Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Muhammad was a three-star recruit from DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas in the class of 2020

Oregon Ducks cornerback Jabbar Muhammad projects as a slot option at the next level. He overcomes some physical limitations with his football IQ, change of direction, and impact at the catch point. Muhammad could easily slip to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he received a third round grade in my process.

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Jabbar Muhammad, CB Oregon: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year senior outside cornerback from DeSoto, Texas

Background: Muhammad was a three-star recruit from DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,043 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,064 for On3.com. Muhammad was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 76 grade out of 100. He originally played for Oklahoma State before transferring to Washington for the 2023 season. Muhammad transferred from Washington to Oregon for the 2024 campaign. He lettered for three seasons in high school. According to MaxPreps, Muhammad recorded 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception, 13 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery as a senior. As a junior, he totaled 32 tackles, five interceptions, 18 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Muhammad was a First Team All-District 7-6A selection that year. Muhammad also participated on the track and field team as a sprinter. He’s from a family of football players. His father, Elijah Muhammad Sr., played football at East Texas State. Jabbar’s brother, E.J., played safety for Nevada and his other brother, Khairi, played safety for North Texas. He is cousins with former Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green, who played with the Cleveland Browns from 2020-23. Muhammad was born on Dec. 28, 2001.

Injuries & Off-Field: Exited game late vs. Texas (2023) with an upper body injury, suffered an upper body injury vs. Michigan (2023)

Awards: 2023 Second Team All-Pac-12, 2023 First Team All-Pac-12 (Associated Press)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units, cut down on penalties in 2024, experience operating in the slot and out wide, agility, sharp change of direction, low backpedal, quick footwork, rarely caught flat-footed, footwork helps mirror releases in press, some special mirror-and-match reps in press, plays leverage to drive receivers into help coverage, impressive usage of leverage on out-breaking routes, locks down intermediate routes in off-man, COD allows for him to mirror receivers on fakes and double moves, stays attached on whip route, reaccelerates to match stutter-goes, quick to plant back foot and drive on short routes, closing burst to undercut out-breaking routes, quick to gear down and remain attached on comebacks and curls, smooth transitions between threats in zone coverage, reads the QB’s eyes to anticipate throws and choke throwing lanes, high points the ball well, leaping ability makes up for some of his small stature, crowds the receiver at the catch point, rakes the ball out from behind the receiver on comebacks and curls, gets hand on the ball and knocks it out of the receiver’s hands constantly, makes diving plays on the ball, willing run defender, quick to recognize and attack screens

Cons: Penalized five times in 2023, age, undersized, questionable arm length, short-strider, open hips early, slight hitch in hip swivels, frame is a limiting factor in press coverage, underdeveloped jams, inconsistent mirroring releases in press, needs to compress outside releases along the sideline more often, occasionally loose with man coverage on slants, lacks elite recovery speed to establish positioning on crossers, allows massive cushion in off-man, lacks elite long speed, size limits him vs. larger receivers, motor in run defense runs hot and cold, play strength limits ability to contribute in run defense, poor ability to stack and shed, gets stuck on stalk blocks, easily blocked on several WR screens vs. USC (2023), drops head and dives for tackles, wrap and drag tackler at the legs

Overview: Muhammad has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units. He’s taken snaps out wide and in the slot during his college career but primarily plays outside. He’s even taken a few snaps as a single-high safety in Cover 1 or dropped back into a two-high safety role. Muhammad has experience playing Cover 1, Cover 2, Cover 3, and Cover 5 in a mix of man and zone responsibilities depending on the situation. He is an older, undersized prospect with limited arm length and shorter than average strides. Muhammad makes up for his lack of size-based traits with his agility and sharp change of direction. He sits low in his backpedal and uses his quick footwork to mirror-and-match releases in press-man. There’s a slight hitch when Muhammad swivels his hips. He changes directions well to mirror routes and remain sticky in coverage despite this hip tightness and its impact on his transitions. Muhammad’s frame limits his physicality in press coverage, and his jam technique needs work. He puts some incredible reps mirroring and matching releases on tape but suffers from inconsistencies in this area. Sometimes, he allows separation while in press and needs to work overtime to get back into phase. The fifth-year senior can improve in man coverage by driving outside releases into the sideline and playing tighter coverage against slants. He lacks the elite recovery speed to chase down receivers, which leads to him allowing a lot of cushion in off-man. He’s comfortable playing inside leverage on go routes in a half-turn with his back to the receiver. Muhammad’s change of direction helps him stay in phase against double moves and mirror whip routes. He quickly gears down at the top of the stem for comebacks and curls but can also reaccelerate to match stutter-goes. Muhammad has mastered using leverage to eliminate throwing lanes and maximize his help coverage. He clicks and closes quickly and has the burst to undercut in or out-breaking routes. The former All-Pac-12 selection smoothly sorts through threats in zone coverage and uses the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate throws. His size limits him at the catch point, but his vertical leap and ability to high point the ball help him crowd receivers. He constantly rakes the receiver’s hands to strip away would-be receptions. Muhammad recognizes and attacks screens but lacks the mass to stack and shed stalk blocks. He’s usually a willing run defender, but his motor varies in this area. He misses diving tackles and has to rely on dragging down ball carries.

Overall, Muhammad’s size, lack of elite speed, and struggles in run defense won’t make him for everyone, but his mirroring, change of direction, football IQ, and competitiveness at the catch point make him one of the best slot options in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Role & Scheme Fit: Nickel in a Cover 1-heavy scheme

Round Grade: Third Round

Size: 5'10", 185 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-16-24

Updated: 11-06-24