With the First Pick: An NFL Draft Podcast from CBS Sports · CBS Sports, NFL Draft, Mock Draft, NFL, 2023 NFL Draft, NFL Combine, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud

FINAL 2026 NFL Draft DB Rankings: Top 5 Players At Cornerback & Safety

·49 min·4 clips

Ryan Wilson reveals the top cornerback and safety prospects for the 2026 NFL draft with surprising picks.

This episode features CBS Sports analysts Ryan Wilson and former Titans GM Rand Carthon, alongside two-time Super Bowl champion and former Steelers cornerback Bryant "BMAC" McFadden, to finalize their 2026 NFL Draft defensive back rankings. The hosts aim to identify the top cornerback and safety prospects, debating who merits the CB1 designation and which players are first-round locks. McFadden, a highly-touted high school recruit himself, brings a player's perspective to the evaluative process. The panel revisits their successful 2023 rankings, where McFadden correctly had Nick Emanwary as the number two overall defensive back. They note Travis Hunter was a consensus top pick, while prospects like Max Harrison were impacted by injuries. Both analysts express continued anticipation for Jadé Barron to have a breakout season and acknowledge Phil Johnson as a good player despite his testing numbers. Carthon is asked to outline the most critical traits he prioritizes when scouting defensive backs for the draft. A key insight is the value placed on proven evaluation history, as the hosts compare past rankings to actual player outcomes. The discussion suggests that measurable athletic testing, like 40-yard dash times, can sometimes be overvalued compared to on-field performance. The analysts demonstrate a clear focus on identifying which collegiate players can immediately improve an NFL secondary. The tone is energetic and collegial, marked by insider jargon and playful references to McFadden's championship rings. This episode is conversational and analytical, blending scouting reports with personal anecdotes and historical draft analysis. It will deeply appeal to NFL draft enthusiasts, fantasy football players, and fans wanting to learn about next-generation defensive stars. Listeners seeking game highlights or non-football content will likely find this detailed positional breakdown too niche.

As heard by us

A draft room DB debate that turns rankings into real first round context.

With the First Pick spends its time on the 2026 DB class like a draft room argument, with Ryan Wilson, Rand Carthon, and Bryant McFadden sorting out CB1, first round safety questions, and where the corner run starts to tighten.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a fast, opinionated DB board with real first-round stakes.

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