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.