NFL Draft
4/3/25
4 min read
Robert Longerbeam 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Rutgers Scarlet Knights CB
Height: 5110 (verified)
Weight: 175lbs (verified)
Year: Redshirt Senior
Pro Comparison: Jimmy Moreland
Scouting Overview
Rutgers Scarlet Knights cornerback Robert Longerbeam projects as a depth defender and potential special teams contributor at the NFL level.
Longerbeam is sorely undersized for playing on the perimeter but has significant special teams experience, good speed, and good instincts as an all-around defender — as evidenced by his career ball production as a coverage player and a tackler.
The Rutgers staff widely applauds Longerbeam for his football character; he is the kind of player you want in your locker room.
2025 NFL Combine Results
| Position | Name | School | 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump | 3-Cone Drill | 20-Yard Shuttle | Bench Press |
| CB | Robert Longerbeam | Rutgers | 4.39 | 1.5 | 134 | 36.5 |
Positives
- Good career ball production with turnovers forced as a cover defender and tackler
- Has excellent recovery speed on the perimeter to close with the ball in the air
- Showcases good foot speed from off coverage to trigger and drive on throws in front of his face
Negatives
- Stature creates conflict for coaches trying to get him on the field — size limits outside outlook and would be a tough sell in the nickel
- Grabby and competitive as he tries to make up for physical downside — flagged 12 total times in the last two seasons
- Can be overwhelmed and stacked vertically when trying to play physical in phase
Background
Longerbeam is from Alexandria, VA, and played high school football for TC Williams HS. There, he also ran track in addition to his efforts on the gridiron. As a 3-star recruit, Longerbeam enrolled at Rutgers as a member of the school’s 2020 recruiting class. He played in five games during the 2020 season but retained his fourth year of college eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Longerbeam will be a 24-year-old rookie who turns 25 in mid-January of 2026.
In 2021, Longerbeam played in all 13 games with one start, which came in the bowl game. In 2022, he started six of his 10 appearances in the season. By 2023, he was a full-time starter, and he finished his career at Rutgers with 31 starts in 53 games. Longerbeam was twice named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
Tale Of The Tape
Longerbeam is a plus athlete who offers good energy and instincts to his new team. He’s produced a lot of ball production in the way of pass coverage and forced fumbles while serving as primarily an outside cornerback. However, his size profile creates a conflict that may limit his upside and make him a matchup-specific player.
In coverage, Longerbeam is most effective with zone coverage opportunities to use his vision and transitional quickness to attack targets. He has the foot speed to stop quickly and redirect while also possessing good short-area explosiveness.
He’ll need every bit of it with his weight and frame. As a space player, Longerbeam does check the box. He can be less sturdy in man coverage, both at the top of routes and when trying to defend against vertical shots. As a press or bump player in the contact window, he’ll transition well enough into playing in phase, but he’s often bumped or stacked on the outside and dislodged by hand fighting or subtle contact.
Longerbeam has sufficient length but should not be considered a viable press corner option on the perimeter at the NFL level. He could slot inside against nickel receivers, but he is missing the appeal as a support player in the run game to live in the nickel full-time.
Further complicating matters is his lack of work there at Rutgers — he’s taken 100 snaps in the nickel in the last two seasons combined.
His size also creates challenges as a tackler. Longerbeam averaged a 17.5 percent missed tackle rate throughout his college career, and his functional strength in all phases is generally limiting. Can he add weight? How much would it compromise his burst and speed?
Longerbeam does boast extensive special teams experience, with more than 400 career snaps in the third phase of the game. He’s taken more than 70 reps on kickoff and punt coverage, setting the table for him to potentially steal reps there as well and fortify his rosterability and game-day status.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Longerbeam projects as a developmental nickel corner and special teams contributor.
He’s a coverage-flexible talent who could be considered a viable option for most coverage types thanks to his foot speed and recovery burst, but he’ll likely be a matchup-specific talent due to his size unless he can add weight effectively.
Grade: 69.00/100.00, Sixth Round Value
Big Board Rank: 241
Position Rank: CB27
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