NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for North Carolina CB Thaddeus Dixon

Thaddeus Dixon's versatility stood out while he played for Steve Belichick at both of his Division I stops.

Dixon played every defensive back role possible and showcased his instincts and quick trigger to close on route concepts and catch points alike. He's not the longest corner in the draft, but he knows how to use his length through the route and to disrupt passes.

The 3-star JUCO prospect and Washington recruit played in some high-stakes games for the Huskies before he finished his collegiate career at Chapel Hill. Across his three seasons, he accumulated 88 tackles (59 solo), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 22 passes defensed.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Where He Wins

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— Highly versatile corner with experience playing on the boundary, in the nickel and at safety. Can execute a multitude of coverage techniques and schemes, but excels in Cover 3.

— Strong eye discipline and instincts. Consistently recognizes route concepts and passes off when he needs to, while using his downhill burst to close on throws and disrupt the catch point.

— Anticipates well at the top of routes and can decelerate with good hip sink to stay in phase. Consistently hand-fights in man coverage to throw off timing.

— Always looks to get his head around to locate the football. Ball tracking puts him position to use his length and make plays on the ball.

Areas of Improvement

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— Footwork in man coverage tends to get outside his frame, making it easier for receivers to stack him vertically. Lacks recovery speed, making it difficult to make up for footwork inconsistencies.

— Ball skills and catching technique are hit-or-miss. Could turn many of his passes defensed into turnovers by shoring them up.

— Poor run defender who takes aggressive pursuit angles and often misses tackles because of them. Needs to work on consistently wrapping up, breaking down before a tackle and taking cleaner angles.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.5 (Role Player/Part-Time Contributor — 4th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State (6.8 in 2025), CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan (6.9 in 2024), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama (6.8 in 2022)

OVERALL RANK: 168

POSITION RANK: CB25

PRO COMPARISON: Tyrique Stevenson

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 
Hand Size: 10"
Arm Length: 31 ⅛"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: N/A
10-yard split: N/A
Vertical: 39.5"
Broad: 10'5"
3 cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Bench: N/A