Welcome to Part 4 of our 2025 draft preview series, which will be a position-by-position look at key prospects and where the Chargers roster stands ahead of the NFL Draft. This series will include a look at which prospects could be options for the Chargers later this month.

We chatted with CBS Sport draft analyst Chris Trapasso to break down the cornerbacks in this draft class. Trapasso can be found on X/Twitter @ChrisTrapasso for his analysis.

Chargers status at cornerback

Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Ja'Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard

The Chargers had quite the 2024 draft when it came to the cornerback position.

General Manager Joe Hortiz and his staff were able to select not one, but two starting-level cornerbacks in Still and Hart on Day 3 last season, something that proved to be big for both the present and future of the Bolts.

Both rookies were called upon to jump into action and contributed the rest of the way beginning in Week 6, providing game-changing plays in all facets.

Both Still and Hart finished the season in the top 10 of passer rating against and run defense grade among rookie cornerbacks with at least 300 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Still also ranked in the top five in defense (73.7) and coverage (73.3) as well, all while leading the Chargers with four interceptions.

The Chargers recently used free agency to also add some veterans to the unit.

Jackson and St-Juste joined the Bolts near the start of free agency as both bring plenty of game experience to the roster.

Jackson notched a career-high five interceptions in 2024, tied for second-most in the AFC and tied for the sixth-most in the NFL.

The position is rounded out by Taylor and Leonard, each of whom were late round picks in 2022 and have experience stepping up in relief and on special teams.

Is it a position of need?

Not early, according to Trapasso.

The draft analyst likes the baseline of the Bolts corner group with the second-year players and free agency additions.

However, the NFL is a passing league, so Trapasso believes that using one of the 10 current picks to take a chance in the later rounds — something the Bolts did last year — could be something they could do to add more competition and maybe even hit on another young corner.

"It's certainly a spot that, it seems like in the modern-day NFL, it makes sense to just throw a couple of darts just late in the draft even if it's not a top priority early on because of how much of a passing league it is in today's NFL," Trapasso said.

Key Questions for 2025

1. What did you make of Still and Hart's rookie seasons? Did they outplay your evaluation of them heading into last year's draft?

"I don't want to say I completely whiffed, I had early sixth-round grades on both of them and they went in the fifth. They probably both, especially Still, played better than where they were selected. Those were not hits for me. Hats off to Jesse Minter and the job he did at defensive coordinator. He really accentuated Still's ability to just watch the quarterback, plant and drive on the football. I thought his instincts in zone at Maryland were fantastic, I was a little worried about him in man, but the Chargers did a good job to just allow him those opportunities to make plays on the football.

"Then Cam Hart, his size with his movement ability, that was the biggest appeal with him. I was a little concerned about the tackling and the man coverage ability to mirror, but I think the quick development for both of those players bodes well not just for their futures, but the futures of any of these cornerbacks that the Chargers might pick in this draft because I think they have a pretty good developmental program with this new coaching staff."

2. How is the cornerback depth in this year's class?

"I think it's really good. I think what's kind of clouding the general thoughts on this position is that after Travis Hunter, you have Shavon Revel from East Carolina, Ben Morrison from Notre Dame and Will Johnson from Michigan, who all are first-round caliber players on film, but are all nursing injuries. I don't know the severity of those injuries and how much teams believe it's going to hamper their development or their ability to play Week 1 or any of those things… I think it's a little bit deeper with a little bit more top-end talent than the linebacker class."

3. Who is someone you think could be this year's Still or Hart? A cornerback drafted on Day 3 that can surprise people?

"I'm going to go with Korie Black from Oklahoma State. He was not invited to the Combine and I'm not really sure why. He is that click and close, drive on the football, press man corner. Those are not easy to find in any draft. Really good ball production out of Oklahoma State. He's a little bit smaller, doesn't have crazy long arms so maybe that's what kept him out of the Combine. He feels like that player, like Still and Hart, who can outplay his draft position. Just going off he wasn't invited to the Combine, that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to be a seventh rounder, but he's probably going to be picked on Day 3. I think he has all the attributes you want."

Expert rankings

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah currently has six cornerbacks in his latest Top 50 list, while ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has two in his Top 25 (not including Travis Hunter).

The Athletic's Dane Brugler has 13 cornerbacks in his most recent Top 100 list, with the highest coming in at No. 1 (Hunter).

Pro Football Focus has nine cornerbacks in the top 100 in their Big Board Rankings, with a high of No. 1 (Hunter).

Potential Chargers options

Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).

Trey Amos

School: Ole Miss | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 195 pounds

2024 stats: 13 games; 50 tackles (39 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble

Quick fact: The All-SEC First-Team selection led the team in PFF's coverage grade (85.6), which was good for fourth-best among SEC cornerbacks with at least 500 snaps.

Shavon Revel, Jr.

School: East Carolina | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 194 pounds

2024 stats: Three games; eight tackles (four solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, two interceptions

Quick fact: Appearing 24 games during his time with the Pirates Revel did just about everything, picking off three passes (one pick-six) as well as blocking two kicks.

Trapasso's take: "To me, Revel on film is a top 15 player in this class. The only thing that's a little concerning is there's some hip tightness to his game, which is almost true for every 6-foot-3 cornerback. The ball skills, the acceleration, the catch up speed, the length to disrupt at the catch point. I think if he's fully healthy off the ACL he suffered early last season, he is just that lockdown corner on the outside. Scheme-versatile, role-versatile."

Benjamin Morrison

School: Notre Dame | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-0 | Wt: 193 pounds

2024 stats: Six games; 20 tackles (14 solo), four passes defensed

Quick fact: Morrison saw limited action in 2024, but led the Fighting Irish with 10 breakups and was second on the team with three interceptions in 2023.

Trapasso's take: "His mirror ability in man I think is better than any corner in this class. He follows wide receivers like he knows the routes, knows the plays beforehand. He is so fluid, he can be explosive when you need him to. But I didn't really see him play in recovery mode that often because he's just in the hip pocket of the wide receiver very often. Such a smooth athlete, has kind of the right size you want in today's NFL… If the hip checks out, he is as good of a natural, man mirroring cornerback that I've seen in the last three or four years."

Darien Porter

School: Iowa State | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-3 | Wt: 195 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 18 tackles (12 solo), three interceptions, 2.0 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, three interceptions, two blocked kicks

Quick fact: An Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection this past season, Porter became the first Cyclone in the Big 12 era (1996-2024) to have five career blocked kicks.

Cobee Bryant

School: Kansas | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-0 | Wt: 180 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 37 tackles (26 solo), four interceptions, 0.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble

Quick fact: Bryant was named a Unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection in his final season, becoming the first Jayhawk in Big 12 history to be named First Team All-Big 12 in three-straight seasons.

Trapasso's take: "He's like 6-foot, under 190 pounds, but he plays like he thinks he's 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with long arms. Incredibly feisty, probably the feistiest cornerback in the entire class. Does lead to missed tackles, maybe some grabbiness, but he's one, like Revel, who is at the catch point way more often than not. He will play through the ball as aggressively as anyone in the class… Cobee Bryant in the middle of this draft would make a lot of sense. He's a high floor guy who I actually think has upside because he has that aggressiveness you want."

Jacob Parrish

School: Kansas State | Year: Junior | Ht: 5-foot-10 | Wt: 191 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 50 tackles (40 solo), one interception, 2.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defensed

Quick fact: An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention the previous two seasons, Parrish ranked in the top eight of the conference among cornerbacks with at least 500 snaps in defense (74.7), tackling (78.4) and coverage grade (76.9)