NFL scouts know their team likely isn’t getting a finished product, even in the first round of the NFL Draft. That’s why teams like to “bet on traits” as the saying goes. “Toolsy” prospects often go higher in the draft because NFL coaches can teach technique, not size and movement.
That’s why you’ll see East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel go early on draft night. Our Shavon Revel scouting report dives into the toolsiest defensive prospect in the draft, his strengths, areas of improvement, and NFL Draft projection.
Shavon Revel Scouting Report
Size: 6’3″, 193 pounds (Unverified)
Key Stat: Fifth in havoc rate (pass breakups + interceptions) among college cornerbacks; three of top six drafted in 2024, including two in first round (Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell)
Projected Role: Starting corner in man or zone scheme
Also See: Top 300 Prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
Strengths:
- Elite size/length (Reported 80-inch wingspan)
- Fluid mover for size
- Long-strider with verified 4.4 speed
- Explosive athlete (11′ broad jump)
- Mirrors well in man coverage, high I.Q. in zone coverage
- Solid production (12 pass breakups, three interceptions in 15 starts)
- Willing tackler in run game
- Special teams experience (punt/kick return/coverage; multiple field goal blocks)
Areas to Improve:
- Lacks upper body mass needed to jam receivers
- Okay ball skills, limited turnover production (12 PBUs to three interceptions)
- Scary injury history (Broken fingers, skull fracture, broken collarbone in high school; torn ACL in Sept. 2024)
- Occasionally slow to react when working towards quarterback
Ceiling: Lockdown corner
Floor: Defensive back limited to cover 3 and quarters coverage who needs safety help
MORE: Scouting the Top 100 Prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
Shavon Revel NFL Draft Outlook
I’m not burying the lede here. Shavon Revel is my top pure corner and would likely be ahead of Travis Hunter if a team picked Hunter to play only on the defensive side of the ball.
Aside from a lengthy injury history highlighted by two freak accidents, every one of Revel’s areas of improvement are areas that he can actually improve with some coaching. Revel has been a full-time defensive back for two years after playing both sides of the ball in high school and just 25 defensive snaps as a freshman.
He also missed the last nine games of 2024, meaning he’s only played 864 defensive snaps at the college level. To play at such a high level with so little experience is no easy feat and something that should have any NFL team with faith in its secondary coach to run to the podium.
It’s a real shame we’re unlikely to see Revel participate at the NFL Combine, because he’d steal the show if so. Revel earned his East Carolina scholarship by shocking the Pirates’ coaching staff with a 4.4 40 and 11-foot broad jump. That’s in addition to his 80-inch wingspan and 6’3″ frame.
Revel will likely add mass to get to a play weight of a little over 200 pounds. That should allow him to have more strength and balance in press coverage and against the run.
He flashes ball skills to convert potential pass deflections into interceptions, but his first career pick didn’t come until his twelfth start. Including a leaping pick in the 2023 season finale, Revel had three interceptions in his final four games before the torn ACL.
If you’re putting everything together, you’ll see that everything he’s struggled with in the past he either has already improved or can improve with some coaching.
Coaches can’t teach players to grow to Revel’s size and length, get to his speed, or learn his leaping ability. His natural talent breaks the scale of what we think we know about defensive backs.
Add that he’s a fluid movement with shockingly smooth hips and you’ve got a lab-built corner.
I think NFL teams would like to see him test in front of their own eyes, so I’m interested to see if he’ll be ready for a late-spring Pro Day. If not, it shouldn’t matter.
His technique has already improved and should continue to improve over the next few years. Assuming a team is willing to put in the work, I think they’ll be handsomely rewarded.
Bottom Line: Shavon Revel’s inexperience and technical missteps might look on the surface like they’d hurt his stock, but the fact that he’s been so effective off of pure athleticism and natural talent points to his ceiling.
His extensive special teams experience should raise his floor, and if an NFL team can take advantage of his length, explosiveness, and speed he has the chance to be an elite corner in the pros.
Draft Projection: Round 1
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