Home / Sports / Patriots Draft Raw Cornerback Prunty
Patriots Draft Raw Cornerback Prunty
6 Jun
Summary
- Prunty brings extensive college experience across five different programs.
- He offers strong athletic tools but raw fundamentals for the NFL.
- Prunty signed a four-year contract with the Patriots through 2029.
The New England Patriots selected Karon Prunty, a cornerback from Wake Forest, in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding depth to their cornerback group. Prunty's college career was extensive, spanning 57 games and 3,596 snaps across five different institutions, including Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina A&T, and Wake Forest.
Prunty is noted for his impressive athletic profile, standing at 6'1 1/2" with a 4.45 40-yard dash time. Scouts highlight his size, length, speed, and active hands. However, his game is described as raw, with areas for improvement in tackling and route-running penalties.
He recorded 13 starts for Wake Forest in 2025, contributing to their secondary and earning third-team All-ACC honors. Prunty also signed a four-year contract worth $4.81 million, with his 2026 cap hit being $991,837.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Prunty is expected to serve as a backup perimeter cornerback and potential special teams contributor. Despite being older than many rookies at 24, he has room to grow into a rotational player.
