Cai Bates CB Wisconsin |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
66.3 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 87.6 | |
| Tackling: |
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50% |
| Run Defense: |
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62% |
| Coverage: |
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55% |
| Zone: |
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57% |
| Man/Press: |
|
56% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#922
Position rank:
#101 (DB)
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| College Games: 7 College Snaps: 64 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sevyn Banks - LSU |
|
83% |
| Justin Ford - Montana |
|
82% |
| Isaac Taylor-Stuart - USC |
|
70% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Cai Bates intercepted seven passes and broke up 13 more during his career at Edgewater High School in Orlando, and on offense he caught 36 passes for 621 yards. The 247Sports Composite ranked him 87th nationally and eighth among cornerbacks, and he competed for the basketball and track teams too.Bates signed with Florida State and redshirted in 2024, recording his first college tackle at Notre Dame. Over seven appearances in 2025 he worked largely in the kicking game and made one more tackle.
Wisconsin landed Bates on 5 January 2026, and he arrived with three seasons left to play. He competed for the second cornerback spot in camp but did not win it, and he has appeared in two games this season. His lone stop came against Western Illinois on 13 September. He remains a developmental piece for the Badgers, who list him as a redshirt sophomore.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Former top-100 recruit with the height teams want outside
- Good speed that lets him carry receivers down the field
- Intercepted seven passes during his high school career
- Caught passes on offense in high school, which shows in his hands
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has appeared in only two games for Wisconsin this season
- Two career tackles in three seasons at two Power Four schools
- Never started a game at Florida State or Wisconsin
- Did not win the open cornerback job in fall camp
- No meaningful defensive snaps for scouts to study on tape
Scouting Report: Summary
Bates was a highly rated recruit with good size, speed and ball skills. He intercepted seven passes in high school and has the frame NFL teams look for on the outside.However, he has seen almost no action in college, with two tackles across three seasons, and he has appeared in only two games for Wisconsin. Scouts have nothing meaningful to evaluate yet.
Overall, Bates is a developmental cornerback who still has to earn a defensive role. He projects as a priority free agent for now, though Wisconsin should get more years from him.
How other scouting services rate Cai Bates (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
463.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
99.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.