Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos can start for any defense

Amos is scheme-versatile, which makes for a potential fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s Chiefs defense.

One position group that has gone under the radar in this class is cornerback. With the strength of the draft being at defensive line, running back, tight end and offensive line, the cornerback group has received less press.

At the top, there have been plenty of conversations about Travis Hunter, Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron as first-round picks, but after those three, there isn’t a clear consensus on who will go next and when. Players like Benjamin Morrison, Shavon Revel Jr., Maxwell Hairston and Azareye’h Thomas have been frequently mentioned as players who could go between 25-40, but without a clear consensus on the best player of that group.

As I was watching cornerbacks who might go in this range, one name stood out as the best option after the top three: Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos.

Here’s what you need to know about Amos:

Background

Amos hasn’t always been considered a top prospect at his position. Coming out of high school, Amos was a three-star who had one Power 5 offer from Tennessee. He ended up committing to Louisiana, where he played from 2020-23.

Amos entered the transfer portal in 2023 and was seen as one of the best transfers. Amos had offers from Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma and other big schools but ended up playing for Nick Saban in his last season at Alabama.

It took Amos time to find his footing with Alabama. Before Week 6, Amos played 73 snaps in five games. After Week 6, Amos would start playing around 40 snaps a game and be inserted into the rotation, but he still only started one game for Alabama.

After Saban retired in 2024, Amos entered the transfer portal once again, this time choosing to commit to Ole Miss. Ole Miss had hired Pete Golding as defensive coordinator in 2023, who was once Saban’s defensive coordinator. Ole Miss had tried landing Amos in 2023 when Golding arrived and went after him hard again in 2024, this time landing Amos.

Amos had his breakout in 2024. He was voted second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press and first-team by the coaches. Amos played like one of the best cornerbacks in the country.

Amos doesn’t have overwhelming size at only 6’0 3/4 and 195 lbs. with only 31 1/4-inch arms, but he does cross the bar for being able to play outside cornerback with those measurables. Amos performed well in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.43, with a 1.53 10-yard split. His 10’6 broad jump was an encouraging number, but 32 1/2” vertical jump and 4.36 short shuttle aren’t ideal numbers.

Strengths and weaknesses

The biggest strength about Amos’s game is that he’s scheme-versatile. Amos can function in any style of defense.

Amos is best when playing in zone coverage. Being able to play for Nick Saban and his disciples means you’re going to be able to operate in zone and match coverages, and Amos shows that on film. Amos does a great job sinking into route windows to contest throws. His ball skills and ability to track the ball in the air are good, and he can make plays on the ball. He rarely gets into conflict and works through routes from high to low well.

Amos can close on routes underneath with strong tackling ability and good click-and-close. Amos will protect his vertical cushion and not allow throws to get past him downfield. If the ball gets dumped underneath, Amos can make that tackle in space. I would say Amos is ideal for a Quarters defense where he can protect the sideline on a vertical route. If he doesn’t have a vertical route to defend, Amos can then roam off other routes and use his instincts to get into zone windows, and he’s a strong tackler.

What makes Amos intriguing is that I think he can play in a man-coverage defense. Amos lacks the ideal size to be a jamming cornerback, so if you play physical press, he might not be your type. However, I still think he can function in man coverage. Amos has quick feet that don’t waste much motion. He’s able to match releases well and doesn’t display many stiffness issues on film. Amos has good body control and recognizes what receivers are trying to do, and he can position himself to avoid losing.

How he fits with the Chiefs

Amos being scheme-versatile is an ideal fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. You could argue that Amos not having the ideal size makes it tough for a jamming defense, but the Chiefs played more Quarters coverage and had their cornerbacks play off last year. This offseason, they signed Kristian Fulton, who has a similar skill set to Amos. The Chiefs seem to be transitioning to a new style of defense, and Amos would fit in with what they were doing in 2024. Plus, the fact that he can play some man coverage is critical because Spagnuolo wouldn’t have to adapt his coverages for Amos, who can function in any style of defense.

The bottom line

Amos is a little older (he turned 23 in March) and was a late breakout, so I understand some hesitation about him, but I’ve come away high on him. It’s hard to find cornerbacks who can operate in multiple defenses in the NFL, and Amos is one of them. I feel comfortable placing him on any defense, which raises his value.

Amos will never be a star with his lack of size on the outside, but if you can make Amos your second cornerback, you’re going to get a long-term starter who is helpful regardless of your defensive context. NFL defensive schemes are always evolving, and that means certain players can have limited value in only specific defenses, but Amos should never have that issue.

Grade: Round 2 (No. 4 cornerback)