There has been a changing of the guard at the cornerback position in recent years. Darrelle Revis was the standard for years, but he had slowed down in recent years and is now retired. Aqib Talib was right behind Revis for several seasons, and while he is still quite good, he is no longer among the most elite.
The one veteran cornerback who remains close to the top is Patrick Peterson, and he has the speed, size, instincts and strength to change any game. He is also remarkably durable, as he has not missed a game in his career as he now enters his eighth season in the league.
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The most talented corner in the league is Marcus Peters, who has moved on from Kansas City and has brought his talents to Los Angeles to play with the Rams.
However, he is not No. 1 on our list because of his immaturity that caused so much exasperation in Kansas City. The best cornerback in the league is Jalen Ramsey, who has become a true star as he enters his third season in the NFL.
1. Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars
There were a number of reasons the Jaguars were able to go from struggling losers to winning the AFC South and getting to the AFC Championship Game last season, and most of them have to do with the defense. Pass rushers Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue are two of the most obvious reasons because they created so much havoc, but Ramsey may be just as important.
Ramsey has adapted to the pro game in his first two seasons and demonstrated that he is a dominant, lockdown defender who excels in all aspects of the game. He had 63 tackles last year along with 17 passes defensed and four interceptions. In addition to becoming one of the Jaguars’ lead performers, he earned a first-team NFL All-Pro spot and an invitation to the Pro Bowl.
Ramsey is physically strong for his position, as he checks in at 6-2 and 208 pounds to go with his 4.4 speed. He is not intimidated by any receiver in the league. While he can cover the fastest receivers on the outside, he can also cover slot receivers on the inside without any difficulty. Having a CB partner like A.J. Bouye also works to his benefit, but it’s clear that Ramsey has become the most dependable cover man in the league.
2. Marcus Peters, Los Angeles Rams
Many observers list Peters as the No. 1 corner in the league, and he certainly has the talent and physical gifts to land in that position. However, he is not dependable as he is given to fits of demonstration on the field and a tendency to go off the gameplan and freelance.
The Chiefs let Peters go to the Rams along with a sixth-round pick for a fourth-round selection. That tells you how difficult Peters is to live with, because there are no questions about what he can do on the football field. He has registered 21 interceptions, 55 passes defensed and 151 tackles during his first three years (including the playoffs).
He also gets to work with Los Angeles defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, perhaps the finest defensive mind in the business. If Peters can stay focused for 16 games, he moves back to the top of the list. If he doesn’t, he drops down quite a bit.
3. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have shown signs this summer that they will be one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL, and that has paid off with a slew of turnovers. While preseason games usually account for very little from a team perspective, Peterson believes the Cardinals are going to play in a similar manner once the bell rings September 9 when they open the season with a home game against the Washington Redskins.
Peterson is a big corner at 6-1 and 203 pounds, and he can mirror the fastest receivers in the game. He does not have the impressive interception and passes defensed numbers of Ramsey or Peters – 21 interceptions and 72 passes defensed in his first seven years – but that’s because opponents have been hesitant to go his way.
Call it the “Revis effect,” and it’s not likely to change this year. If it does, Peterson will be able to put impressive stats on the board and earn league-wide recognition.
4. Casey Hayward, Los Angeles Chargers
While not as big as Ramsey, Peters or Peterson, Hayward is not a small man at 5-11 and 192 pounds. That was considered good size for a corner as recently as five years ago.
While he is not huge, Hayward is not a liability in the running game and he is an excellent one-on-one defender. He is coming off a season with four interceptions and 22 passes defensed. He has terrific speed and he excels in both man and zone coverage.
Hayward turns 29 on the day of the Chargers’ Week One game with the Chiefs, and he appears to have gotten better in his two years with the franchise than he was in the previous part of his career with the Green Bay Packers.
5. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings
Rhodes is one of the most confident cover men in the league, and he should be because he excels at his job and he plays on one of the strongest overall defenses in the league. He gets tremendous support from the Minnesota front seven and he also benefits from having safety Harrison Smith in the same defensive backfield.
However, Rhodes has earned his status and he is coming off a season with 44 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed.
Rhodes is a big man at 6-1 and 218 pounds, and he can be an impressive hitter. However, his greatest skill is his ability to take on the bigger receivers and shut them down. He is also an old-school trash talker who can get under an opponent’s skin.
6. Darius Slay, Detroit Lions
7. Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers
8. A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots
10. Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills