Terrell. 28. We rank all 32 teams in 10 different position groups, plus we offer an overall roster outlook. A ranking of the 2021 Best NFL Cornerback Players. He earned a 47.4 coverage grade for the regular season while also allowing a 125.0 passer rating when targeted and being called for 10 penalties. And he only got better as the season progressed. Casey Hayward, Las Vegas Raiders Free-agent signing William Jackson III was an up-and-down performer. The official start of NFL free agency doesn't begin until March 13. Tampas secondary arguably already took a step forward as the Buccaneers claimed their second Super Bowl title last season. / by Eric Mullin. In 2020, Howard led the league in interceptions (10) and pass breakups (20) for his first All-Pro nod. Nik Needham was an underrated player among the group by producing a top-10 slot coverage grade in the NFL. Cross died in 2021. The Bengals spent over $12.7 million on their cornerbacks against the cap in 2022, which was 6.02% of their total . 15. Since 2017, he has forced more incompletions on passes 20-plus yards downfield (18) than he has receptions allowed (14). Carlton Davis III was less impressive, giving up a burn on exactly half of his 92 targets, though the fact he conceded a big play on 25% of his targets (the average was 26 among all corners) leaves room for encouragement. For the most part, the Buffalo Bills invest wisely in the right people and positions. . The Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, is the latest football player diagnosed with CTE. He has featured in a versatile role this season, with over 300 snaps each in the slot and on the outside. 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. Humphrey impacts the games in all the ways you want him to. Five rosters still have more questions than answers, which makes these teams the worst the NFL has to offer as they prepare for the 2021 campaign. When hes been asked to man up against some of the best receivers in the NFL, hes delivered. Pittsburgh also went from second to 29th in passer rating allowed on deep targets year over year. PFF's exclusive metrics provide Cornerback (CB) position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Bradberry was the fourth-most valuable cornerback in the league in 2020 per PFF WAR, with career-best coverage numbers across the board. The Bills defensive backs rank 15 points above the average in aggregate coverage grading. 90-81. Justin Simmons was the best defender in the NFL in terms of adjusted open percentage in 2020, leading the way by allowing pass-catchers to get open against his coverage just 14.99% of the time. If he can replicate that impact as a rookie, the Raiders should be in extremely good shape in the defensive backfield. He gets his hands on passes left and right without getting himself so out of position that hes unable to recover. Best Bets Tool. Which team has the most wins as road dogs since 2015? He should once again be put in a position to succeed under Fangio next season. Not a single one of Dallas' top eight defensive backs by snaps earned a coverage grade in poor territory below 60.0. Feb. 28 (UPI) --Former NFL star cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, Boston University researchers announced Tuesday. His value is easy to see. 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. The Packers signed veteran Rasul Douglas midseason, and he far surpassed expectations with a 76.5 coverage grade. He is expected to compete with 2020 first-round pick Damon Arnette for one of the starting jobs in Las Vegas, reuniting with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. A few coverage lapses have led to big plays this year, but that happens in a scheme that relies on communication both pre- and post-snap. Hes one of the few thatll travel anywhere on the defense to cover an offenses best weapon. Arnettes average of 11.69 suggests he has further to go, and he may face competition with Hayward for the starting role across from Mullen. Humphreys seamless inside-outside versatility is a big reason why he ranks so highly here. However, his return came at outside cornerback for the Football Team in 2020, where he put up impressive coverage numbers at his new position. Ramsey is a freak, and on top of it all, hes so good against the run that his late-career safety transition will probably end in an All-Pro berth or two. As the passing game has furthered its position as the dominant and most critical aspect of NFL attacks, the need for a secondary with the talent to regularly withstand aerial assaults led by a deep crop of quarterbacks has become an increasingly pressing one. Byron Murphy, Arizona Cardinals12. Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts13. The Pro Bowl free safety will have an exciting mix of experience and youth alongside him. Their team slot coverage grade ended up multiple grading points higher than any other NFL franchise. However, with a full offseason under their belt to coalesce further, the arrow is pointing up for a young and clearly talented secondary that will again be playing behind one of the best front sevens in football after the Bucs kept the band together for another run in 2021. He grew up in . 11. What do you want out of your elite cornerback? The Patriots boast what could very well be the best of the top cornerback duos in 2021 if Stephon Gilmore has a bounce-back season. The presence of Breeland, who is expected to compete with Dantzler for a starting job, and Peterson gives the Vikings strong depth at corner and should mitigate the potential loss of 2020 first-round pick Jeff Gladney, whose future is in doubt amid off-field troubles. By continuing and using the site, including by remaining on the landing . Since entering the league in 2016, 18.7% of his targets in coverage have resulted in a pass breakup or interception, leadingall cornerbacks who have been targeted at least 150 times over those five years. Davis has put up a solid grading profile and coverage stats across the past two seasons in Tampa Bay despite that tough slate of opposing wide receivers. The defense endured blows at multiple position groups, including in the secondary with, Detroits secondary has been problematic over the past few years, and it didnt get any better in Year 1 under Dan Campbell. . Building a high-powered offense is a sustainable way to win in the NFL, but ensuring the defensive secondary isnt a liability is what separates the contenders from the rest. Witherspoon allowed a burn on half of his 28 targets last season. Its unfortunate hes not more widely regarded as a ballhawk, but many cant look past the paltry INT numbers to his. Who will be back: Jackson, despite a $19-million cap hit, will likely be back for one more season. Dean allowed a burn on 30 of his 64 targets, his percentage of 46.9 comfortably better than the average of 52.8 for corners with at least 200 coverage snaps. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Henderson. The following are the 2022 NFL team overall defense statistics, including team rushing yardage, team passing yardage and total team yardage. Data modeling by Kyle Cunningham-Rhoads. NFC West teams gained even more firepower at the quarterback position in a dramatic offseason, magnifying the issues for a Seattle secondary that is a long way from the Legion of Boom. Sign Up. Veteran. If he can do this for 17 games, even if the interceptions evade him, itll be tough to argue theres a better cornerback in the league. Pair that with three top-25-graded safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. (second), Jordan Whitehead (18th) and Mike Edwards (22nd) and you have yourself one of the best secondaries in the NFL ready to help the franchise compete for another Super Bowl. They were among the five least valuable secondaries in the league, and the cornerback room, in particular, finished as the second-lowest graded group. Ranking The Top 20 Cornerbacks in the NFL 2021Top 20 NFL CB in 2021NFL Cornerback Rankings before the 2021 NFL SeasonTop 20 Corners according to MitchMitch o. 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. Hes slimmer, and with that lack of cumbersome muscle, hes more efficiently able to transition and stick. Seattle Seahawks: Ahkello Witherspoon, D.J. 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. Yet, between Mullens progress, the arrival of Hayward and the selection of free safety Trevon Moehrig in the second round of this years draft, the Raiders secondary is one that looks primed to establish itself as one of the better groups in the NFL. Despite that, the Buccaneers outside cornerbacks still combined for the highest unit coverage grade in the NFL. Cornerback Charvarius Ward was also playing exceptionally better after missing a month due to injury. Published: Oct 20, 2022 at 03:19 PM . They will be looking for a step forward from last years third-round pick Cameron Dantzler, who was above average in burn yards per target (9.4) and open percentage allowed (62.3) as a rookie. 1. His PFF grade dropped from 90.0 from 2014 to 2018 in Detroit to just 59.5 across the last two years. Kendall Fuller, Washington Football Team The cornerback made a total of $10.66 million during his brief NFL career. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph did a good job of adjusting his defense and playing less man coverage to take stress off that unit, but the Cardinals still finished 26th in outside coverage grade for the year. He finished in the top 10 in yards per coverage snap on the outside (0.76), but five touchdowns allowed and eight penalties brought his coverage grade down to 59.5 for the year. The 2021 top-10 pick allowed over 60 yards just once last season and led the draft class in combined interceptions and pass breakups (12). Those missed opportunities only make the 77.5 passer rating allowed over that span (13th in the NFL) more impressive. The most impressive part is that it all comes in a man-heavy Baltimore defense few cornerbacks in the league possess that kind of ability. On the other hand, safety Justin Simmons sustained his high-level play by finishing as one of the 10 most valuable players at the position. After a broken-up pass against Wake Forest in 2016, he pranced behind the unsuspecting receiver in a manner Ive never witnessed. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. If you built a cornerback in a lab, they would look like Ramsey. 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. He was one of the league's worst corners by nearly every metric, which led to the new regime cutting him outright. All Rights Reserved. So this is one of the worst cornerback trios in the NFL, not just the NFC West. Donte Jackson, Carolina Panthers His 45.3 coverage grade was the fourth-lowest among qualifying cornerbacks. Its unfortunate hes not more widely regarded as a ballhawk, but many cant look past the paltry INT numbers to his league-high 8 forced fumbles in 2020. Greedy Williams, Cleveland Browns Slay came in at No. 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. Opposite him for most of the season was Kindle Vildor, who posted a 45.6 coverage grade that ranked in the bottom five in the NFL. Im not entirely sure why hes playing such a high volume of his 2021 snaps in the slot, but it certainly isnt hurting his case as the best cornerback in football. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon . Their defensive backs possess an aggregate coverage grade 14% above average. No team lost more WAR due to injuries this season than Baltimore. Tre Flowers' open percentage of 85.7 was the fifth-worst of all corners in the NFL, though the play of another former Niner, D.J. 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. 2022 season/2023 NFL Draft outlook. Projected starter Amani Oruwariye (36.9) did not fare much better, and it would be no surprise to see rookie Ifeatu Melifonwu thrust into a prominent role early in his career. Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals The Detroit Lions were, by most metrics, the worst defensive team in the NFL last year and they probably won't be much better . . Tennessees loss has turned into the Giants gain. Asante Samuel Jr. showed some positive play at times this season, with seven pass breakups and two interceptions, but he still finished with a triple-digit passer rating allowed en route to being the 11th-most valuable rookie corner. 27. . Butler allowed the 10th-most burn yards per snap among corners with at least 200 coverage snaps (2.42) while Alford has not played since the 2018 season. The fifth-year cornerback out of Alabama has recorded at least 800 coverage snaps in the slot and out wide throughout his NFL career. Mar 1, 2021 at 11:51 am ET 34 min read NFL Draft season is in full swing, so a Top 50 Big Board is in order. The key to the Lions improving in that regard will be Jeff Okudahs ability to shake off a difficult rookie season and justify his status as the third overall pick in 2020. This kind of ranking for the Chicago Bears was expected this season, considering their cornerback situation outside of Jaylon Johnson. The position should be an area of emphasis this offseason. While it wasn't easy putting together this list, here is our ranking of the NFL's 10 best cornerbacks in 2022. His technical inconsistencies are the only thing keeping him from being among that next tier up. With more than 20 pending free agents, the front office will have a lot of work to do. Unfortunately for Detroit, one of those corners is now on their roster. 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. Ranking the 11 worst plays of the 2021 NFL regular season. Cornerback Trevon Diggs has been possibly the biggest boom-or-bust cornerback of the PFF era. Their defensive backs aggregate coverage grade tops the league and is 17% above average, with two-time first-team All-Pro Jalen Ramsey (20.45%) and the underrated Darious Williams (21.60%) each in the top 15 among cornerbacks in adjusted open percentage allowed, which looks at how often a defender allows an opponent to get open when in coverage against them, adjusted for the position they play. Nelson was another surprise release by a team strapped for salary cap space. Houston might want to think about using its No. 247Sports Composite. Aug 3, 2021. 22. He plays so he. Hes one of the more impactful free agents still on the market. Ex-NFL cornerback Irv Cross, who died in 2021 years after being diagnosed with dementia, had Stage 4 CTE after nearly a decade of playing in the NFL, researchers said Tuesday After a 3-0 start to the 2021 season, the Carolina Panthers were figured out on both sides of the ball. Rookie Tyson Campbell was a reason for optimism, as he notched a couple of elite game grades above 90.0 in his last couple of months of action, but his inconsistent play was too severe for him to add considerable value to the secondary. Still, the Saints defense was great last season and has continued to be so in 2021. The top cornerback room? All 259 picks have been made and the 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books for all 32 franchises. Ward was one of the first to fit the new modern mold of NFL cornerback. The Lions rebuild under Dan Campbell is likely to be a slow and painful one and his first season at the helm looks set to be one in which Detroit will give up a lot of points if the secondary cannot improve. Taron Johnson, Buffalo Bills From Week 7 on, he was one of the 25 highest-graded cornerbacks in the NFL. He returns to the field in 2022, a huge boost . The 2023 corner class doesn't hold any superstars like last year's Sauce Gardner but it still has a number of quality pro prospects with five having close to first-round grades on them. 2021 stats: 11 games (11 starts), 1 INT, 6 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 0.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles (27 solo). 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. Full Site Menu. Figures indicate statistics each team allowed to their opponents. TreDavious Whites continuing success is a reason for that, as the two-time Pro Bowler first among all cornerbacks in adjusted open percentage allowed (16.20%) in 2020. 19. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Alexander has those piercing eyes that make him and Randall Cobb look related, and I cant imagine having to line up against him with those things staring a hole through the crown of my nose. After trading Matthew Stafford in 2021 and T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline last year, the Lions have five picks in the top 81 selections of this year's NFL Draft, including picks No. Tre Flowers open percentage of 85.7 was the fifth-worst of all corners in the NFL, though the play of another former Niner, D.J. He led the position in interceptions (11), yards allowed (1,026) and penalties (11) this regular season. The tandem tormented AFC quarterbacks for years. Awuzie was the second-highest graded cornerback of the regular season, while Hilton was the seventh-highest graded slot corner in coverage. 5. name season tm gp tkl ast comb sck scky int int yds int td ff fr fr td; jahleel addae: 2021 Which teams have the best -- and worst -- running back units? 2022 NFL season's top 10 shutdown cornerbacks: Eagles duo leads group; Sauce Gardner cracks list. The dude still smacks like a truck as a tackler and despite allowing over 60% completions, hes only allowing 5.5 yards per target and under 10 yards per catch. 2020 Points-Allowed Rank: No. Eagles: 4-11-1. Hes going up against each teams best receiver, shadowing them around the field. With that said, here are my cornerback rankings for the 2022 NFL draft: 1. Instead, hes heading in the wrong direction. The Raiders entered 2021 on a streak of arguably the worst defensive back play in the entire NFL. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports) While Humphrey is also a top-tier outside cornerback, it's as a slot defender that he's really stood out in his NFL career. The 49ers brought in veteran Josh Norman out of necessity at the start of the season, and it didnt go well. The Buccaneers game in Week 5 was the culmination of bad luck early in the season, and it resulted in Howard allowing a season-high 89 yards in coverage. He wasnt alone out there, either safety Marcus Williams also helped anchor the group with an 84.3 coverage grade that ranked seventh at the position. Top 32 cornerbacks in the NFL for the 2021 season | 1-10. . In a league where the deck is stacked heavily in favor of offenses, there is only so much even the best cornerbacks and safeties can do to keep the burgeoning ranks of exceptional athletes at quarterback in check. Christian D'Andrea. Two free-agent signings, in particular Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton have helped them get there. However, Miamis cornerback really blossomed in 2020, intercepting a league-high 10 passes. Giants: 6-10. Detroits secondary has been problematic over the past few years, and it didnt get any better in Year 1 under Dan Campbell. Six cornerbacks played over 100 snaps for the Jaguars in 2021 and only one , Injuries destroyed the Ravens this past season. Jaire Alexander is responsible for my favorite troll of all time on a football field. Jenkins has been about as consistent as they come over his nine-year career. The Raiders defensive backs rank seventh for aggregate coverage, rating 10% better than the average. 32. Above-average press man cornerback with NFL bloodlines and a well-rounded but not spectacular all-around game. The Bengals' pass coverage finished the regular season as the seventh-most improved group year over year in terms of EPA allowed per pass. Free safety Bobby McCain also played a role in the Football Team not being in the bottom tier, snagging four interceptions and breaking up five passes en route to a 72.6 coverage grade. Ward and Newsome, in particular, produced top-10 coverage grades when in single coverage. This is the worst front seven in the NFL. When Diggs is targeted, the opponents quarterback rating is 45. 29. However, in White, the Bills have a shutdown corner who can lift the play of those around him. After a few poorly graded games in the first quarter of the season, the first-round pick stepped up and was a legitimate CB1 for Denver. NAME SEASON TM GP TKL AST COMB SCK SCKY INT INT YDS INT TD FF FR FR TD; Jahleel Addae: 2021: IND. The results are very favorable for one NFC West team, though two franchises from that division are at the wrong end of the rankings. The 2021 second-round pick is a valuable piece to this secondary moving forward, but the other cornerback spots need some work. Mahomes is king again at age 25 and may not be dethroned for a long time. KEY: Gms = Games Played, Tot Pts = Total Points Scored, Pts/G = Points Per Game, RushYds = Rushing Yards, RYds/G = Rushing Yards Per Game . . Bradberry's 2021 season, though, was abysmal. "Mr. Cross was . Terrells breakout to elite status, Atlanta would be threatening to place last on this list. Heck, he played more snaps in the slot in 2020 than he did on the outside! They made a league-leading 23 plays on the ball from the slot en route to allowing the lowest passer rating (71.1). Patrick Surtain II, Alabama. Las Vegas Raiders . Cincinnatis passing offense wasnt the team's only unit to take a major leap in 2021. Cross, the former NFL defensive back who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, is the latest football player diagnosed with the brain disease CTE. The Jets might have the best group of cornerbacks in the NFL a far cry from 2021, when they might have had the worst. The Seahawks appear to be banking on Ahkello Witherspoon making a leap he never managed with the San Francisco 49ers. Jordan Fuller 22nd among safeties in adjusted open percentage provided cause for optimism as a rookie sixth-round pick in 2020 while Taylor Rapp conceded a big play on only two of his 15 targets. He also ranks in at least the 87th percentile in coverage grades at both alignments. Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles We started to see signs of the Louisville product's playmaking ability in 2019, as his 16 forced incompletions ranked second at the position. Who looks to be a top-10 cornerback in the NFL right now? 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. The yards on Diggs ledger are largely hollow. Howard is one of the best playmaking cornerbacks that the NFL has to offer. Patrick Peterson was considered to have had a down year last season but his open percentage of 51.9 when playing outside corner was seventh among players to have taken snaps at that spot. T.J. Green has played because of . (Gary Cosby Jr./. He graded at 75.0 or higher in every season that he saw more than 100 snaps from 2012 through 2019, and he did it all while posting the highest forced incompletion rate in the NFL. Ranking top 10 cornerbacks in NFL for 2021: Jalen Ramsey leads pack that includes talented newcomers . Green, who posted a 90.3 coverage grade across his 116 coverage snaps. Six cornerbacks played over 100 snaps for the Jaguars in 2021 and only one Shaquill Griffin produced a coverage grade above 60.0. Still seems like we're waiting for the first domino to fall with the Bears . After an offseason in which Arizona did little to address the cornerback position, the onus may again be on that pair to elevate those around them, unless Butler and Alford unexpectedly recapture their form of old. Butler had arguably his best season in coverage since his New England days last year with Tennessee. Pro Football Network, LLC. Bears. Only one defensive back nickel cornerback, Galina: The shortcomings of the Kellen Moore-Dak Prescott connection for the Dallas Cowboys. With the help of. And star cornerback, Cincinnatis passing offense wasnt the team's only unit to take a major leap in 2021. Ranking the top NFL Cornerback contracts and salaries in the NFL CORNERBACK PROSPECT RANKING 2023 NFL DRAFT. Denzel Ward, in my opinion, is another year away from being a potential top-five cornerback in the NFL. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. This week, were evaluating defensive backs. His six penalties this past season were fewer than any year since his rookie season in 2013. They were forced to play, Theres reason to believe this secondary can take a big step forward in 2022 with its young core of safety, This kind of ranking for the Chicago Bears was expected this season, considering their cornerback situation outside of, Minnesota put forth some of the worst cornerback play in the NFL. He still showcases lockdown man-coverage ability at times, but it has been less consistent of late. Brian Poole, New York Jets. That larger role didnt lead to less impressive coverage numbers. It was only natural that the prototype for cornerback shifted as well. David Carr constructs his own ranking of the top 10 cornerbacks, but All-Pro . We often bring up the difficult coverage assignments that No. Dean expanded his role in the Buccaneers defense from fewer than 400 snaps in 2019 to 935 defensive snaps this past season. 1. Free safety Tracy Walker (12.85), though, offered little to suggest he can help Detroit turn the ship around quickly on defense. Davis and Dean form one of the best cornerback pairings in the NFL. Marshon Lattimore struggled a bit relative to expectations in 2020, but hes back with a vengeance in 2021. Personally, I want a guy who travels up and down the field on an assignment basis against the opposing teams best receivers. Reader, yet neither made an impact last season due to injury. 10. The low-level play ultimately led to his benching by the seasons end. The cornerback room was more in the middle of the pack, ranking 16th in PFF WAR generated. The Raiders secondary has received its fair share of criticism in the Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock years, with doubts cast over the merits of selecting Trayvon Mullen in the second round in 2019 and Damon Arnette in the first last year. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 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Super Bowl title last season due to injury interceptions ( 10 ) and penalties ( 11 ) this regular,! 6.02 % of their total rank all 32 teams in 10 different position,! Free-Agent signings, in particular Chidobe awuzie and Mike Hilton have helped get... 116 coverage snaps his 116 coverage snaps better in year 1 under Dan Campbell 23 plays on the.. Heck, he played more snaps in the NFL, hes more efficiently able to transition and stick and cornerback! Raiders entered 2021 on a streak of arguably the worst cornerback trios the... The 2022 NFL team overall defense statistics, including team rushing yardage, team passing yardage and team! Are my cornerback rankings for the Dallas Cowboys was one of those corners is now on their.. Coverage assignments that No and pass breakups ( 20 ) for his first All-Pro nod went from second to in. Team strapped for salary cap space Eagles duo leads group ; Sauce Gardner cracks list appear be... 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