2017 Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks

 

1. Aquib Talib

Stats

Int: 3, PD: 12, Tak: 43

The best corner in 2016 was Talib. His play tailed off just a tad after getting injured and coming back but at his peak nobody was better last season. Talib’s coverage numbers were insane only allowing 36 catches for 372 yards and no touchdowns all season. He is one of the most physical players at his position and thrives in press man coverage. He is also an elite zone corner with terrific instincts and tremendous break on the ball. Talib was also one of the best at his position defending the run. He is a terrific tackler in the open field and does a nice job shedding blocks of opposing receivers.

2. Chris Harris Jr

Stats

Int: 2, PD: 11, Tak: 63

The best pure cover corner in the NFL is Chris Harris. He can cover from any position on the field in terms or right, left or slot. He has been great pretty much his entire career and 2016 was no different. He earned the highest coverage grade among corners from pro football focus and continues to establish himself as the best man coverage corner in the game. He has mastered the craft of playing corner with his elite footwork, recover ability, sharp instincts, and ability to mirror and anticipate his opponents routes.

3. Richard Sherman

Stats

Int: 4, PD: 13, Tak: 71

Talk of Richard Sherman being on the decline was definitely premature. He got off to a bit of a slow start by his standards at the beginning of the season but left no doubt he was still an elite player by the end of it. Sherman traveled more than he ever has in 2016 and proved he was more than just a one side of the field zone corner. Naturally when you travel more and play all over the field you simply will give up more catches than just playing one side but Sherman did as well a job as corner that was asked to play in that fashion. He only allowed two total TDs the entire season. Sherman also had another fine season defending the run as he is one of the best tackling corners in the game and has played well vs the run his entire career.

4. Patrick Peterson

Stats

Int: 3, PD: 6, Tak: 50

Peterson is still the NFL’s most talented corner. His combination of size, strength and athleticism is a package no other corner in the game can match. However, his play fell off a little from the level he played at in 2015 when I thought he was the best corner in the game. In coverage he can pretty much do it all. He follows top receivers all over the field and can cover in press or playing off. The problem is his focus is not always where it needs to be and at times he gets caught up in trying to get interceptions instead of executing in coverage.

5. Janoris Jenkins

Stats

Int: 3, PD: 18, Tak: 50

Jenkins had the best season of his career in his first season with the Giants. He became an elite man coverage guy that can line up mano a mano and more than hold his own against any receiver. He absolutely shut down one of the most talented receivers in football in Dez Bryant twice rendering him pretty much useless in both games against the Cowboys. He does a great job of getting on his opponents hip and sticking with them step for step. He reads receiver movements very well and beats his opponent out of the break a lot like Revis did in his prime.

6. Josh Norman

Stats

Int: 3, PD: 19, Tak: 67

Norman is perhaps the most competitive corner in the NFL with a motor that will not stop. He talks a lot of trash but he can also back it up. He is one of the top zone corners in the game that makes his living with his anticipation skills and ability to break on the ball and make plays. He is very keen at reading the QBs eyes and making them pay when throwing in his direction. Though  not elite he is good when called upon in man coverage. He is one of the more reliable corners when it comes to open field tackling which is another reason he is so trusted in zone as he can come up and make stops after giving up catches underneath and limit the damage.

7. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Stats

Int: 6, PD: 21, Tak: 49

Rodgers-Cromartie had a terrific season in 2016. He has elite size and athleticism for the position at 6’2 with blazing speed and quickness even at 31. With the addition of first round pick Eli Apple Cromartie saw more time in the slot than ever and thrived playing both inside and out. With his combination of speed and length he can matchup man to man with anyone. His leaping ability and length allows him to be one of the best playmakers at his position which is why he had 21 pass deflections and six interceptions on the year.

8. Malcolm Butler

Stats

Int: 4, PD: 17, Tak: 74

Since intercepting that pass and helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl back in 2015 Butler has done nothing but get better and better. He thrives in both man and zone coverage which makes him one of the best in the game. He routinely puts the instincts he showed on that infamous super bowl play on display week in and week out. He is comfortable playing in multiple coverage schemes and is one of the smartest corners in the game.

9. Xavier Rhodes

Stats

Int: 5, PD: 10, Tak: 52

Rhodes was one of the best corners in all of football in 2016. No corner had a lower passer rating against when targeted than this guy holding QBs to 39.2 when throwing his way. He also only allowed 33 catches for 384 yards and two TDs on 79 targets. He gets it done with his physical play and athleticism. Rhodes is fast and one of the best leapers at the corner position making him one of the best at contesting jump balls and defending in the redzone. He is one of the best press corners in the game and that was when he was at his best in 2016. Rhodes play was not consistent however, which is why he was not higher on this list. He can be a little too handsy at times and it got him penalized on more than a few occasions.

10. Marcus Peters

Stats

Int: 6, PD: 21, Tak: 51

Peters was one of the best playmakers at the corner position in the league as a rookie in 2015 and followed it up again with another ball hawking season in year two. He was tied for second in interceptions and fourth in pass deflections. He continues to be a guy that simply finds a way to get his hands on the football. However the biggest difference between his rookie and sophomore seasons was the improvement in actual coverage ability. As a rookie he made a lot of plays but he was also hit or miss as he gave up a lot of plays to. Peters was more disciplined and better all-around only allowing 51 catches, for 652 yards and three TDs on 89 targets. He still needs to continue to improve his coverage technique if he wants to be near the very top of the list which given the rest of his talents and ability is possible as he gets older and more technically sound.