Cleveland’s new defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg, is known for a few things, and one of them is his gravitation towards relying heavily on his slot cornerbacks in multiple ways. The “Einstein of the secondary” has always been able to find above-average athletes to play nickel for him, and there’s a player in this year’s class who fits the mold perfectly.
Miami’s Keionte Scott was one of the top cornerbacks in all of college football in 2025, and he should be one of the top slot-specific players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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He’ll undoubtedly be a player to watch for Cleveland fans at the NFL Combine that begins on Monday and runs through March 2nd.
Scott would be a perfect fit in Cleveland alongside Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell next season, as Scott can play multiple roles near the box. He has the physicality to cover tight ends, the athleticism to stick with slot receivers, and the mentality to be a force against the run.
There are very few slot-specific players in this year’s class who could make an impact as a rookie, another being Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds. If Mike Rutenberg wants to make sure that he has a slot that he can rely on and wants to get one in the NFL Draft, Keionte Scott might be his No.1 target in the 2026 class. Scott’s physicality and high-energy style of play consistently jump off tape, and he’s one of those players who makes you say “wow” every few minutes when watching him.
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Of course, they could always choose to sign one in free agency, but being able to acquire one with a crazy amount of potential in the draft could be the best option when it comes to a value perspective over the next four years.