Big Blue View
The 2027 NFL Draft is expected to be a potentially historic one at several premium positions, including cornerback. Right now, the conversation is centered on Notre Dame corner Leonard Moore. However, there are other cornerbacks with first-round traits who will be entering the discussion over the next few months.
Perhaps the most intriguing is Mississippi State red-shirt junior Kelley Moore. Moore emerged as a starter in 2025 and improved over the course of the year. By the end of the season, Moore was second in the SEC with 11 passes defensed and some believe he could be a shutdown corner in 2026.
The New York Giants, meanwhile, find themselves in an interesting spot at the cornerback position and could need to address the position in the 2027 draft. Could Jones be a potential solution for them?
Jones has remarkable length for the position. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and appears to have the arm length to go with his listed height. That is rare length for a cornerback.
Unlike most long-levered corners, Jones combines his length with quick feet and fluid hips. While he isn’t quite as twitchy or springy as a 6-foot corner can be, he moves very well for a player with his frame. That allows him to easily stay in phase with most outside receivers, as well as match up with tall “X” receivers down the field. Jones’ length gives him a big catch denial radius. His length and fluidity give him great upside in man coverage and he emerged as a sticky cover corner as a starter in 2025.
Jones also has very good long speed. He doesn’t quite appear to have elite acceleration, but he does have great recovery speed if he’s initially beaten or gives up a bit of separation early in routes. Thanks to his length and closing speed, Jones is able to slam receiving windows shut if quarterbacks test him in off coverage.
Jones plays with great physicality and competitive toughness. He’s willing to take on bigger blockers on the perimeter and get his hands dirty in run defense. Jones does a good job of keeping an eye on the backfield when the play is in front of him, and is aggressive to come off his man and attack the ball carrier. He doesn’t appear to shy away from contact and flashes the ability to use his length to wrap up and limit yards after contact.
There are a couple issues in Kelley’s game that he’ll need to work on to realize his full potential as a shutdown corner.
First and foremost, Kelley needs to get stronger. He’s listed at 195 pounds, and while that might be an accurate weight, it has a lot more to do with his height than the muscle on his frame. He’s a lanky young man with questionable play strength.
Kelley can struggle to take on bigger, thicker receivers in press or tight man coverage. He...
