Summary

Riley Moss was selected in Round 3 (#83 Overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. In the Hawkeyes’ pro-style defensive system, Moss finished his college career with 11 interceptions, 26 passes defended, and 155 total tackles, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors. In the NFL through the 2024 season, he has appeared in 20+ NFL games, recording multiple pass breakups, tackles, and coverage snaps both outside and in sub-packages. Moss is regarded as a high-character, team-first professional who is praised for preparation habits, toughness, coachability, and steady demeanor. He fits the profile of a reliable worker who improves consistently with reps.

Strengths

• Instincts & Technique: Strong recognition and anticipation of route concepts and QB intent. Plays with patience and disciplined footwork.

• Zone Coverage Awareness: Excellent spacing, leverage discipline, and timing driving on throws. Quick diagnosis helps compensate for non-elite athletic traits.

• Ball Skills: Natural hands and tracking allows him to play the ball like a former receiver.

• Disruptor: Confident, tough, and willing to challenge bigger receivers. Effective using positioning rather than raw physical dominance.

Weaknesses

• Top-End Speed: Not an elite recovery athlete and can be stressed vertically. Must win with eyes and technique, leaving far less room for mistakes.

• Man Coverage: Can struggle to stay attached to sudden separators. More effective in off/zone than pure press-man consistently.

• Explosive Transition: Not as twitchy flipping hips against sharp-breaking routes.

• Flag Magnet: Consistently leads the league in pass interference calls.

Outlook

Moss fits best in Denver as a zone-match / off-man boundary corner, where his instincts, ball skills, and recognition can be maximized without overexposing him to repeated pure-speed isolation assignments. He is well suited for systems that value pattern reading, disciplined leverage, and breaking on the football, making him a strong complement to elite man defenders like Pat Surtain II. His style allows the defense to lean into disguised coverages while Moss plays “top-down” and drives on intermediate throws. Unfortunately for Moss, Vance Joseph likes to call plenty of Man coverages, leaving him on an island to get picked on and draw flags on a routine basis. Looking ahead, Moss projects as a high-floor CB2/CB3 with starting potential, especially in defenses that emphasize structure and vision. While he may never profile as a true “erase-speed” corner, his processing and ball production traits give him a clear path to becoming a dependable starter who can generate turnovers when quarterbacks test him. If his man technique and press comfort continue to develop, Moss can become a long-term starter-level outside corner with strong value in a modern coverage unit.