2026 NFL Draft: 1 cornerback in every round for the Chargers

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2026 NFL Draft: 1 cornerback in every round for the Chargers

Alex Katson, Chargers Wire · Chargers Wire

Mon, Apr 20, 2026 ·

4 min read

Round 1: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Much like Will Johnson a year ago, McCoy is one of the best cornerbacks in the draft, but has major medical concerns after missing the 2025 season with a torn ACL. Johnson, who Harbaugh and then-defensive coordinator Jesse Minter coached at Michigan, played well for Arizona as a rookie but missed 5 games due to injury. Could Los Angeles, which has Donte Jackson , Tarheeb Still, and Cam Hart under contract this season, absorb a talent like McCoy knowing he may not play a full season? If he falls to 22, he'll likely be the best player on the board when the Chargers come on the clock.

Round 2: Davison Igbinosun , Ohio State

A prototypical size and speed corner who ran 4.45 in the 40 at the NFL Combine, Igbinosun fits the Chargers mold of corners who can play outside, as Hortiz mentioned as a requirement at his press conference last week. The Buckeye has a slighter build, but profiles as a great fit for press coverage, where the Chargers have used Hart with mixed success. Igbinosun has more speed to hang with receivers down the field when they stack him off the line than Hart does, but penalties have also been an issue throughout his career.

Round 3: Chandler Rivers, Duke

Rivers can play outside, but he'd likely be a better fit in the nickel if he ends up in Los Angeles. At 5'10" and 185 pounds, you'd expect him to be bullied off the line more often, but Rivers is much more frequently the one doing the bullying. That mindset will likely endear him to Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary. He's a productive player at the catch point - a must in the Chargers defense - has never missed a game, and was described as coachable and a great football character by Dane Brugler of The Athletic .

Round 4: Ephesians Prysock , Washington

Prysock had Michigan in his top five before committing to USC out of high school, but eventually landed at Arizona after Clay Helton was fired by the Trojans. He linked back up with Jedd Fisch when the latter moved from Arizona to Washington, where Prysock was a two-year starter for the Huskies. But the Chargers could rely on defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale's relationship with Prysock from that recruitment - Day 3 tends to be where position coaches' voices are elevated in the war room. Prysock would be another corner that would make the Chargers bigger and faster on the boundary, as he stands 6'3" and ran a 4.45 in Indianapolis.

Round 5: Will Lee III , Texas A&M

Lee has longer arms than his 6'1" frame might suggest, which allows him to jam receivers at the line and stay connected at the catch point. He's a volatile player subject to giving up a big play due to average (4.52) speed, but fifth-round capital would be setting him in more of a rotational role early on anyway. With at least 8 pass deflections in three seasons at the FBS level, Lee has the traits and ball production to bet on. A team like the Chargers, with frontline players entrenched at the position, could bring him along slowly and coach some of his technical mishaps out of him.

Round 6: Domani Jackson , Alabama

A San Diego kid and Mater Dei alum, Jackson was once the top-ranked recruit in California but struggled with a knee injury and defensive staff turnover in two seasons at USC. At Alabama, his best season was in 2024, with 9 pass deflections and 2 interceptions. That ball production evaporated in 2025, however, which will leave some teams with questions about his consistency. He's not an ideal short-area athlete, but a team like the Chargers could mask that with their zone-heavy approach.

Round 7: Ceyair Wright , Nebraska

Another former USC defensive back, Wright is a Los Angeles native with NFL bloodlines - his uncle and two cousins played in the league, and his dad played in NFL Europe. Wright was LeBron James' son in Space Jam: A New Legacy, but his transfer to Nebraska after three seasons at USC should dissuade teams from thinking that football is not his priority. A versatile but volatile member of the secondary, Wright could fit as depth in multiple spots for the Chargers, but will need to clean up some misses on special teams to stick around in the NFL.