The 2026 NFL draft had some of the top cornerback talent seen in recent years, showcasing athletes who immediately had week one starting potential and have lived up to just that. Through four weeks of the NFL season, the league has five rookie cornerbacks worth noting. Not because they’ve made a few plays here and there, but because they were thrown into the fire as rookies and were able to help their team right away. Those like Brandon Cisse, Avieon Terrell, Jermod McCoy, Hezekiah Masses, and Justin Walley have all displayed why they’re trusted with playing time as rookies.
Brandon Cisse: Green Bay Packers
Cisse has 19 tackles and a pass deflection through four weeks, but his impact goes beyond the stats. He’s been tasked with covering top receivers Justin Jefferson and Garrett Wilson. He’s managed to hold his own against them and has learned quickly when he’s made a mistake.
Cisse’s week four challenge came on Sunday, covering Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar Emeka Egbuka. He allowed two completions on four targets in the game, but made up for it with six total tackles, showing no fear when attacking the Buccaneers’ running game.
Avieon Terrell: Atlanta Falcons
Working as a nickel/slot corner in the NFL is a big task for anyone, including veterans. Terrell has been able to hold his own and then some, locking down anyone who’s lined up against him.
Cisse has been targeted 10 times this season, allowing four catches for 21 yards and a passer rating of just 42.9. It will be interesting to see how he responds when he is eventually tasked with his opponent’s best receiver. Playing alongside his brother A.J. Terrell will give him another boost in confidence as well.
Jermod McCoy/Hezekiah Masses: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have a two-headed monster at the corner positions, as seen with McCoy and Masses. They provide depth for a team that lacked it in the secondary, and have combined for 21 total tackles.
Masses has been the better corner out of the two, with three interceptions (tied for first in the NFL) and six pass defections (fourth). He’s also allowed just six completions on six targets, and a passer rating of 39.6. There’s no question these rookies can compete; it’s just to what extent, given the heavy challenges the Raiders’ secondary face regularly.
Rookie Cornerbacks: Justin Walley, Indianapolis Colts
One corner who has flat-out hit the ground running in terms of production is Walley, showing why he’s already recognized as one of the more physical corners in this class. Through four games, Walley has recorded 22 tackles, truly perfecting a role that tends to be the weak spot in a corner’s skill set.
One of the reasons Walley managed to make this list, outside of his talent, is how he’s able to do all of this as an “undersized” corner, only being listed at 5 foot 10 and 190 pounds. Sticking his nose in running lanes seems to be his strong suit right now; developing a more sound skill set in coverage will push him over the top.
