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Jamari Sharpe Early 2027 NFL Draft Profile
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- Jamari Sharpe Early 2027 NFL Draft Profile
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Drew VonScio, Editor
The Indiana Hoosiers stunned the college football world by going undefeated and winning the national championship last season. Despite losing a number of important contributors from that squad, most notably Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza , the Hoosiers sit at 7-1 and are ranked No. 4 in the country. Indiana did return cornerback Jamari Sharpe, who was the hero late in its 27-21 win over the Miami Hurricanes in the national title.
Unlike most of the Hoosiers' top players, Sharpe wasn't a transfer, spending all five years of his collegiate career in Bloomington. He emerged as one of the top corners in the nation in 2025 and has maintained his production so far in 2026. How does Sharpe's game translate to the next level, and how early can he be selected in the 2027 NFL Draft?
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Jamari Sharpe 2027 NFL Draft Early Player Profile
Measurables
Height- 6-foot-1
Weight- 190 pounds
Jamari Sharpe 2027 NFL Draft Background
Sharpe was a three-star recruit coming out of Miami Northwestern (Florida) and was the 75th-ranked cornerback in the Class of 2022 . He committed to Indiana and redshirted the 2022 season, appearing in three games. After seeing minimal action as a true freshman, Sharpe played in all 12 games for the Hoosiers in 2023, including nine starts. He finished the season with 22 tackles, a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and his first career interception against the Michigan State Spartans . Sharpe appeared in nine games under new head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024, totaling 13 tackles, six pass breakups, half a sack and a forced fumble.
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His breakout campaign came in 2025, starting all 16 games en route to Indiana's first national championship. Sharpe racked up 50 tackles, six tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He didn't have an interception all season until the final drive. Sharpe clinched the national title by picking off Carson Beck in his hometown against his home team.
He posted a stellar 85.4 PFF coverage grade in 2025. Sharpe returned to Bloomington for 2026 and has continued to play at a high level, as he has allowed just 12 receptions on 27 targets, having 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and six pass breakups in seven games.
Jamari Sharpe 2027 NFL Draft Strengths
Sharpe has great straight-line speed, which allows him to carry wide receivers vertically and limit explosive plays. He is elite in zone coverage and does an excellent job reading the quarterback's eyes. His instincts paired with quick closing speed lead to him routinely crashing down on routes and breaking up passes.
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Sharpe is solid in man coverage and is a fluid enough athlete to stick with opposing receivers out of breaks. He is a good tackler for a boundary corner, making him valuable on every down. Sharpe has a rare ability to punch the ball loose, as his four forced fumbles in 2025 suggest.
Jamari Sharpe 2027 NFL Draft Weaknesses
Sharpe's frame is on the lighter end for a boundary corner at the next level, weighing 190 pounds. His lack of frame likely won't translate well to playing press coverage against more physical NFL wide receivers. While Sharpe is capable in man coverage, he isn't elite in this area. His sample size playing man coverage is also fairly small, which brings up questions about this aspect of his game.
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NFL teams play zone coverage primarily, with there being very few true lockdown cornerbacks. Sharpe's skillset fits the modern NFL, being an elite zone defender with incredible instincts. He isn't a player who will play on the line of scrimmage in man coverage against opposing WR1s, but Sharpe should translate as a solid cornerback playing off the ball in zone coverage.
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He currently projects as either a third or fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Sharpe should have chances to improve his stock against high-level competition, whether it be the Big Ten championship or the College Football Playoff. If he performs well the rest of the way, he can cement himself as a day-two pick.
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Main Photo Courtesy of Robert Goddin – Imagn Images
