Colorado Cornerback DJ McKinney Sits Outside First Round

Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney is a lot to contend with.

And he loves to come right up on a receiver and breathe down his neck pre-snap.

McKinney crouches down.

He’s got the height for it.

He’s got those long ‘ol arms.

Mano-a-mano in press-man coverage. Press man is when the corner is responsible for locking up on the receiver and covering him wherever he goes.

McKinney is built for this ⎯

He’s got good straight-line speed and a strong frame. Aggressiveness is another of his traits. No question, he’s got the demeanor for this. He’s got the confidence and that swag.

McKinney loves to get physical with the receiver by impeding routes from the get-go or getting in the way when the ball is falling from the sky on a deep shot down the sideline.

Sure, McKinney plays some off-man and zone pass coverage, too. Off-man is when a corner lines up a few yards off a receiver pre-snap, and in zone, a corner is responsible for defending a certain area of the field instead of a specific receiver.

But make no mistake, press-man coverage is his thing.

Who does McKinney remind me of?

Four NFL cornerbacks come to mind that I evaluated coming out of college:

Deonte Banks (NYG)

Devon Witherspoon (SEA)

Eli Ricks

Quinyon Mitchell (PHI)

That’s quite the mix.

Banks and Witherspoon went first round in the 2023 NFL Draft. Mitchell went first round in the 2024 NFL Draft. Banks has a reputation of being up and down, but has still managed to defend 23 passes (which ranks top 20)and make two interceptions in his first two seasons. Witherspoon has made two Pro Bowls in his first two years. Ricks was a five-star recruit (247Sports) who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Mitchell was ranked as the No. 9 cornerback in the NFL in a pre-season poll of league executives, coaches, and scouts (eagleswire.usatoday.com).

I went back and read these evaluations, and there are elements of McKinney that show up in all four.

Scary.

Does McKinney get beaten?

Sometimes.

However, it’s never by much, and he generally made the tackle after giving up catches.

I didn’t see him getting torched in these 13 games.

Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), McKinney was targeted 71 times in 2024, and he gave up 37 catches (52.1%).

Why does he get beaten?

• Slight hip rigidity
• Lacks make up speed once he falls into trail position
• Inconsistent turning around his head when the ball is in the air
• Plays the receiver and not the ball

2025 will be a prove-it season

There was a fine line between Banks, Witherspoon, Ricks, and Mitchell on their college film. Patience is thin with Banks in New York, and Ricks is out of football at this time. Witherspoon and Mitchell have solidified themselves.

I need another season of game film to confirm things before I’m ready to put a final grade on McKinney for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Having a Hall of Fame cornerback for a head coach (Deion Sanders) should help. I need to see more consistent technique and more discipline.

I’m not sold on his football IQ.

He’s looking more Banks and Ricks than Witherspoon and Mitchell. I see him more as a solid No. 2 corner or nickel at this point in the process.

#8 DJ McKinney 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Fall Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Second-Round Prospect as of September 21, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: NDSU, Nebraska, Colorado State, Baylor, UCF, Kansas State, Arizona, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and BYU (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Competitive cover corner who provides strong support. Tough. Active. Handsy. Good effort. Smooth pedal, but shows a little tightness opening his hips. Below average ball instincts. Relies on physicality rather than technique. Tries crowding receivers. They got him on some deep vertical routes, slants, and shallow crossing patterns. Somewhat dependable as a tackler.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Looking back for the ball in pass coverage?

2. Instincts?

3. Hip tightness?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.