Projecting the NFL’s Top 10 Cornerbacks

www.newsday.com

Cornerback is one of the most vital positions in the NFL. As the NFL continues to change it’s rules to assist offenses, elite corners become more and more important to have. Cornerbacks are becoming increasingly reliant on technique as they lose their ability to touch wide receivers. These ten cornerbacks are able to stick with and shut down the best of wide receivers.

10. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos

Talib has consistently been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL year in and year out. Since being acquired by the New England Patriots in 2012, Talib has seemed to reach his full potential. When he was in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers his off the field issues kept him from playing his best football.

Last season in Denver Talib played in 15 games and intercepted four passes. Talib excelled in man to man coverage for the Broncos. He is someone that can be constantly counted on when placed against other team’s primary receivers.

Unfortunately, injuries have been a problem for Talib. The 15 games he played last season was the most he has played in a season since 2009. Talib tends to have nagging injuries that will hamper his play even when he’s in the game. When he’s on the field he’s a premier talent, but injuries tend to slow him down.

9. Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets

Cromartie is getting up there in years, but he remains one of the best in football. Last season for the Arizona Cardinals he intercepted three passes and consistently shut opposing receivers down.

Cromartie’s biggest problem is his physicality. A few years ago, physicality was welcomed in the NFL, but as the game evolves it becomes harder and harder to be a physical corner back. With rule changes and the quickness of today’s receivers, technique is more coveted than physicality.

Regardless, Cromartie is one of the NFL’s best man coverage cornerbacks. Although he will get burned occasionally, he is generally draped all over the opposing receiver.

8. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings

Rhodes will probably surprise many people. He is a name that many people don’t hear on a consistent basis when talking about the best cornerbacks in the game. However, last season he consistently stayed quiet by not being thrown to.

Last season Rhodes only picked off one pass for the Vikings, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’re an avid football fan than you know that sometimes lockdown coverage doesn’t lead to interceptions because you’re not being thrown to.

While starting all 16 games last season, Rhodes managed to rank 8th on Football Outsider list of “Top Leading Role Cornerbacks by Adjusted Success Rate 2014“.

7. Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins

Grimes is 32 years old and will start progressively sliding down this list. However, at this point in time he still has the man coverage skills to stay in the top 10.

Grimes is not the lockdown type of player that some of the other players on this list are, but he is still a great corner back. Last season he had five interceptions, including a spectacular one handed grab to stop a Calvin Johnson touchdown.

Grimes will continue to be one of the best man coverage corners in the NFL. He also figures to nab quite a few interceptions this season.

6. Chris Harris, Denver Broncos

Harris has long been under the radar, mostly due to little nagging injuries that have hampered his play. Last year was his first season where he played and started all 16 games of the season. He was fully healthy and for that reason was able to finally play at a very high level.

Last season he was also coming off an an ACL tear. This offseason he was able to participate in all team activities and is now in training camp with the Broncos. Harris will be fully prepared when his name is called to lock down the best NFL receivers this season.

Harris isn’t as much of a man corner as he is a zone corner. He is the first zone corner on this list. Typically, man coverage cornerbacks tend to be valued higher than zone coverage cornerbacks. However, when they’re as good as Harris is, zone corners are very welcome on any team. At 26, Harris is just entering his prime. Expect him to have his best season as a pro opposite Aqib Talib in the Broncos secondary.

5. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ have a below average defense. Last season they ranked 19th in the NFL in points allowed per game. However, one area of their defense that is actually above average, is their passing yards allowed per game. Last season, they actually ranked 12th. Vontae Davis is mostly if not wholly responsible for that ranking.

Davis is the first truly elite cornerback on this list. Last season he recorded four interceptions while also successfully locking down opposing receivers. Davis has flown under the radar for the majority of his career, but at 27 years old the Colts star is starting to blossom.

Davis’ greatest asset may be his versatility. He is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the NFL and can cover the deep ball as well as anyone out there. He can be used all over the field for that reason. In today’s NFL, versatility is key for many players.

4. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Peterson had a down year last season, due to health issues but he remains one of the best corners in all of football. Peterson’s appeal comes less from his technique and more from his freakish athleticism. Obviously being the fourth best cornerback in football requires a good amount of technique, but he uses his athleticism more than others. He is fast and quick enough to stay with most wide receivers.

Even in an off year for Peterson he still picked off three passes. He figures to return to his true and even up his game as he begins to enter his prime. He has been consistently improving his technique over his five year NFL career and that should take another step forward this season.

3. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns

Haden is a man coverage cornerback, plain and simple. He is one of the best at what he does too. There’s not a whole lot to say about Haden’s game.

Haden is in his prime at 26 years old and will continue to dominate every receiver that lines up across from him. He had three interceptions last season, which more than anything is a testament to his hands. He rarely ever let’s receivers get open enough that the quarterback would be advised to throw it his way.

Haden is an elite player in every way, but the top two players on this list are once in a lifetime talents.

2. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

This pick will surely be controversial. Many if not most NFL fans will consider Sherman the best cornerback in the NFL. Once again, Sherman is a once in a lifetime talent. It is incredibly hard to critique his game.

The biggest knocks on Sherman are that he doesn’t move around on the field. He generally stays on one side of the field and as a result, opposing offenses don’t need to put their best receivers up against him. Though with 24 interceptions in his four year career, I’m sure the Seahawks aren’t worried.

The reason that Sherman can’t be ranked first on the list is that he is a zone coverage cornerback. He plays in a comfortable, familiar cover three in Seattle. Sherman is by far the best zone corner in the game and is supremely talented, but man coverage corners are forced to do more work. Once again, Sherman is an absolutely amazing zone corner, he is the best in the league at what he does.

1. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Revis is the best cornerback in the game. He plays man to man coverage all over the field for the whole game and does it better than anyone else. He is rarely thrown to, because everyone is terrified to do so. Some have even said that it’s like he runs the routes for the receivers.

Revis is getting up there in age, but he still has at least one year left at the top of the NFL. His ACL injury should no longer be an issue after a full healthy, superbowl winning season with the New England Patriots.

In the Jets’ defense this season, Revis will be assisted by Antonio Cromartie and their amazing front seven this season. Quarterbacks won’t have time to think this season when facing the Jets defense and when they look to pass quickly they will see Antonio Cromartie opposite Revis. Needless to say, Revis could see more passes coming his way this season, which could mean an uptick in interceptions.