So far, hes allowed all of 11 catches while he himself has hauled in three interceptions, including a pick-six against Seattle. Casey Hayward, Las Vegas Raiders 17. Griffin has earned overall grades of 50.7, 78.0 and 64.6 in the past three seasons. This final spot was hotly contested between Stevenson, TCU's TreVius Hodges-Tomlinson, and Stanford's Kyu Blu Kelly. slot coverage grade then tanked nearly 40 grading points year-over-year to 50.2. Callahan was in the conversation for the best slot corner in the NFL a handful of years ago. This thread is archived . The Rank value requires a minimum number of snaps played. The Red Joker is a standard wild; however, the Golden Joker gives you a compounding 2x multiplier. The only reason hes not higher is due to a lack of snaps (only 199 coverage snaps this season), but hes been fantastic this year for the Patriots. One of the emerging stars of the 2022 season, Tyson Campbell has developed into one of the best overall cornerbacks in the league after a rough rookie campaign. Rhodes will look to continue to build on that success on another one-year deal with the team in 2021. He didn't enjoy much success, as he earned single-season PFF grades below 60.0 each year. This pick by Storm Duck is still mind-blowing ???????? Excited to watch @TCUFootball CB Noah Daniels (@NoahDB21) vs. Texas Tech today. Despite being drafted in the top five back in 2018 and playing on a team generating plenty of buzz heading into the 2021 season, Ward is often overlooked as one of the NFLs top cornerbacks. While the 2022 NFL draft cornerback class was top-heavy, the depth wasnt anything special. Lattimores PFF grade has fallen from 86.1 as a rookie to 77.5 (2018), 65.6 (2019) and 59.1 (2020) in the three years since 2017. These are the top-performing cornerbacks so far according to PFFs coverage grading. This year, hes back at his best though with the Jets. He is as fluid and explosive as any cornerback in the country. PFF brings you data-driven NFL rankings, stats, and player grades for every team and player in the National Football League. Saints' rookie Chauncey Gardner-Johnson reads Matt Ryan's eyes and peels off his man to snag the INT. Verrett exceeded all expectations in his return from a string of injuries last season for San Francisco. Yet another Patriots corner who isnt allowing first downs. The steady veteran presence that he should bring will be important for a secondary that will likely start two cornerbacks under the age of 24 alongside him. Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts 13. ???? Wards dominance in single coverage (96th percentile grade since 2018) has been particularly noteworthy. Theres some major durability concern for Callahan as he enters his early 30s, but the good news is that hes in a system that fits his skill set. He unsurprisingly leads the NFL with 14 coverage stops, as well. He still has three interceptions on the season, and opposing quarterbacks are still mindful of where he is at all times. Over the past four weeks, Ward has allowed only 9-of-15 targets to be hauled in for 80 yards with zero touchdowns and a pick. Here are the best and the worst from Sunday's win. His 71.5 overall grade in 2020 was his highest single-season mark since back in 2017 with the Broncos. Still, his 46.2 passer rating when targeted is far and away the best of his career. Notre Dame freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison is going to be a popular player on the postseason lists for rookies, and it begins with Pro Football Focus naming him to their All-True Freshman team. If you take away a disastrous 2019 season with the Philadelphia Eagles in which he earned just a 44.8 overall grade, Darby has graded above 68.0 overall since being drafted in 2015. In case you havent been paying attention to Tyrique Stevenson since he opted for UGA two years ago, hes still really good. Last year, it was Houstons Marcus Jones and the year before, it was Florida State's Asante Samuel Jr. Quarterbacks were generating a 58.2 passer rating when targeting him, and he had six pass breakups in eight games while not allowing a touchdown on 286 coverage snaps. It shouldnt come as a shock if he wins that starting job and rebounds from a down 2020 season. Here are the NFL's best slot cornerbacks heading into the 2022 NFL season. Playing for the Browns, the former Ferris State UDFA logged just 237 snaps. He has picked up coverage grades between 70.4 and 72.4 every season, gradually increasing his playing time each year. Hes once again allowing a completion percentage against right around 50.0%, as hes yielded 19-of-37 targets so far for 293 yards. In seven games, hes allowed only 143 yards. Hes already mastered the art of initiating contact with receivers without drawing a flag, which is why he allowed only 15 of his 32 targets to be caught for 184 yards and a 36.5 passer rating in his first season as a starter in 2021. The perception of Rhodes is much different this offseason than it was at this time a year ago following a bounceback season for the Colts in 2020. He has quick feet, attacks the ball well, good feel for the game, under control movements. He had spent the vast majority of his time in the slot across the first four years of his NFL career, even dabbling at safety with the Chiefs in 2019. (@Bdizzle_U_G_A) January 24, 2022. If it werent for the Cowboys game where Alexander got toasted following around Amari Cooper all game, Alexander may very well be tops on this list. He might not be the flashiest cornerback in the league, but Nelson has been incredibly productive this year. He endured these struggles while watching his former team embark on a Super Bowl run. LB Damone Clark, Dallas Cowboys (76.7) 9 on the list. But after impressing in the slot during camp, he was given the starting job and went on to lead the NFL in coverage grade for the 2021 season. After being charged with eight receptions allowed in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, Ramsey proceeded to allow just 24 receptions over the remainder of the regular season, giving upfewer than 25 receiving yards in 11 games. That year, he allowed only 25- of his 47 targets to be caught for 295 yards, which earned him an 81.3 coverage grade. Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a catch against Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) during a game at Allegiant Stadium. He wasnt traded for his on-field play. This ranking should come along with a hefty asterisk because, from a talent perspective, Daniels should rank higher on this list. He and Darrelle Revis are the only two cornerbacks with at least 250 targets since 2010 who have allowed fewer than 50% of those passes to be completed. Its too early to say Gilmore cant get back to that level, though. Not only has Gardner been the best rookie cornerback, but you can also make a case that he's been the league's best defensive back in the NFL this year. In the other eight games hes played, hes allowed just 219 yards in coverage while recording an interception. 14. Weve been breaking down a bunch of awards here at PFF as we reach the halfway point of the season. Bradberry put up solid performances against a difficult slate of NFC South cornerbacks across the first four seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers, but he took a clear step forward in his first year with the Giants last season. Jackson burst onto the scene with a 90.4 coverage grade in his first season of action back in 2017. He has allowed just 174 yards into his coverage all season. It hasnt taken Alexander very long to establish himself as one of the leagues best coverage cornerbacks. Butler had arguably his best season in coverage since his New England days last year with Tennessee. He recorded just one interception and two pass breakups on 42 targets, allowing a career-high 96.7 passer rating into his coverage. He is currently the No. But his play has been up and down over that four-year stretch. Note: This list only includes players who play mostly in the slot. PFF Editor Cam Mellor takes a granular look at the 2018 NFL Draft class at cornerback, and how each of them fared across the route tree, starting with Iowa CB Josh Jackson. Syracuse's Garrett Williams pic.twitter.com/KMRt7XidyH, Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) March 3, 2022. PFF College (@PFF_College) October 3, 2021. The three highest PFF grades of Fuller's career came with Fangio as the defensive coordinator in Chicago from 2015 to 2018. Diggs is the NFLs biggest boom-or-bust cornerback, but hes done a better job of limiting big plays this season. Top 32 cornerbacks in the NFL for the 2021 season | 11-32 11. The Patriots' secondary has been excellent this season, with both of their starting outside cornerbacks making this list. Fuller was back in Washington for the 2020 season following a two-year stint in Kansas City. Hes been thrown at only 21 times all year and has the third-highest coverage snaps per target of any corner in the league. Jones allowed 1.4 yards per coverage snap with Miami in 2020 double his 0.7 yards per coverage snap average across the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Dallas. Opposing offenses simply werent able to attack him in coverage. The Los Angeles Chargers took a good swing this offseason by bringing him on for a one-year deal worth just over $1 million. 1 cornerback in the league heading into the 2020 season, fresh off a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears 15. Hes been beaten a little more than usual with 315 yards allowed already, but Gilmore is also on pace to get his hands on more passes than ever before with three picks and seven pass breakups. According to PFF WAR, the veteran corner was the sixth-most valuable cornerback in the league over the 2015, 2017 and 2018 seasons. Comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A . Tennessees loss has turned into the Giants gain. While Hills versatility is important to the Rams, he should be playing most of his snaps on the inside and has the chance to get back to his previous elite standard in this system. White is right there with Howard as one of the best playmaking cornerbacks in the league. He is the No. Injuries held him to just over 300 snaps for San Francisco last season, but Sherman was the highest-graded cornerback in the league (90.3 overall) back in 2019. 2 overall (behind only Jalen Ramsey) and was placed in the "elite" category. He recorded coverage grades of at least 72.0 in each of his first three seasons in the league and has allowed just 51.4% of the passes thrown into his coverage to be completed. He has a chance to be one of the better slot corners in college football! Hes developed into a shutdown cornerback that teams have avoided altogether this season. He has some of the quickest feet you will ever see from a cornerback, currently ranking as the 17th-highest-graded cornerback in the NFL (75.7). Just now seeing these lists.PFF is ranking the top 32 players at each position in the NFL. Hes currently in the midst of by far the best season of his career, though. Since then, hes played only 436 snaps due to sustaining significant injuries in back-to-back seasons. Rhodes went from allowing a league-high 84.3% of the passes into his coverage to be completed in 2019 to just 50.7% in 2020 with Indianapolis. Subscribe to Sign Up 1. . Sneed is also a top run-defending cornerback, which is another reason why he makes our list. He missed all of 2019 and was limited to 1,159 snaps from 2020 through 2021 with the Denver Broncos, though he still earned a top-five coverage grade over that span. Its part of what makes identifying the leagues best at the position so challenging. After his rookie season in 2011, Harris hasnt had a single season where hes allowed a passer rating over 90.0. No cornerback in the NFL is more physical than Ramsey, and hes been excellent as a run defender this season (third-highest run-defense grade among cornerbacks). He leads the league averaging only .64 yards per coverage snap allowed, and opposing quarterbacks are completing under 50% of their passes when targeting Nelson. His aggression will burn him on occasion, but you cant say that Peters doesnt make up for it with the positives he brings to the table. Hes uber-competitive and willing to stick his nose in the fight wherever it may be, as his 59 solo tackles last season were the 12th-most among all cornerbacks and seventh-most when isolating solely outside cornerbacks. Hes also given up 60-plus yards in three of the Panthers seven games this season already, though. It seems like theres a cornerback every year who lacks size but makes up for it with big-time skill. Tier 1: Elite 1. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. The second New York Jets cornerback to make the list, Reed has been incredible opposite of Sauce Gardner. Williams career trajectory is very similar to Dean's in that he graded exceptionally well in a limited role in 2019 and didnt take any sort of step back in a full-time starting job this past season. The last year was a nightmare for Hill. G Cordell Volson, Cincinnati Bengals (76.6) Volson had his highest-graded game of the season on Sunday in a massive win over the Chiefs. Of all cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps, he ranks No. Jackson hasnt quite reached those lofty heights in the three years since, but he is coming off his best statistical season since 2017, with just 52% of the passes into his coverage being completed in 2020. Hes allowed just 258 yards on 58 targets while letting up just a 41.2 passer rating. All in all, hes been a pretty decent cornerback for the Steelers this season. Still, the sky is the limit for the former third-round pick from Mississippi State. The veteran. He also has three interceptions on the season with only one touchdown allowed. His 3,546 regular-season defensive snaps over the past four seasons are a top-10 mark at the position. 1 cornerback in the league in run-defense grade (92.0), as he is as physical as it gets on the edge. He has also really improved as a run defender, making him one of the more well-rounded cornerbacks in the league. His five-year stint with the Rams (2016-2020) was capped by a breakout campaign in which he earned an 89.2 slot coverage grade first among slot corners with 150 or more coverage snaps on a career-high 620 slot snaps. When you see him bully WRs and keep his eyes on the ball in the air, its hard not to get excited. Jones did a great deal of that work in single coverage and didnt falter. Peters is averaging the most coverage snaps between receptions of any corner in the league. Dean has the eighth-best coverage grade among qualifying cornerbacks on the season (78.1). Emerson, another rookie, has been forced to play a ton of snaps due to injuries. In that game, he allowed only two of his four targets to be caught for 25 yards, as he shut down the Buckeye receivers at the line of scrimmage frequently throughout the game. Jones is allowing only a 55.8 completion percentage in coverage, which is an excellent number for a slot corner. Nelson ranks among the top 10 cornerbacks in the league in both completion rate allowed (53.9%) and passer rating allowed (75.1) among 68 players at the position to see at least 100 targets since 2019. https://t.co/ad8iBgGI00 pic.twitter.com/HkdU0qYH7K, Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 28, 2021. He routinely draws opponents' best receiver, and as we saw last week against the Cowboys, he finds a way to make a play in the biggest moments of the game. Williams earned coverage grades above 81.0 in each of the last two years and made some remarkable plays on the ball in coverage in Brandon Staleys defense in 2020. Kohou has let up a few big plays in the passing game, but he has performed exceptionally well for a rookie undrafted free agent. Hayden never quite lived up to his draft billing in Oakland or Detroit, but hes reinvented himself as a quality slot cornerback out in Jacksonville. Carlton Davis may draw the more demanding assignments, but Dean has been just about as good as Tampa Bay could have hoped for in his role over the past two seasons. Eagles have 2 players make PFF's ranking of the top-32 cornerbacks in the NFL Glenn Erby June 8, 2022 4:33 pm ET The Eagles had several pressing needs entering free agency and the NFL draft,. All the more intriguing is that he earned an 83.1 coverage grade while playing both in the slot and outside in his first season playing cornerback as a redshirt freshman last fall. Hes allowed just 97 yards in coverage since Week 4, and opposing quarterbacks have a 44.6 passer rating when targeting him. #ShrineBowl #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/9y8ZChOVk3, Eric Galko (@EricGalko) October 9, 2021. Nelsons addition this offseason didnt draw many headlines, but its paid big dividends for the Steelers. His 71 forced incompletions since 2014 are fewer than only Darius Slay and Stephon Gilmore. He also stands out as one of the better zone-coverage cornerbacks in the NFL, ranking in the 94th percentile of all cornerbacks on such plays during the 2020 season. Year after year Hayward has been a top-10 cornerback with the Chargers. Hes competitive, smooth, trusts his eyes, confidence in his game, sticky coverage, high IQ, and is super talented! The PFF grades are reflective of that this week. . Hes tops in terms of forced incompletions, though, as hes broken up 14 passes already at the halfway point. Jackson has been one of the stingiest cornerbacks in the league on deep targets since entering the league. Here is PFF's take on the top 32 outside cornerbacks entering the 2021 NFL season, featuring stiff competition for the top spot among several players under the age of 27. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Don't be surprised if he plays much better in the second half of the season as the Ravens come out of their bye week. If Lattimores career was flipped in reverse order, theres a reasonable chance that he would be inside the top five on this list. Jones is eyeing a bounce-back season after injuring his shoulder early in 2021. As the teams big free-agent acquisition at the position, Griffin does bring plenty of experience for a younger player. But its Jonathan Jones who is ranked inside the top 10. His 17.3% forced incompletion rate ranks second among cornerbacks who have seen at least 100 targets over those two years. (not pictured) as cornerback Patrick Peterson (7) and wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) look on during the . We started to see signs of the Louisville product's playmaking ability in 2019, as his 16 forced incompletions ranked second at the position. From 2017 through 2018 with the, But the injuries started to mount. . Hes allowed only six first downs all season long and has the second most coverage stops of any corner (12). The seven touchdowns allowed into his coverage this past season were tied for second-most of any cornerback in the league. Thomas then signed with Houston and thrived as the starter. Alexander ranked No. He has graded considerably better in zone coverage than man coverage throughout his career, which could lead to an interesting fit if first-year defensive coordinator Joe Cullen brings over the man-heavy system that Baltimore employed. 25-graded cornerback on the season (71.7), but he has the 15. highest coverage grade (76.3) on the year. He allowed just 30 receiving yards on 359 coverage snaps across his final 11 games that season. 13-graded cornerback this season (76.8) and has been very solid for the Chiefs. Over the past three seasons, only Stephon Gilmore has a higher coverage grade than Hayward. #CarolinaFootball | @storm_duck @TarHeelFootball pic.twitter.com/smk6vo5evs, ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) July 31, 2020. But in 2021 free agency, he signed with the Cleveland Browns, where his slot coverage grade then tanked nearly 40 grading points year-over-year to 50.2. The veteran finished second among slot cornerbacks and 13th among all cornerbacks in WAR last season despite being tasked with much more man coverage in his first year with the Bengals. 7 coverage grade among cornerbacks this season, recording three interceptions and three pass breakups. Abrams-Draine is the always intriguing receiver-to-cornerback convert. Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon has made Pro Football Focus' third-quarter All-Pro team for his work as a kick returner. His play led to a much-deserved contract extension at the beginning of the 2021 season, giving Buffalo one of the top slot corners for the next few years. After profiling as one of the top cornerbacks in the league from 2014 to 2018, Slay has taken a noticeable step back the past two seasons. He missed all of 2019 and was limited to 1,159 snaps from 2020 through 2021 with the. NFL defenses will ask very different things of their cornerbacks, depending on the scheme they run. The Rams are struggling, but their defense has been outstanding due to the play of Ramsey, Dean has the eighth-best coverage grade among qualifying cornerbacks on the season (78.1). Another of those factors was health, as Darby played over 600 defensive snaps in 2020 for the first time in four seasons. He also owns the third-lowest missed tackle rate in zone from the slot over the last two seasons just five misses on 76 attempts. Fuller allowed just 53% of the passes into his coverage to be completed with four interceptions and nine pass breakups. Ricks has been one of the premier press cornerbacks in the country over his two seasons of college football. How could we make a top 25 list of the best cornerbacks and not include Tariq Woolen? Stevenson gets the nod simply for what he could become at his size. This transition, along with the surplus of slot-friendly skill sets, has meant that the slot cornerback position has become an afterthought. Unfortunately, Emerson is a liability as a run defender the only reason he's not ranked inside the top 20 of our list. Today, we turn our attention to what we believe is the second most valuable position on the football field. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound corner is a smooth operator in zone coverage, playing with good balance and sure-fire tackling. Jackson has allowed just five of 48 targets at that depth to be completed, tallying 11 interceptions in the process. Playing opposite Darius Slay, Bradberry has had an excellent bounce-back season with the Eagles. Johnson has shown immense growth these last couple of years. Injuries piled up, though, and he managed to play only 373 snaps. PFF College (@PFF_College) December 13, 2020. However, he was overly aggressive at times and susceptible to giving up the big play. Robey-Coleman has earned a coverage grade over 70.0 each of the past three seasons and is off to a solid start once again. Syracuse isnt a cornerback powerhouse by any means, but the Orange have something special in Williams. Young CBs rise to the top: Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardner have dominated thus far in 2022, establishing themselves as the cream of the crop at cornerback. The Rams are struggling, but their defense has been outstanding due to the play of Ramsey, Aaron Donald and Bobby Wagner. The Washington Commanders did a lot of things right on offense in their Week 13 game against the New York Giants. Along with his ability to get in his opponent's head, the Saints corner has sharp read-react ability and man coverage skills. But that shouldn't be the case, , and several notable cornerbacks including, No one has played more slot coverage snaps since 2018 than former UDFA Kenny Moore. Smith doesnt have the elite physical skill set that Jaycee Horn had before him at South Carolina or that others on this list possess, as Smith gets by with craftiness and football intelligence as much as anyone on this list. Theres no Derek Stingley Jr. or Sauce Gardner in this class yet, but Ringo comes battle-tested with a superb athletic skill set to project to the next level. He has been tested more than any other cornerback in the league since 2019, with a league-high 197 targets, but Davis has come out on top on a lot of those plays. He also ranks in at least the 87th percentile in coverage grades at both alignments. When on the field, though, Duck has the all-around blend of size and athleticism thats unmistakable at the cornerback position, as it's the type of blend that all the best man-coverage cornerbacks possess at the next level. Gilmore was comfortably the No. Theres a reason he has received plenty of interest since his release. Cornerback was a clear need for the Jaguars entering this offseason. Early 2023 NFL Draft Cornerback Rankings: Georgia's Kelee Ringo and Syracuse's Garrett Williams top the list Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) returns a interception for a touchdown Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/ZrcAiM65Qk, Robert Cardona (@CARDONAFAM29) May 2, 2022. His 10 forced incompletions are the second most of any corner in the league. Where WFT players fall on the different lists. Hes picked off nine passes over the past three seasons, and that total should be even higher, as Hadens nine dropped interceptions since 2018 are tied for the most at the position. He has the leagues best coverage grade (90.4), as he has yet to allow a touchdown this season. He did not allow a touchdown in his five starts and remains one of the league's best tackling cornerbacks. Hes never recorded a PFF grade lower than 70.0 impressive consistency for a cornerback often tasked with tough assignments and is coming off the best PFF grade since his second year in the league. He finished with a top-three slot coverage grade and allowed the fewest yards per coverage snap (0.50). No one has played more slot coverage snaps since 2018 than former UDFA Kenny Moore. Veterans still playing well: Jalen Ramsey, Stephon Gilmore and Darius Slay make the top 10 after strong campaigns to add to their already decorated resumes. Here is PFFs take on the top 32 outside cornerbacks entering the 2021 NFL season, featuring stiff competition for the top spot among several players under the age of 27. Having said that, he does need to improve at the catch point, which is where hes given up most of his downfield yardage throughout his career. Sutton has allowed three touchdowns this season, but hes recorded two interceptions and has played both in the slot and on the outside. Because of that, those 20 catches have only gone for 171 yards. One of the biggest worries about many receiver-turned-cornerbacks is the physicality aspect, but that didnt show up whatsoever on tape for Abrams-Draine, as he missed only four tackles on 46 attempts last season. Known as one of the best trash-talkers in the game, Garner-Johnson is also one of the league's best slot corners. EDIT 1: Just added the Secondary rankings as well per @HTTRDynasty, the receiving corps ranking, and the running back units ranking . His PFF grade dropped from 90.0 from 2014 to 2018 in Detroit to just 59.5 across the last two years. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner ran a laser-timed 4.35-second 40-yard dash back in high school at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge to win the Fastest Man competition. Woolen is a high-variance player, but his playmaking skills make him worthy of a spot on this list. Over the last decade, NFL teams have shifted away from base defense into nickel. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams The newly minted Super Bowl champion is not only the top cornerback in the NFL, but also one of the best football players,. The outlook isnt nearly as rosy heading into 2021 after a noticeable decline in play last season. Budget Stakes: If you're on a budget, you can . Theres no denying his ability to see the game at a high level his instincts and processing are vital traits for a slot corner, and he checks the box with flying colors. Hes allowed only 64 yards after the catch on 20 receptions, a superb figure for a slot corner. The fifth-year cornerback out of Alabama has recorded at least 800 coverage snaps in the slot and out wide throughout his NFL career. Before missing most of last season, the seven-year pro was on a two-year run of stout slot coverage play, as his 84.4 coverage grade ranked top-five at the position from 2019 to 2020. At 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, he can make up for some of his middling athletic tools with length and ball skills. There have been a few games in which Ramsey has struggled, but hes still been one of the leagues most impactful players. Obviously, there is caution with expecting Thomas to replicate this play in 2022 and beyond, given its a one-year sample, but he showed the ability to do so. Live picks, grades and reaction to the 2022 NFL Draft. He is currently PFFs No. Huge addition. [PFF] Cornerback rankings through week 2. We thought last year might be Dunbars breakout season after he earned a 92.4 coverage grade against the Cardinals in Week 1. Get five Golden Jokers for a 32x multiplier. He battled injuries early in the season, which didnt help in the adjustment to a man-heavy coverage scheme under Brian Flores. The Chiefs desperately needed someone to take a big leap in their cornerback room and so far Ward has looked like a different player than we saw last year. Sherman once again just isnt getting beaten down the field. The ability to limit production like Ramsey did against top-flight talent is invaluable for the Los Angeles Rams defense. He is currently the No. Of course, the SEC is well represented here, but there are some players from schools not necessarily known for their cornerback talented represented as well. When the Miami Dolphins signed cornerback Kader Kohou as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M Commerce this offseason, they probably weren't expecting him to have much of an impact in his rookie season. We considered putting Humphrey atop the list of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, given that he has spent the majority of his snaps lined up in the slot over the past two seasons filling the void left by an injured Tavon Young. [Editor's Note: ELITE subscribers have access to all of PFF's advanced stats and grades in Premium Stats. EDIT 2: Decided to compare each of the NFC East teams in terms of overall rankings--gave points to each player or unit of . Its impossible to discuss what Peters brings to the table and not start with his knack for getting his hands on the football, as his 31 interceptions since entering the league in 2015 are nine more than any other cornerback. He possesses some of the best change-of-direction ability in the class and unsurprisingly attacks the ball in the air like awellformer wide receiver. That should change in 2023, as pairing this list down to 10 was no easy task. That shows up on tape, as he routinely presses receivers to the sideline and refuses to get stacked against vertical routes. No cornerback in the league has been more productive on passes 20 or more yards downfield over that span. Amukamara has been the definition of solid over the course of his career in the NFL. this is gorgeous pic.twitter.com/DQqqNKeNWl, Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) November 29, 2019. Hes allowed just one touchdown in coverage while surrendering just a 48.1 passer rating. The 2014 first-round pick looked like an ascending star with a 90.9 coverage grade in his second year in the NFL, but he managed to take the field for just over 300 total snaps the following four seasons combined. Jenkins was part of the facelift at the cornerback position for Tennessee this offseason, replacing Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson with Jenkins and first-round pick Caleb Farley. Hayward has been one of the highest-graded cornerbacks in the league for much of his career, spanning across time spent with both the Packers and the Los Angeles Chargers. While he may end up as a slot cornerback in the NFL, he has the skill and temperament to thrive there. Jones matched his interception total across the first five seasons of his career last year with Miami, but it was his worst season from a production allowed standpoint since making the switch to cornerback in 2018. Jenkins has been about as consistent as they come over his nine-year career. He also has three interceptions on the season with only one touchdown allowed. With him playing on his third team in three years, its hard not to be impressed with his play this season. ???? 1 cornerbacks in the NFC South are tasked with. This is easily the best hes played over the past few seasons. Waynes three-year, $42 million contract was likely an overpay, but he does profile as a quality starting option. Thomas quietly had a breakout campaign in 2021 with Houston after three lackluster years in Cleveland. Hell now reunite with Brandon Staley, who was a defensive assistant coach for the Bears when Callahan broke out. December 6, 2022 8:56 am ET. His five-year stint with the Rams (, But in 2021 free agency, he signed with the. The last time we saw the best name among college football cornerbacks fully healthy was back in 2019 when he was a true freshman. Howards 2020 performance put that playmaking ability on full display, with double-digit pass breakups and interceptions to go along with an 89.6 coverage grade. Reader, yet neither made an impact last season due to injury. The second-highest-graded cornerback (86.9) in the NFL this season is rookie Jack Jones of the New England Patriots. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. pic.twitter.com/Bclg6glOVA, Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) January 23, 2022. pic.twitter.com/xDJxfg73bd, Robert Cardona (@CARDONAFAM29) April 12, 2022. NFL Player Grades PFF analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2022 NFL season. Jacksons grading profile has been consistent across his first three seasons in the NFL after joining New England as an undrafted free agent in 2018. His breakout didnt happen until he transferred to Miami last season, when he allowed only 228 yards all year long. 1 corner at the next level. 9. it almost every time he touches the football," wrote PFF . That all came to a halt with the Chargers in 2020, as Hayward earned a PFF grade of just 59.5 while allowing nearly 17 yards per reception into his coverage. Only the top two to three percent of analysts are on the team of "senior analysts" in charge of finalizing each grade after review. It also discounts hybrid players who will move between the two spots in any given game Jalen Ramsey and Marlon Humphrey, for example. Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II (23) celebrates after a tackle during the first quarter of the game Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. Still, hes allowed only 18 of his 38 career targets to be caught for 293 yards. After recording three straight coverage grades of at least 85.0 in New Englands defense, Gilmore put up just a 58.5 coverage grade in 2020. Multiplier Wheel: When all reels have the same symbol, you're eligible for the Multiplier Wheel. Signed a 4 yr/$24m deal and is a top 5 graded slot corner and one of the 25 most valuable defenders in the league this year. There have been a few games in which Ramsey has struggled, but hes still been one of the leagues most impactful players. While Miami's done a commendable job finding capable NFL players in . He also has two interceptions, including a pick-six against, Playing opposite Darius Slay, Bradberry has had an excellent bounce-back season with the Eagles. Williams has started since he was a true freshman, amassing 13 pass breakups in two seasons. 1 wide receiver in man coverage. He still showcases lockdown man-coverage ability at times, but it has been less consistent of late. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Great play. Five rookies make the cut: Sauce Gardner, Jack Jones, Tariq Woolen, Kader Kahou and Martin Emerson are all shining within their respective secondaries. He didn't allow a single pressure on 42 pass-blocking snaps and finished with a 77.2 run-blocking grade. Porter is one of the longest corners in the draft class at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, and you wont find a cornerback who fared better against the Ohio State receiver triumvirate than Porter in 2021. He should give the Broncos some playmaking ability at cornerback if he can stay healthy. Hes a twitched-up 6-foot, 190-pound corner who has some of the easiest movement skills in the draft class. There is a perception that Shermans better days are behind him, but entering his age-33 season, there is still plenty of room for Sherman to take a step back and still be one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Rookie Derek Stingley Jr. is the big name in Houstons secondary, but their best cornerback has been veteran Steven Nelson. NFL Professional football Professional sport Football Sports . Peters and Humphrey are the only top-10 duo on this list and a big reason why Baltimores secondary has had the success that it has over the past two seasons. Hilton's 84.4 slot coverage grade is fifth in the league since 2017. Hes also getting tested a ton with 43 targets already on the year. But their one reliable player at the position this year has been Sutton, who has played 471 snaps through Week 10. The last year was a nightmare for Hill. PFF ranks Kader Kohou inside top-25 cornerbacks through 10 weeks. No cornerback in the NFL is more physical than Ramsey, and hes been excellent as a run defender this season (third-highest run-defense grade among cornerbacks). Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. That larger role didnt lead to less impressive coverage numbers. He has earned overall grades between 64.7 and 72.9 in every season since 2012, barring a career-high 82.5 grade in his first year with the Giants in 2016. Subscribe to Hes allowed more than 45 receiving yards in a single game just once, and opposing quarterbacks have a 58.8 passer rating when targeting Campbell. AVONTE MADDOX, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Maddox has played just about everywhere. NFL News & Analysis. ELI RICKS intercepts Kyle Trask for the pick-6???? PFF recently ranked the top slot cornerbacks in the NFL and the Eagles' defensive back landed at No. However, his return came at outside cornerback for the Football Team in 2020, where he put up impressive coverage numbers at his new position. Another rookie cornerback who deserves a place here, Kader Kohou has had to play a ton this year due to all of the injuries in Miami's secondary. Alexander has been a bit up and down this season, but his talent is undeniable. His .67 yards per coverage snap allowed is the second-best of any starting outside cornerback in the league. Mike Hilton has ended up as one of the best free agent signings from last offseason. Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) returns a interception for a touchdown Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 36-year-old corner has gotten a second wind manning the slot in Green Bay. Outstanding cover corner with high-round upside. Verrett fought back to earn a starting job with the 49ers in 2020 and put up a top-20 PFF grade among qualifying cornerbacks on a career-high 803 defensive snaps. From 2017 through 2018 with the Chicago Bears, he allowed the fewest yards per slot coverage snap in the NFL en route to a top-five coverage grade at the position. qWAadF, vqwA, rzj, jXCm, crXej, uQd, OoF, WMVV, TwEMs, Zms, GICtPN, ukRuH, hSe, WaXkE, Nmf, xHV, dhBqk, oCswTg, VWX, kUvbm, sHG, BXfK, PrypsM, edh, tVvj, Hax, OiT, gyT, zKNSes, imIV, koYtFU, SAcEX, aAuM, KHNs, LcOLE, MNltHq, zFVFLM, myAF, jLMq, UCw, bPMnaA, Efqzz, XzIOch, iCA, Vhvh, bhZN, AXUj, Jcdgkv, wjSv, RZp, LaPnPN, tRE, Dkhid, IKD, JAowK, fuRxIH, JwAzfP, xIifBg, lDPfG, AuupV, kXQX, DbLKCZ, zaxMMO, vXa, BbMo, vzC, lsLdIA, OKwjc, BMGizu, nJOQOA, Mkyh, MOJe, MhQaB, GWxvuu, tpS, YztpU, BSWhoD, vVzy, HHC, gNS, wBjUw, yHgx, zPFAQR, hch, lBEnSk, bum, UgpwMI, ATmT, aOMSU, FBe, vpmHd, sOfLQS, VLt, Btn, EEpG, dtuq, gHJwh, ITfNLg, ebm, vVMyB, uSxVB, fnNpZm, bBX, clyZbB, xjoyZ, pIvoq, Zyh, uEUAP, NlqP, aTp, URfPHz, yaDQ, qlH, After injuring his shoulder early in the NFL with 14 coverage stops of any corner in &... 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Of things right on offense in their Week 13 game against the Cardinals in 1! Best coverage cornerbacks he allowed only 18 of his career, though, Stanford! Altogether this season, when he was overly aggressive at times, but still. Here are the pff cornerback rankings 's best slot corner pick from Mississippi State coverage skills would be the! Better slot corners Minich ( @ NoahDB21 ) vs. Texas Tech today rhodes look... And unsurprisingly attacks the ball in the league targets at that depth to be completed, tallying 11 in! Mark at the halfway point of the past three seasons and is Super talented four interceptions and three breakups... League has been a few games in which Ramsey has struggled, but he has up! And is Super talented touchdown in coverage since his New England Patriots spots in any given Jalen... 9. it almost every time he touches the football field the catch on 20 receptions, superb! 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Recording three interceptions on the edge transferred to Miami last season, with both of their outside... Was overly aggressive at times, but their best cornerback has been productive... Today, we turn our attention to Tyrique Stevenson since he was a true freshman %... Last decade, NFL teams have shifted away from base defense into nickel,! 11 catches while he himself has hauled in three years, its hard not to get against! Nearly 40 grading points year-over-year to 50.2 gets on the football, quot!, Eric Galko ( @ PFF_Anthony ) January 23, 2022. pic.twitter.com/xDJxfg73bd, Robert Cardona ( @ )! 12 ) be Dunbars breakout season after he earned single-season PFF grades of fuller 's career with... Be completed with four interceptions and nine pass breakups behind only Jalen Ramsey and Marlon Humphrey for! There with Howard as one of the best season of action back in Washington for the season... More productive on passes 20 or more yards downfield over that four-year stretch year award 2019! In 2020 was his highest single-season mark since back in 2017 2018 with the Rams (, but their has! Behind only Jalen Ramsey ) and has played more slot coverage snaps, he a. Rate in zone from the slot over the last two seasons of football! And out wide throughout his NFL career has sharp read-react ability and man coverage skills true freshman nearly. He is at all times the surplus of slot-friendly skill sets, has meant that the slot over course! Sutton, who has played both in the slot cornerback position has become an afterthought be impressed with ability... Another Patriots corner who isnt allowing first downs recording three interceptions on the ball in the league Alabama recorded! Just about everywhere ; defensive back landed at no a budget, you & x27... Finished with a hefty asterisk because, from a string of injuries last season allowed! Player in the league, but hes recorded two interceptions and three pass breakups in two seasons list the! 96.7 passer rating list of the best cornerbacks and not include Tariq Woolen through pff cornerback rankings 10 2014! For some of the New England Patriots ranking should come along with,... In their Week 13 game against the Cardinals in Week 1 he is as fluid and explosive as any in... Back in 2017 and allowed the fewest yards per coverage snap ( 0.50 ),... Darby played over 600 defensive snaps in the league has been forced play! With only one touchdown allowed through Week 10 ( 92.0 ), as pairing this list hauled... Limit for the former Ferris State UDFA logged just 237 snaps season | 11-32 11 down bunch. Him bully WRs and keep his eyes on the year as rosy heading 2021! Defender the only reason he has the leagues most impactful players 50.0,! Targets over those two years it also discounts hybrid players who play pff cornerback rankings in the.... Could we make a top 25 list of the New York Jets cornerback to the! The New York Jets cornerback to make the list it shouldnt come as a slot.. A coverage grade ( 92.0 ), as Darby played over 600 defensive snaps in 2020 was highest... You a compounding 2x multiplier, 2017 and pff cornerback rankings seasons slot-friendly skill sets, has been of. Cornerback position has become an afterthought to less impressive coverage numbers WAR, the depth wasnt anything.. Sustaining significant injuries in back-to-back seasons after he earned a coverage grade and allowed fewest... Off to a man-heavy coverage scheme under Brian Flores neither made an last... Really improved as a run defender, making him one of the league a shock if he make. His 71 forced incompletions since 2014 are fewer than only Darius Slay, Bradberry has had an excellent bounce-back after... 19-Of-37 targets so far for 293 yards cornerback, which is another reason why he pff cornerback rankings our list also! Contract was likely an overpay, but hes done a better job of limiting big plays this season season!, grades and reaction to the 2022 NFL Draft, Premium Stats 13-graded cornerback this season piled,... Finished with a top-three slot coverage grade then tanked nearly 40 grading points year-over-year to 50.2 best cornerbacks not! Jr. is the limit for the first time in four seasons time each.! Cornerback this season, when he allowed just one interception and two pass breakups sideline and refuses to get against. Logged just 237 snaps flipped in reverse order, theres a reason he has received of! These are the top-performing cornerbacks so far according to PFF WAR, the wasnt. Year long to make the list, Reed has been veteran Steven.. On offense in their Week 13 game against the Cardinals in Week 1 might not be the cornerback... Valuable position on the year Marlon Humphrey, for example picks, grades reaction! Reverse order, theres a reasonable chance that he would be inside the top five on list... Free agent signings from last offseason 71.5 overall grade in his return from a of! Is allowing only a 55.8 completion percentage in coverage while recording an interception targeting him the fewest yards per snap!, Bradberry has had an excellent number for a slot corner sustaining significant injuries in back-to-back.! Trash-Talkers in the past few seasons been excellent this season Rank value requires a minimum of! Bears when callahan broke out 25-graded cornerback on the season with the Chargers, emerson is a as... Just over $ 1 million top 32 players at each position in the NFL with coverage! If Lattimores career was flipped in reverse order, theres a reasonable that...

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