From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Texas CB Malik Muhammad.<\/p>\n
No. 5 Malik Muhammad\/CB Texas 6000\/190 (Third-year Junior)
\nMeasurements<\/p>\n
Player
\nHt\/Wt
\nHand Size
\nArm Length
\nWingspan<\/p>\n
Malik Muhammad
\n6000\/190
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
40-Yard Dash
\n10-Yard Dash
\nShort Shuttle
\n3-Cone<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
Broad Jump
\nVertical
\nBench Press<\/p>\n
N\/A
\nN\/A
\nN\/A<\/p>\n
The Good<\/p>\n
\u2013 Demonstrates good burst on his \u201cclick-and-close\u201d that can mitigate cushions
\u2013 Maintains a low center of gravity in press coverage
\u2013 Good at using his length to disrupt receivers at the line
\u2013 Jabs with one hand to keep the other free to track his opponent\u2019s hips
\u2013 Doesn\u2019t overcommit to initial releases
\u2013 Good eye discipline in zone coverage
\u2013 Capable of reading the quarterback while feeling the presence of receivers
\u2013 Effectively redirects receivers at the 5-yard mark
\u2013 Lightning-quick recovery speed with long strides<\/p>\n
The Bad<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lean and high-waisted frame, which can affect his change of direction
\u2013 Struggles to disengage blocks from bigger receivers
\u2013 Slender frame that can get bullied at the catch point
\u2013 His feet can become stagnant when trying to flip his hips
\u2013 Grabby if he is forced into recovery mode
\u2013 Gets caught in traffic when navigating congested areas of the field
\u2013 Prioritizes the big hit over making a secure tackle
\u2013 Opens his hips too early, which gives cushion underneath<\/p>\n
Stats<\/p>\n
\u2013 2025 stats: 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 4 pass deflections
\u2013 Career stats: 97 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 16 pass deflections
\u2013 Played in 41 career games<\/p>\n
Injury History<\/p>\n
\u2013 Suffered an injury scare<\/a> during the Big 12 Championship after making a tackle, but did not miss any significant time (2023) Background<\/p>\n \u2013 Born September 14th, 2004 (21 years old) Tape Breakdown<\/p>\n After starting as a rotational player, Muhammad became a star in the Texas secondary. He\u2019s a back-end technician who shows proficiency in both man and zone coverage. As a former track star, he shows his explosiveness on film. When he decides to break on the ball, he can accelerate to top speed quickly.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also got plenty of speed to burn. His recovery is top-notch due to his long strides. He can cover ground in a hurry to make a play on the ball, even if he is beaten or assisting over the top.<\/p>\n As a coverage defender, his primary concern is nitpicky. When he is transitioning from a backpedal to a sprint or trying to change direction, his feet are a second slower than his hips. A split-second is a long time in the league, and his feet can look delayed. Below are examples of him trying to change his direction, but his feet don\u2019t move as fast as the rest of his body.<\/p>\n His smaller frame also makes him susceptible to bigger receivers bullying him at the catch point. To counter more physical receivers, he tries to catch them at the top of the route and be overly grabby. This might have worked at the college level, but the NFL won\u2019t hesitate to throw the flag when contact is initiated.<\/p>\n His tackling is prototypical of a smaller corner. You won\u2019t see him attempt a textbook tackle that drives through contact. Instead, he ankle dives or leads with his shoulder. Although his tackling is inconsistent, he has surprising pop for his size when he makes contact.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/p>\n Another one of my early \u201cguys\u201d in this year\u2019s draft class. Muhammad has surprisingly fallen under the radar despite being a star player for a blue-chip program. Whichever team drafts him will be getting immense value and an immediate contributor. He has the athleticism and the technical proficiency to be an impact player.<\/p>\n Whether it is man or zone coverage, Muhammad plays it well. His stop-start ability and burst to close on the ball allow him to maintain tight coverage at all times. I have a slight concern about a split-second delay in his lower body, but it hardly affected him. I am more concerned about how he will hold up against bigger receivers in the NFL. He has a slender frame, but he is aggressive at the catch point. However, he will need to overcome his tendency to catch receivers, which will be a flag magnet as he transitions.<\/p>\n If Mohammad gains some mass to better match up against more physical receivers, I believe he can grow into a shut-down corner. Watching him play reminds me of a young Marcus Peters. The ability to play the ball aggressively, while also taking risks, will make him a player to avoid in coverage.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Endured another injury scare<\/a> against Arizona State but returned to the game (2024)
\u2013 Missed the game against Florida after suffering a lower leg injury<\/a> in practice (2025)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Consensus 4-star that had 14 pass defenses during his senior season
\u2013 All-America and All-State Honoree
\u2013 Helped South Oak Cliff be the first inner-city Dallas school to win a state championship in decades
\u2013 Transferred to IMG Academy for his junior season, but transferred back to win a title for his community
\u2013 Multi-sport athlete who also participated in Basketball and Track
\u2013 PR triple jump of 43\u2032 6.5\u2033
\u2013 Initially majored in International Business before switching to \u201cPhysical Culture and Sports\u201d
\u2013 Plans to enter real estate after his professional career
\u2013 Interested in opening his own franchised restaurants
\u2013 Believes he would have gone pro in baseball or basketball
\u2013 Cousins with Jabbar Muhammad (Jaguars), A.J Green (Dolphins), and Billy Walton III (Oklahoma State)
\u2013 Enjoys playing pick-up basketball as a hobby
\u2013 Pre-game meal is spaghetti, with salad, cornbread, and Trolli candy<\/p>\n