “other” Tennessee cornerback in this class.
Hood was the No. 1 cornerback this year for the Volunteers with Jermod McCoy out for the season due to an ACL tear. He had a monster season and is now firmly in the discussion to be a first-round pick. But how might he fit the Dallas Cowboys? Here is our scouting report on the former SEC star.
Colton Hood Jr. 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 5115
Weight: 193 pounds
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.44
Recruiting: 4-star recruit, No. 374 ranked prospect nationally, No. 37 ranked cornerback
College Production: 29 games, 77 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions.
Positives:
- Very physical at the line of scrimmage. Most receivers don’t handle his punch well.
- Willing tackler. Isn’t afraid to take on much bigger plays in the run game. Really improved as a tackler from 2024 to 2025.
- Has enough long speed to match explosive receivers on the outside.
- Does a good job of battling on contested catches and will dig at the football, when needed.
- Very patient at the line of scrimmage. Doesn't get thrown off by jab steps or fake releases.
Hood has average size and length, but he is an explosive athlete who excels in press coverage. He has violent hands and can stun receivers on the line of scrimmage with his jab. His improvement as a tackler in 2025 was key to rounding out his game, and there is a lot of hope that he can be even better at the next level.
There aren’t many cornerbacks with his physical style left, and teams searching for a man-to-man, bump-and-run cover will covet him early in the draft.
Negatives:
- Linear athlete and lacks elite mirror skills. Relies on physicality to cover up quickness.
- Did not handle in-breaking routes well at the college level or at the Senior Bowl.
- Very modest production with just three interceptions and 14 pass deflections in his career.
- Does not excel when having to locate the ball in the air on deep targets. Has a tendency to grab when the ball is near.
- Will need to cut down on the grabbing at the stem of routes. Could struggle with penalties early in career.
- Has stiff hips and that prohibits him from getting low and changing directions.
There aren’t a lot of zone reps on his tape, and that makes for a difficult projection in the NFL. Hood doesn’t possess the typical mirroring skills of a man-to-man cornerback and relies on his length and physicality to compensate.
That could be an issue at the next level, as he could be prone to excessive penalty calls. The lack of ball production doesn’t help the projection, which means he is going to be confined to one specific scheme.
Colton Hood NFL Player Comparison: Tyson Campbell, Cleveland Browns
Campbell was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars and was just traded to the Cleveland Browns last year.
Like Hood, Campbell is a linear cornerback who does his best work in bump-and-run coverage. He’s always been one of the league’s better tacklers in the run game and is an above-average outside cornerback. But because of a lack of flexibility and ball production, his ceiling will always be limited.
Colton Hood Fit With The Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys generally like cornerback prospects with arms over 31” and speeds below 4.45. That has been the case under Will McClay over the last decade, and it likely won’t change with the hiring of Christian Parker.
But the fit is interesting considering Hood is an outside cornerback only, and Dallas already has Daron Bland and Shavon Revel on the roster.
However, Bland can play in the slot, if needed, and Revel certainly isn’t a lock to start. Adding more competition and athleticism to the group certainly wouldn’t hurt, and Hood’s physical style and ability to tackle would be a breath of fresh air in Dallas.
But picking him at No. 20 would feel like a reach, especially if a player like Avieon Terrell is still on the board.
Colton Hood NFL Draft Grade: Round 2
There is a lot to like about Hood, and the fact that he improved so much in 2025 is a great sign. But he’s played just 1,150 career snaps in college (per Pro Football Focus), and there are some obvious concerns about his game. If he doesn’t win at the line of scrimmage, he can get in trouble, and quicker receivers could be a big issue at the next level.
However, he’s just 21 years old, and his willingness to tackle in the run game makes him an intriguing prospect.