INDIANAPOLIS – Defensive back after defensive back touted his versatility when he got a chance to advertise his skills at the NFL scouting combine.
The more you can do, they all said.
Included in that is an ability to play the league’s rising position: nickel.
“The nickel is becoming more of a linebacker,” Robert Saleh said. “Obviously you would love one like the kid in Seattle (Nick Emmanwori), just a big kid that can play versus 11, 12, 21, it doesn’t matter. He can play anything, he’s a hybrid, he’s a linebacker and a nickel all at the same time.
"When you look at those nickels and it’s third -and-5, game on the line, can they win one-on-one in the slot? Can they fit the run and make tackles at the line of scrimmage? So they are all encompassing, they are kind of becoming more and more of a hybrid in this modern NFL."
Over the last four seasons, defenses have aligned in nickel or dime personnel on more than 73 percent of snaps, according to Sumer Sports. Nickel alone has hovered around the mid-60s league-wide, with dime making up most of the rest. There was a slight downtick last year as offenses leaned back into more two-tight-end sets.
The Titans played multiple nickels in 2025. Roger McCreary was a pure slot corner. Kevin Winston was a safety pressed into the role. Marcus Harris handled it late. Saleh is the Titans’ new defensive-minded coach. Winston and Harris remain. Neither are traditional linebackers, but the position now demands linebacker instincts — not linebacker build.
Winston in line to start at safety beside Amani Hooker now, and Harris is the top returning corner in a depleted group.
The Titans are in the market for a whole new batch of corners. Whether their nickel comes in as a college corner or not is a question, but that’s the most likely source. They are more likely to find linebacker mentality than linebacker size.
Saleh is so intent on getting good play out of the position, he's hired Dalton Hilliard as defensive backs/nickel coach, to go with Tony Oden as corners coach and Marquand Manuel as safeties coach.
Avieon Terrell of Clemson is likely the best slot corner in the draft, who won’t be worth No. 4 but is unlikely to last to No. 35.
Keionte Scott of Miami, D’Angelo Ponds of Indiana and Chandler Rivers of Duke and could all be attractive options for the position
"This group of corners is pretty good, but what separates me is I'm versatile," Scott said. "I can play corner, nickel, safety, dime, dollar. It's my IQ, my instincts, me being a technician, my communication skills on the field. Then you've always got to play with effort and an ability to finish."
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s write-up of Scott, who is 6-0, 195, makes him sound like an ideal target.
“Scott’s play style and tackle production resemble that of a Will linebacker. He’s edgy and urgent near the line with an ability to slip or play off of blocks. He can snuff out run plays before they get started. Scott lacks ball production due to inconsistent break anticipation and route squeeze, but he can twitch-and-trigger to close windows, wrap and finish.”
Scott’s got to react to routes and play tighter coverage, but he’s already projected as a late second or early third round pick.
Keionte Scott is a fun nickel to study.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 22, 2025
Extremely disruptive at the LOS due to his speed, balance and competitive toughness. Has been playing at this level all season for Miami. pic.twitter.com/W2ac3OBYSi
Top corners in the draft like Jermod McCoy and Mansor Delane are skilled at covering inside, but it’s unlikely they’d be full-time nickels.
Arizona State’s 6-2, 204 Genesis Smith is instinctive, “with the eyes to digest route development while reading the quarterback like a poker player looking for tells,” Zeirlein said. Bleacher Report’s scouting views him as “a tight-end 
eraser.”
He looks like a Day Three player.
He certainly has a feel for what’s asked of the nickel spot in the league now.
“I feel like it’s a key to defenses at times, being able to keep your nickel on the field and stay in two-high safety,” Smith said, “You’re able to disguise more as a defense and that is something that you’ve got to key into.
“Being able to do that when teams get into 12 and 13 personnel, you’ve got to have a guy who’ll still be able to fit the run, and do different things, get off blocks, set the edge and things like that. That’s a key defender to have on the team.”