The most demanding defensive position in the NFL today is cornerback. Pro cornerbacks have to be the finest athletes on the field to match up with the fast big receivers that are in vogue in today's NFL.

The Draft each April produces the most draft selections from the defensive back group and last spring saw 45 prospects selected over the two-day event. The cornerback class annually leads this group and is especially evident early in the draft process with many prime picks. Last spring five first-round picks were cornerbacks.

This position requires a special athlete who combines speed, quickness, agility and toughness. He must be able to battle bigger wideouts for the jump ball and also be quick enough to break up plays underneath. He also has to have the speed to match the fast receivers stride-for-stride in deep patterns after starting with a backpedal technique. In addition, he has to take on pulling guards on sweeps and bring down bigger running backs on the outside. This is a tough task for any player which explains why some of the best athletes on the field man this key position.

It has become one of the premier positions in the NFL Draft which explains its high demand on draft day. This spring's NFL Draft will also see a high number of picks especially in the early rounds as clubs look to top athletes at this position to stop the high-powered pro passing games.

More Draft analysis

Ohio State's Ahmed Plummer is the top cornerback prospect. (Allsport)

1. Ahmed Plummer, Ohio State
Senior, 6-1, 190
Big athletic cornerback has developed into another top Buckeye cover man who is ready for the pro ranks. His size, speed and agility have labeled him a blue chip prospect going into the postseason.

2. Mark Roman, Louisiana State
Senior, 5-11, 185
Quick versatile defensive back has performed well this season on the corner for the Tigers. He gets a quick break on the ball in coverage to play man to man defense.

3. Dwayne Goodrich, Tennessee
Senior, 5-11, 190
Sturdy athletic defender has had an erratic senior year after opening the season as the highest rated corner in this class.

4. Lloyd Harrison, North Carolina State
Senior, 5-10, 190
Speedy senior defender has been one of the premier ball hawks in the nation over the past few seasons combining athleticism with savvy and experience.

5. Mario Edwards, Florida State
Senior, 6-0, 185
Big agile senior cornerback combines all the tools pro scouts look for on the outside in a cover man. He has struggled this season in technique and needs a big postseason to reestablish a high rating.

6. David Macklin, Penn State
Senior, 5-9, 185
Quick senior corner has been an unsung performer in the tough Nittany Lion defense. He combines the speed, quickness and agility to play man coverage at the next level.

Miami's Leonard Myers is a top cover corner. (AP)

7. Leonard Myers, Miami (Fla.)
Junior, 5-11, 190
Tough junior cornerback has been one of the better cover men in the east over the past few seasons. He is quick in coverage and a sound tackler in run support.

8. Sedrick Curry, Texas A&M
Senior, 6-1, 190
Lanky senior defender has developed nicely the past few seasons for the Aggies. He displays good matchup skills with adequate speed to cover deep.

9. Brian Gray, Brigham Young
Senior, 6-1, 210
Big versatile defender has been a top performer for the Cougars secondary over the past two seasons. His size and athleticism will warrant a look first on the corner as a pro.

10. David Barrett, Arkansas
Senior, 5-10, 190
Aggressive senior corner has been a steady member of the Hogs tough defense the past two seasons. He is one of the stronger tacklers in this class and also has good cover skills.

11. Ralph Brown, Nebraska
Senior, 5-10, 185
Tough compact senior cornerback has been a four-year starter for Nebraska. He shows the agility to play man coverage despite only marginal speed.

12. Robert Bean, Mississippi State
Senior, 5-11, 175
Quick senior corner has been a stellar performer for the tough Bulldog defense the past few seasons. He shows a quick burst to the ball and good ball reactions.

Coyle, a full-time NFL scout, has published Draft Insiders' Digest, an NFL Draft and free agency publication for the last 9 years.

He attends practices, games and individual workouts across the country as well as breaking down game films to study the nation's top players. He writes for numerous pro weeklies on the NFL Draft and free agency in addition to game matchups and player profiles.

Coyle attends NFL mini-camps in May and June and numerous training camps throughout the summer. He is a frequent guest on sports talk shows from coast-to-coast, and has also been a personnel consultant to several NFL teams in recent years.