Charles Lester III CB Florida State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #4 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #4 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
67.9 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 95.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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68% |
| Run Defense: |
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63% |
| Coverage: |
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65% |
| Zone: |
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64% |
| Man/Press: |
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64% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#820
Position rank:
#91 (DB)
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| College Games: 18 College Snaps: 246 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Frye - Texas Tech |
|
89% |
| Armani Chatman - North Carolina |
|
82% |
| Amechi Uzodinma II - Ball State |
|
82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Charles Lester III played at Riverview High School before moving to Venice High School in Florida for his senior year, when he made 50 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups plus a blocked field goal as Venice reached the Class 4S state final. As a junior he played both ways, catching 41 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns. Recruiting services rated him a four-star or five-star cornerback, and he picked Florida State over Colorado.Lester kept his redshirt in 2024, making three tackles across four appearances. He was arrested in Manatee County on a DUI charge in February 2025 and released on a $500 bond, with no team punishment reported. He made four tackles that fall while playing mostly on special teams.
Lester has been the backup left cornerback behind Ja'Bril Rawls this season, posting four tackles against Central Arkansas, breaking up a pass against Virginia and adding three tackles and a hurry in the loss to Clemson on 31 October. Mike Norvell said in April that his time had come.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Allowed only four catches for 40 yards on six targets this season
- Broke up a pass in limited snaps against Virginia
- Good speed for an outside cornerback, which helps him recover in coverage
- Former elite recruit who played both ways in high school
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Backup role, with 126 defensive snaps in six games
- DUI arrest in February 2025 will need explaining to teams
- Has never started a game in three college seasons
- Missed a tackle and gave up a 19-yard catch at Miami
- Saw only special teams duty and spot snaps in 2025
Scouting Report: Summary
Lester is a former top recruit with good speed and length who has yet to win a starting job at Florida State. In limited snaps this season he has been sound in coverage, allowing four catches for 40 yards.However, he has played only 126 snaps this season and has never started a college game. His DUI arrest in 2025 is also something teams will look into.
Overall, Lester has the physical tools of a starter but almost no production. He projects as a priority free agent and needs another season to show what he can do.
How other scouting services rate Charles Lester III (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
469.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
101.0
*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.