2025 NFL Draft Profile: Cobee Bryant, DB, Kansas

Pros:

Elite ball production with 13 career interceptions and 22 pass breakups, showing natural instincts and timing when attacking the catch point that translates to Sunday.

Nasty competitor who plays with visible swagger and doesn’t back down from larger receivers despite his thin frame – brings legitimate dog to every snap.

Excellent zone coverage skills where he reads route combinations and quarterback eyes with veteran-level anticipation, often baiting throws he can disrupt.

Quick-twitch closing burst allows him to squeeze throwing windows and recover from occasional positioning mistakes with explosive final steps.

Surprisingly effective press corner with good hand usage and timing at the line of scrimmage, disrupting routes before they develop despite weight limitations.

Shows remarkable body control when turning to locate and track the football in flight, consistently finding ways to get hands on passes at full extension.

Routinely fights through receiver blocks in the run game with determined effort and technique that belies his size limitations – refuses to stay engaged.

Four-sport background shows up in his fluid hip transitions and natural movement skills, allowing him to mirror routes with minimal wasted motion.

Cons:

Significantly undersized frame at just 180 pounds (3rd percentile) creates legitimate concerns about durability and ability to match up with NFL-caliber X receivers.

Overly aggressive coverage technique leads to grabbing and unnecessary penalties – drew 12 flags over his final two seasons when beaten in man coverage.

Struggles against bigger targets who can box him out at the catch point or use their frame to shield him from making plays on back-shoulder throws.

Lacks elite deep speed (4.53 forty) to recover when beaten vertically by faster receivers, sometimes relying too much on grabbing to compensate.

Ankle-biting tackle technique will lead to broken tackles against NFL ball carriers, as he often dives low rather than squaring up on contact.

Summary:

Bryant boasts an impressive combination of ball skills and instincts, making him a prospect who will likely garner significant attention from defensive coaches. A notable aspect of his game is his exceptional ability to read the quarterback’s intentions in zone coverage, demonstrating a natural understanding of angles and patterns. He excels at baiting throws and then rapidly closing in to create turnover opportunities that can be game-changers. However, in man coverage, his slender build can be a liability when facing physical receivers who use their size to their advantage.

Game footage showcases a defender with an aggressive playing style, exceling when allowed to anticipate and attack. He’s effective in zone coverage, jumping routes and disrupting screen plays on the perimeter. Bryant’s energetic play is contagious, inspiring his teammates, particularly when he fearlessly takes on larger opponents in the run game. However, his limitations are exposed in isolated man coverage against bigger receivers, where his aggressive nature can lead to holding penalties and struggles to match physical strength.