2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyreek Chappell, Cornerback, Texas A&M

It is never too early to begin watching prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Jason Licht has made the draft the key cog in the Buccaneers ' roster-building and success-sustaining machine, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

We are going to be covering every position in this draft cycle. Not all of them will necessarily align with immediate needs for Tampa Bay, but depth, versatility, and long-term planning always matter. Even if the Buccaneers do not select a player at a certain position, that prospect could easily land with a division rival the Bucs see twice a season.

In this report, we will discuss a cornerback. Tampa Bay continues to prioritize defensive backs who can play with discipline, physicality, and versatility across alignments, making cornerback evaluation a year-round process.

With that in mind, here is our report on Texas A&M defensive back Tyreek Chappell.

Information

School:Texas A&M Conference:SEC Position:Cornerback Height/Weight:5-11, 180 lbs Class:Redshirt Senior Date of Birth:November 22, 2002 All-Star Game:Shrine Bowl

Background

SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team (2021)The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team (2021)Multi-year starter in the SECExperience at outside corner, slot corner, and safety alignmentsCareer defensive snap count of 2,505 snaps

Notable Stats

• Career Defensive Snaps: 2,505

• Pass Breakups: 32

• Interceptions: 4

• Forced Fumbles: 3

• Tackles: 129

2025 Season:

• Games Played: 13

• Targets: 49

• Receptions Allowed: 33

• Yards Allowed: 317

• Interceptions: 1

Notable PFF Numbers

• Career PFF Defensive Grade (Peak):74.1

• 2025 Coverage Grade:62.6

• Career Missed Tackle Rate:16.2%

• Targets Per Season (Peak):54

• Career Interceptions (PFF Charted):4

PFF usage data shows Chappell lining up primarily as a slot corner, with additional snaps at outside corner and safety. His profile reflects a defender trusted in coverage-heavy responsibilities, often tasked with handling underneath routes and contested catch situations.

Skills

• Physical at the catch point

• Comfortable playing inside or outside

• Quick trigger downhill against screens and short routes

• Competitive demeanor in man coverage

• Experience against high-level SEC competition

• Willing run defender for his size

Player Summary

Tyreek Chappell profiles as a versatile defensive back whose value lies in alignment flexibility and experience rather than raw ball production. His career at Texas A&M shows a defender trusted to handle a variety of assignments, particularly in the slot, where awareness and reaction speed are critical.

While Chappell does not project as a high-turnover outside corner at the next level, his physicality, willingness to tackle, and ability to play multiple roles give him a clear path as a rotational defensive back. His missed-tackle rate is an area that needs refinement, but his competitiveness and experience against SEC offenses provide a solid foundation.

At the NFL level, Chappell projects as a depth corner with slot versatility and special-teams value. Teams that prioritize defensive flexibility and matchup-based sub-packages will find him appealing on Day 3 of the draft.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M