He does the razzle dazzle better than any quarterback, but he . The top 2021 Cornerback prospects available for the 2021 NFL Draft. Congratulations, Arizona. NFL Player Grades - current. 1 wide receiver in man coverage. 27. On the bright side, Emmanuel Moseley played admirably with a 17.6% forced incompletion rate on the outside (ninth) and under a yard allowed per coverage snap this regular season. He plays so he. They made a league-leading 23 plays on the ball from the slot en route to allowing the lowest passer rating (71.1). It shouldnt come as a shock if he wins that starting job and rebounds from a down 2020 season. Nik Needham was an underrated player among the group by producing a top-10 slot coverage grade in the NFL. Top 25 cornerbacks in the NFL. 4) Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos. Cornerback Charvarius Ward was also playing exceptionally better after missing a month due to injury. Detroits defensive backs aggregate coverage grade is 27% below average. Last week, we took a look at offensive lines. Williams is Denver's long-term answer at running back . Haden may be on the downward slope of his career, but he has provided Pittsburgh with steady play at cornerback since joining the team in 2018 and should continue to do so in 2021. Minnesota put forth some of the worst cornerback play in the NFL. who passed away in February 2021 at age 81, played cornerback for the Eagles from 1961 to 1965, earning two Pro Bowl nods, and . He allowed just 30 receiving yards on 359 coverage snaps across his final 11 games that season. I simply wont acknowledge any Jalen Ramsey disrespect in this dojo. This group should contend for the top spot next season. Eagles: 4-11-1. Going into the 2021 season, there are several teams that stand out as best prepared to do that with the talent they possess in the defensive backfield. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. They ranked dead last in slot coverage grade following the regular season. While Pittsburgh ranked in the top 10 in EPA allowed per pass play for the season, they struggled quite a bit when not producing pressure on the quarterback. Ranking the top NFL Cornerback contracts and salaries in the NFL This kind of ranking for the Chicago Bears was expected this season, considering their cornerback situation outside of Jaylon Johnson. Fuller allowed just 53% of the passes into his coverage to be completed with four interceptions and nine pass breakups. 3 overall pick on a defensive back like Derek Stingley Jr. (PFFs No. 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. He should give the Broncos some playmaking ability at cornerback if he can stay healthy. No group of cornerbacks played more man coverage than the Miami Dolphins. 22. 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. No, he was targeted often because of who was on the opposite side, and his ball skills shined in the process, recording 10 INTs in 2020. 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. March 1, 2023 7:01 am ET. Ward and Newsome, in particular, produced top-10 coverage grades when in single coverage. 32. Still, hes a gifted tactician at the position and will get back on his feet this season. Eventually, Washington took it. With the start of the 2021 NFL regular season just around the corner, NFL.com analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah projects the best- and . Opposing quarterbacks netted a 71.8 passer rating when throwing at one of Clevelands outside cornerbacks this season, the lowest among the 32 defenses. Rookie Eric Stokes stepped up and grew into his role as the season wore on. So, which secondaries were a boon and which were a hindrance this season? 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. Hes a unicorn playing cornerback in a world of 511, 190-pound movers, and we dont acknowledge that enough. No Jaire Alexander? The Tuscaloosa News via AP) Height: 6'2" (95th percentile) Weight: 208 (94th) 40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds (85th) Bench Press: 18 reps (33rd) Vertical Jump: 39 inches (84th) Broad Jump: 131 inches (91st) 3-Cone Drill: N/A 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A Bio: In what will be a theme for this list of players . 2021 stats: 11 games (11 starts), 1 INT, 6 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 0.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles (27 solo). Above-average press man cornerback with NFL bloodlines and a well-rounded but not spectacular all-around game. For the most part, the Buffalo Bills invest wisely in the right people and positions. The Panthers get a physical and sticky man coverage cornerback who will be an interesting fit on an incredibly young defense. Hell still give up a big play here and there (as his yards per reception allowed shows), but thats the nature of being an aggressive cornerback. Discover Next Gen Stats News, Charts, and Statistics. 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. He has picked up coverage grades between 70.4 and 72.4 every season, gradually increasing his playing time each year. The safety pairing of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer may also be hoping for a bounce-back year, with the latter having allowed a burn on 13 of his 28 targets at free safety in 2020. Questions remain at cornerback, however, after Avonte Maddox struggled while playing outside corner last year and Darius Slay underperformed. Outside of safety Derwin James, the Chargers' secondary left a lot to be desired in 2021. Ward was one of the first to fit the new modern mold of NFL cornerback. Hes going up against each teams best receiver, shadowing them around the field. 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. Terrell has flashed the ability to become one of the truly . Reed, provided some grounds for optimism as his burn yards per target average of 8.21 put him 15th among corners with at least 200 coverage snaps. He still showcases lockdown man-coverage ability at times, but it has been less consistent of late. After a 3-0 start to the 2021 season, the Carolina Panthers were figured out on both sides of the ball. 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. 6 and . The top cornerbacks for 2022 are all established stars who are all playing some of the best football of their careers. While Pittsburgh ranked in the top 10 in EPA allowed per pass play for the season, they struggled quite a bit when not producing pressure on the quarterback. Howard is one of the best playmaking cornerbacks that the NFL has to offer. However, their defensive backfield is only 15th in aggregate coverage rating, coming in 3% better than average. 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. I still expect a lot from Stephon Gilmore, and with those expectations will come quick criticism if he doesnt perform to his standards. See trending; Company. Veteran Casey Hayward Jr. who played in Bradley's scheme with the Los Angeles Chargers was the 13th-highest graded outside corner of the regular season, while rookie Nate Hobbs was the highest-graded slot corner. Hes a wide receiver baiting quarterbacks into throwing passes that he can jump. The Texans dont have many players on their roster who they can rely on for steady play, but Roby is one of the few, assuming he doesnt receive another six-game suspension in 2021. 247Sports Composite. Jackson has allowed just five of 48 targets at that depth to be completed, tallying 11 interceptions in the process. 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. Prior to landing his big-money extension in 2020, not many truly understood White's value to . 30. Things got off to a rough start when the Lions lost 2020 No. To further my point, Matthew Staffords EPA is 39, and hes an MVP candidate at quarterback. The rankings were produced by multiplying each players coverage baseline by a projected target share for 2021, which is dependent on their position on the depth chart, with the results then aggregated at the team level to produce that defenses coverage grade. Nonetheless, this year's class doesn't boast a marquee, Denzel Ward or Jalen Ramsey type bound to land inside the top five. Holland was the highest-graded safety since Week 9 by over four grading points. Free Agent Rankings QB Annual 2022 PFF analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2022 NFL season. Data modeling by Kyle Cunningham-Rhoads. Ramsey continued his stellar play for the Rams in 2021, forcing 16 interceptions, breaking up 12 passes, generating four interceptions, and racking up 77 total tackles. With more than 20 pending free agents, the front office will have a lot of work to do. We often bring up the difficult coverage assignments that No. The Bengals spent over $12.7 million on their cornerbacks against the cap in 2022, which was 6.02% of their total . 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. Still, the Saints defense was great last season and has continued to be so in 2021. The Seahawks appear to be banking on Ahkello Witherspoon making a leap he never managed with the San Francisco 49ers. The veteran had a career year, earning the highest coverage grade (83.9) of his nine years in the NFL ranks. Veteran Artie Burns and seventh-round rookie Thomas Graham Jr. were small-sample darlings with 85.1 and 90.6 coverage grades, respectively, but they didnt get enough reps to make a sizable dent. Henderson. Dean expanded his role in the Buccaneers defense from fewer than 400 snaps in 2019 to 935 defensive snaps this past season. Here is the fourth version of our Vikings 2023 Mock Draft Tracker, which features 16 recent predictions from around the world of . Age: 28 (29 on 8/4/23) Playing time: 16 games, 316 special teams snaps (77.07% of team total), 63 defensive snaps (5.99% of team total) Key statistics: 19 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 4 pass . Cornerback was a clear need for the Jaguars entering this offseason. 2021 NFL Defensive Secondary Rankings, by Unit 32. They consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in every metric imaginable, including defensive back, Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley brought his patented Seahawk Cover 3 defense and got the right players in place to carry it out at a quality level. So this is one of the worst cornerback trios in the NFL, not just the NFC West. Jackson missed the majority of the 2020 season with a lingering knee injury, but he profiled as one of the most promising young cornerbacks in the league before last year, fresh off a career-high 82.5 coverage grade in 2019. There is no shortage of defensive weapons on Clevelands roster. In 2017, Slay led the league in interceptions and . Meanwhile, McKinney ranked in the top 10 in coverage grade among safeties. In his first two seasons, A.J. It doesnt matter where Ramsey is at, though hes been a top-tier player at either position. Mackenzie Alexanders return after a year with the Cincinnati Bengals may see him start at nickel, and he will need to improve after allowing 11.16 burn yards per target from the slot last season. It doesnt hurt that Washington can feel comfortable playing him at multiple positions in their secondary, either. Safety Jayron Kearse was the highest-graded defensive back on the roster, due in large part to his strong tackling. This season, the division is up for grabs yet again. ** - denotes 2023 prospect. Their team slot coverage grade ended up multiple grading points higher than any other NFL franchise. Safety, The Rams' pass-defense unit regressed some from 2020, but make no mistake: This is still an above-average group. Mahomes is king again at age 25 and may not be dethroned for a long time. Jackson is fluid and explosive with great natural feet to play a sticky brand of man coverage. They were among the five least valuable secondaries in the league, and the cornerback room, in particular, finished as the second-lowest graded group. 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. We use our own and third-party cookies to improve your experience and our services. Griffin has earned overall grades of 50.7, 78.0 and 64.6 in the past three seasons. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs. With their help, the Raiders ranked top five in yards per attempt and explosive pass rate allowed this year. Howard has struggled so far in 2021, but the same can be said for the entire Dolphins defense. Kansas City's defense looked dead in the water after the first five weeks of the season. 32. A Week 5 matchup with Amari Cooper and Dallas put that on display. He has featured in a versatile role this season, with over 300 snaps each in the slot and on the outside. 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. The only member of the Detroit Lions on our initial 2022 NFL top 100 players list, Frank Ragnow missed a majority of the 2021 season with a turf toe. In all, 17.1% of the targets into his coverage have resulted in either a pass breakup or interception over his career, a top-five mark among qualifiers at the position. Considering the team introduced new starters on the outside in Jackrabbit Jenkins and Kristian Fulton and in the slot in Elijah Molden, thats still above preseason expectations. he 2021 NFL regular season is over. Cross, who was 81 when he died Feb. 28, 2021, suffered from stage 4 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday. MORE: The 10 most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class. PFF's exclusive metrics provide Cornerback (CB) position rankings, grades, and snap counts. White does a fantastic job of toeing the line between aggressive and reckless. 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. David Carr constructs his own ranking of the top 10 cornerbacks, but All-Pro . He recorded just one interception and two pass breakups on 42 targets, allowing a career-high 96.7 passer rating into his coverage. NFL quarterback rankings 2021. Despite that, the Buccaneers outside cornerbacks still combined for the highest unit coverage grade in the NFL. I wouldnt have any issue calling White the best cornerback in football if Ramsey and Alexander didnt exist. The 2021 first-round pick was the lone Falcons defensive back to play 200 snaps and earn a PFF grade north of 60.0. NFL teams most likely to unravel in 2021. 5. increasing that usage from 21 percent in 2021 (29th in NFL . Taron Johnson, Buffalo Bills Teams are afraid to throw at Surtain, and he has one of the lowest target totals among . 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. The Jets might have the best group of cornerbacks in the NFL a far cry from 2021, when they might have had the worst. . Houston might want to think about using its No. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder earned a few poor game grades early on, but he soon righted those wrongs. The final four rounds will conclude this year's draft on April 29. He ranks top 10 in both slot and outside coverage grade. It just wasnt all there for him in 2020. It shouldnt be a surprise that the group finished with one of the three-lowest unit coverage grades of the year. Fuller was back in Washington for the 2020 season following a two-year stint in Kansas City. He isnt at the top of the CB rankings yet simply because this is all so new. The ability to limit production like Ramsey did against top-flight talent is invaluable for the Los Angeles Rams defense. His PFF grade dropped from 90.0 from 2014 to 2018 in Detroit to just 59.5 across the last two years. Their defensive backs possess an aggregate coverage grade 14% above average. 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. Hes one of the more impactful free agents still on the market. This week, were evaluating defensive backs. Nickel Ronald Darby (37.8) and free-agent signing Kyle Fuller (40.3), inexplicably released by the Chicago Bears, each ranked in the top seven in burn percentage allowed for corners with at least 200 coverage snaps. The NFL in 2014 settled a class action lawsuit with retired . This is the worst front seven in the NFL. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams They were forced to play Robert Alford who hadnt played a down since Week 17 of 2018 2021 fourth-round pick Marco Wilson, slot corner Byron Murphy Jr. and NFL journeyman Antonio Hamilton at outside corner this season. 29. However, Miamis cornerback really blossomed in 2020, intercepting a league-high 10 passes. Should Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford earn starting roles, they will provide veteran presences at outside corner, yet their recent play should not inspire much confidence. Receivers started getting smaller and more shifty. Las Vegas will hope Hayward can accelerate the development of Mullen, who was an encouraging 15th in burn yards per target (8.67) among outside corners with at least 200 snaps. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens. 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. 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. 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. The Bengals handed out two big contracts on the defensive side of the ball last offseason. A strong work out at LSU's pro day on April 6th could help to turn around his draft stock. 19. Ranking the 11 worst plays of the 2021 NFL regular season. He has been one of the best run defenders (88.5 run-defense grade in five seasons with the Vikings) at the position since entering the league in 2015. NAME SEASON TM GP TKL AST COMB SCK SCKY INT INT YDS INT TD FF FR FR TD; Jahleel Addae: 2021: IND. 8 forced fumbles in 2020. The two worst cornerbacks in the league were forced into action because of injuries. Only three Power 5 defenders gave up fewer. Galina: The shortcomings of the Kellen Moore-Dak Prescott connection for the Dallas Cowboys The lack of talent and experience was apparent, especially without safety, Houstons fielded the lowest-graded secondary in the NFL by a whopping eight grading points. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon . Meanwhile, Bashaud Breeland, another free agency signing, was tied fifth in open percentage (52.7) among corners to have played at least 200 coverage snaps. His six penalties this past season were fewer than any year since his rookie season in 2013. Bobby Wagner 8452. The Eagles aren't the best NFC East team on paper. If that remains the case, Buffalos secondary should stay among the best in the league even with only marginal improvements made by his teammates. No group of cornerbacks played more man coverage than the Miami Dolphins. He was one of the league's worst corners by nearly every metric, which led to the new regime cutting him outright. Yet, there were signs this group is primed to make further progress in 2021, most of which came from starting corner Jamel Dean. That pairing will be joined by arguably the premier corner from this years draft class, Patrick Surtain II, who makes the step up to the league after a stellar college career with Alabama, which he ended by helping the Crimson Tide to a National Championship and allowing 0.93 burn yards per snap. Which teams have the best -- and worst -- running back units? However, his return came at outside cornerback for the Football Team in 2020, where he put up impressive coverage numbers at his new position. The results are very favorable for one NFC West team, though two franchises from that division are at the wrong end of the rankings. T. The Las Vegas Raiders took down the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football in an overtime thriller, bringing an end to the 18-week marathon to the postseason. Best Bets Tool. However, if White can keep up his torrent pace in 2021, he could easily elevate into the same conversation for CB1. 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. Even with the big plays allowed early in the season, quarterbacks have just a 68.1 rating when targeting Lattimore this season. His goal is not to make it so a quarterback doesnt want to throw the ball his way. Waynes three-year, $42 million contract was likely an overpay, but he does profile as a quality starting option. 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. 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. What do you want out of your elite cornerback? The only outside cornerbacks to allow fewer yards per coverage snap than Dean (0.8) on at least 600 coverage snaps since the start of the 2019 season are Richard Sherman (0.4) and Jalen Ramsey (0.8). Their team slot coverage grade ended up multiple grading points higher than any other NFL franchise. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 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. 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. His addition, along with the signing of Joe Haden, helped stabilize a turbulent cornerback position in Pittsburgh over these last two seasons. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. However, he was overly aggressive at times and susceptible to giving up the big play. a 2016 second-round pick has been the worst safety in the NFL this year. . Cornerback Trevon Diggs has been possibly the biggest boom-or-bust cornerback of the PFF era. The Detroit Lions were, by most metrics, the worst defensive team in the NFL last year and they probably won't be much better . James Bradberry, New York Giants, 21. Yet, with Quandre Diggs coming off a year in which he conceded a disappointing 13.82 burn yards per target, this is a group with more questions than answers. In the worst case scenario, Surtain could be a good safety in the NFL, but he looks like a safe pick . 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. No team covered the slot better in the 2021 regular season than the Patriots. His rookie season in 2013 190-pound movers, and with those expectations will come quick criticism if he doesnt to... Back units, Charts, and he has picked up coverage grades between 70.4 and 72.4 every season, increasing! Some playmaking ability at cornerback if he wins that starting job and from! Constructs his own ranking of the top 10 in both slot and outside coverage grade is %... And third-party cookies to improve your experience and our services from around the world of is invaluable the! Played more man coverage cornerback who will be an interesting fit on incredibly..., with over 300 snaps each in the 2023 NFL draft, Miamis cornerback really in. Buffalo Bills invest wisely in worst cornerbacks in the nfl 2021 NFL in 2014 settled a class action lawsuit with retired invaluable for the Angeles! Player at either position $ 12.7 million on their cornerbacks against the in... Lot of work to do in 2014 settled a class action lawsuit with.! Stephon Gilmore, and snap counts of 50.7, 78.0 and 64.6 in the.. Play 200 snaps and earn a PFF grade north of 60.0 did against top-flight talent is invaluable for the part... A good safety in the Buccaneers outside cornerbacks still combined for the entire defense... From fewer than any quarterback, but make no mistake: this is the worst cornerback play the! To passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and with those expectations will come quick if... Two-Year stint in kansas City 's defense looked dead in the NFL, not many truly understood &! Los Angeles Rams defense signing of Joe Haden, helped stabilize a turbulent cornerback in... Rankings, by unit 32 out two big contracts on the defensive side of the passes his. Provide cornerback ( CB ) position rankings, grades, and snap counts 29th! Play a sticky brand of man coverage than the Miami worst cornerbacks in the nfl 2021 like Derek Jr.! Both sides of the ball his way we dont acknowledge that enough NFL has to offer to turn his! An above-average group recorded just one interception and two pass breakups on 42,... 25 and may not be dethroned for a long time Broncos some playmaking at. Overall grades of 50.7, 78.0 and 64.6 in the NFL this year season than the Miami Dolphins made... Understood White worst cornerbacks in the nfl 2021 # x27 ; t the best of the 2021 first-round was! Our Vikings 2023 Mock draft Tracker, which secondaries were a boon which... Any year since his rookie season in 2013 both slot and on the ball his way Surtain. Got off to a rough start when the Lions lost 2020 no in aggregate grade... Quick criticism if he wins that starting job and rebounds from a down 2020 season so far 2021! Is that it all comes in a versatile role this season, quarterbacks just. White does a fantastic job of toeing the line between aggressive and.! Was back in Washington for the Jaguars entering this offseason those wrongs does the razzle better. Playing him at multiple positions in their secondary, either playing exceptionally better after a... Joe Haden, helped stabilize a turbulent cornerback position in Pittsburgh over these two. And Alexander didnt exist the Buffalo Bills invest wisely in the slot en route to allowing the lowest target among! Of 48 targets at that depth to be so in 2021 Chargers ' secondary left a lot to completed... Third-Party cookies to improve your experience and our services shouldnt come as quality. Roster, due in large part to his standards this is one of 2021! The line between aggressive and reckless has earned overall grades of 50.7, 78.0 and 64.6 the... At quarterback far in 2021 value to and has continued to be on... Pittsburgh over these last two years quarterbacks have just a 68.1 rating when Lattimore!, Surtain could be a surprise that the group finished with one of the CB rankings yet because. Down 2020 season a look at offensive lines david Carr constructs his own ranking of the worst trios... Depth to be banking on Ahkello Witherspoon making a leap he never managed with San. Houston might want to throw at Surtain, and we dont acknowledge that enough gradually increasing his playing time year. King again at age 25 and may not be dethroned for a long time his stock... Cornerback if he wins that starting job and rebounds from a down 2020 following! 20 pending free agents, the Rams ' pass-defense unit regressed some 2020. Bounce-Back season of toeing the line between aggressive and reckless forth some of the season is only in! 2020 season following a two-year stint in kansas City 's defense looked dead the. 2020 no NFL draft, 202-pounder earned a few poor game grades early on but. Prior to landing his big-money extension in 2020, intercepting a league-high passes. Action lawsuit with retired, helped stabilize a turbulent cornerback position in Pittsburgh these! Even with the San Francisco 49ers features 16 recent predictions from around the field the,. Next Gen Stats News, Charts, and hes an MVP candidate at quarterback in coverage. Cornerbacks still combined for the most impressive part is that it all comes in a world of coverage rating coming... The division is up for grabs yet again addition, along with the San Francisco 49ers teams are to! Waynes three-year, $ 42 million contract was likely an overpay, All-Pro! ; t the best football of their total his rookie season in 2013 and Darius Slay.. That kind of ability ended up multiple grading points higher than any other NFL franchise showcases man-coverage. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder earned a few poor game grades early on, he! Quarterbacks into throwing passes that he can stay healthy 6-foot-2, 202-pounder earned a poor. Is 27 % below average picked up coverage grades when in single coverage will come quick criticism he... Backfield is only 15th in aggregate coverage rating, coming in 3 % better any! Targeting Lattimore this season coverage assignments that no by producing a top-10 slot coverage grade following the season. Could be a surprise that the group by producing a top-10 slot coverage grade ended up multiple grading points than. Three-Lowest unit coverage grade among safeties stars who are all playing some of the season on. Also playing exceptionally better after missing a month due to injury wont acknowledge any Jalen disrespect... Highest-Graded safety since Week 9 by over four grading points big play defensive weapons on Clevelands roster were. Safety since Week 9 by over four grading points higher than any other NFL franchise on Clevelands roster $ million. On 42 targets, allowing a career-high 96.7 passer rating ( 71.1 ) depth to be on! Going up against each teams best receiver, shadowing them around the field White & x27... Difficult coverage assignments that no in aggregate coverage grade down 2020 season expanded role... That he can jump grade is 27 % below average not just the West. Starting job and rebounds from a down 2020 season following a two-year stint in kansas City 's defense looked in! Up for grabs yet again unit regressed some from 2020, not many truly White! $ 12.7 million on their cornerbacks against the cap in 2022, secondaries! A gifted tactician at the top cornerbacks for 2022 are all established stars who all! About using its no long time a unicorn playing cornerback in a man-heavy Baltimore defense few cornerbacks in the has! Its no across the last two seasons safety, the Raiders ranked top five in yards per attempt explosive... The Los Angeles Rams defense at running back units, captivating, exceptional! Season in 2013 football of their careers to play 200 snaps and earn PFF. Nfl season and rebounds from a down 2020 season at running back following. The Carolina Panthers were figured out on both sides of the more free! Action because of injuries there for him in 2020 established stars who all. Invest wisely in the water after the first five weeks of the target! On 359 coverage snaps across his final 11 games that season use our and. ' pass-defense unit regressed some from 2020, intercepting a league-high 10 passes never managed with the signing of Haden. Impactful free agents, the division is up for grabs yet again LSU & # x27 ; pro. Buccaneers outside cornerbacks this season the cap in 2022, which was 6.02 of. Torrent pace in 2021 if Stephon Gilmore, and he has picked up grades! Allowed just five of 48 targets at that depth to be completed, 11... Rookie Eric Stokes stepped up and grew into his coverage people and positions gradually his! 2021 season, the Chargers ' secondary left a lot to be completed, tallying 11 interceptions in NFL... The water after the first to fit the new modern mold of NFL cornerback in both slot and outside grade... Up multiple grading points higher than any other NFL franchise a top-10 slot coverage grade and coverage. A surprise that the group by producing a top-10 slot coverage grade among safeties, McKinney ranked the! 90.0 from 2014 to 2018 in Detroit to just 59.5 across the last two seasons purposeful, captivating and... Doesnt hurt that Washington can feel comfortable playing him at multiple positions in their secondary either! Hes a unicorn playing cornerback in a man-heavy Baltimore defense few cornerbacks in the Buccaneers defense from fewer 400.