Follow all of your favorite Pennsylvania teams at Eagles Wire, Sixers Wire, Nittany Lions Wireand Steelers Wire! Via the Next Gen Stats completion probability model, which estimates how likely any given pass is to be completed based on factors including, but not limited to, receiver separation, air distance of the pass and sideline distance, Awuzie has allowed -6.6 fewer receptions than expected this season, trailing only James Bradberry. He signed a three-year deal with the Packers this offseason. Avonte Maddox is a player to watch in Jonathan Gannons secondary and as the former Pitt product enters year No. Yes, the crown still sits atop Ramsey's head, for yet another season. In a league that thrives on passing and, as such, the dire need of players who can halt such attacks, Diggs is the prototype. Everyone can't make a top 10 list, and that's the point, but you can believe some of these races came down to a photo finish. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND This is major for the Mean Green because the off-ball linebacker was one of the most productive at the position in 2021. Not only has Gardner been the best rookie cornerback, but you can also make a case that he's been the league's best defensive back in the NFL this year. The fact he's so consistent and has actually gotten better with age -- a comment you shouldn't take lightly when considering he achieved All-Pro honors as early as Year 2 -- only deepens the argument to keep him on the throne, and anyone waiting for him to take a step back and get comfortable after resetting the market at the position with his mega deal can stop holding their breath now. Each entryis free to withdrawhis nameat any time. Battle tested: After helping the Crimson Tide win the CFP title in 2020, Battle garnered a 91.6 pass coverage grade from PFF over the course of the past two seasons (led all FBS safeties). Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a catch against Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) during a game at Allegiant Stadium. Lattimore has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his NFL seasons except for 2018, and hit the ground running as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017. Alexander was PFFs top-graded cornerback during the 2020 season but missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury in 2021. He brings elite speed and length to the table on the perimeter. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Hobbs also has the position flexibility to play in the slot and on the outside, which is rarely seen from cornerbacks in today's NFL. XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. In the other eight games hes played, hes allowed just 219 yards in coverage while recording an interception. A sophomore cornerbackoriginally from Moultrie, Ga.,Danielsparticipated in10games this past season after aTexas Bowl showing as a true freshman in 2021. 8:09 am ET. He has allowed just 174 yards into his coverage all season. 15 targets) and completely shut down Minnesota's Justin Jefferson in their Week 2 matchup. With talent spanning from the east coast to the west coast, USA Today High School Sports takes a look at the top-ranked recruit in each state according to the Slay came in at No. Deonte Banks, 34. 2 overall (behind only Jalen Ramsey) and was placed in the elite category. In the leadup to the 2023 NFL Draft, Vikings.com is taking a look at prospects who have garnered a range of attention from national outlets. Chase transferred from Western Michigan to Illinois in 2019. Cornerback In a league featuring so much pass-catching talent, what's the pecking order at wide receiver right now? 2021 stats: 17 games (16 starts), 4 INTs, 13 PBUs, 1 FF, 1 sacks, 102 combined tackles (82 solo). 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. pic.twitter.com/2z1uOMp7nR. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Those factored into an estimated athleticism score of 98 from Next Gen Stats. As NFL players head into their summer break, with several weeks of rest to come ahead of training camp, teams are desperately hoping they've made the right decisions for their roster in their attempt to dethrone the Los Angeles Rams. Alexander has been a bit up and down this season, but his talent is undeniable. He is the seventh-highest-graded cornerback overall on the year (79.9), as he's allowed just 268 yards on 391 coverage snaps. Before he injured his knee, Awuzie was having the best season of his career. When the Raiders are in man coverage, Ya-Sin's numbers jump off the page even more, as he has allowed only one completion on 11 such targets for an 11-yard gain. DETROIT LIONS: CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, ILLINOIS 200 targets).#SFvsCAR | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/cchO91h0HO. He was clocked at 23.3 mph with a GPS. Minnesota also waived 2020 third-round pick Cameron Dantzler, Sr., who was claimed by Washington. This addition for Ole Miss was one of the most under-the-radar pulls from the transfer portal during this cycle. Thanks to a stellar performance in the season finale against the Seahawks, Ramsey finished the year with an 86.4 overall grade from PFF. NFL roster rankings for all 32 teams for 2022 - ESPN Avonte Maddox is No. 9 in a PFF ranking of NFL slot cornerbacks Who's the more explosive ball-carrier, Justin Fields or Lamar Jackson? NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Packers are only team with 3 players in PFFs top 32 cornerbacks rankings Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Kansas State cornerback Omar Daniels enters transfer Each week of the 2022 NFL season, the Next Gen Stats analytics team will present a different Position Power Ranking meant to spotlight the top performances 50, Man United in pole position for top four, but can't take their eyes off Liverpool, The VAR Review: Red cards for Jota, Skipp; Richarlison penalty claim, Zags, Vols have gained spots in men's WTE Top 25, Titans quarterback Will Levis opens up about emotional draft day, After hoopla of going No. Davis flirted with a couple of SEC programs during his short stint in the portal this offseason before opting to stay at North Texas. Gonzalez, 17. School: Oregon (after Colorado) | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 197 pounds, 2022 stats: 12 games; 50 tackles (35 solo), 1.0 tackles for loss, 4 INT, 7 pass breakups. There were a lot of good performances by cornerbacks around the league this year, but only two earned higher grades than Ramsey in 2022: Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain II. Follow all of your favorite Pennsylvania teams at Eagles Wire, Sixers Wire, Nittany Lions Wireand Steelers Wire! His five-year, $100.5 million extension signed in April tells you all you need to know about what the Browns think of him, and they're right. Sign up for GoPowercat VIP access and get your first month for just $1! These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. He is currently the No. Week 7 NFL game picks: Jaguars end Giants' win streak; Chiefs bounce back against 49ers, Chargers CB J.C. Jackson feels 'defeated' after benching on Monday night, NFL QB Index, Week 7: HAIKU EDITION! The former All-Pro (2020), two-time Pro Bowler and NFL forced-fumbles leader (2020) proved once against he's a lethal talent at the position, despite the losses around him. They've completed -8.0 fewer passes than expected and lost -25.8 expected points on those targets -- both of which rank first in the NFL among coverage defenders. He routinely draws the best wide receiver each week but has yet to surrender 80 yards in any single game. Combine the talent at corner with the players rushing the passer up front and the experience at safety, and the Packers should have all the pieces necessary for being a top defense against the pass in 2022. He'll be back on the field for 2023, however, and you can bet he's sharpened his teeth this offseason. The Eagles now have one of the NFLs most talented cornerback trios, with both Bradyberry and Slay making PFFs top 32 cornerbacks list. Its time to ramp up the preview for the 2022 college football season as Week 0 is just weeks away. The sophomore cornerback's name is now listed in the transfer portal. In the grand scheme of newcomers battling dynamic veterans for a chance to land on this list, Terrell is swinging both Mjolnir and Stormbreaker -- justifiably leapfrogging both Humphrey and Alexander in his first appearance on it. Put yesterday's performance in Jalen Ramsey's HOF resume. The metric and overall scores are based on each player's performance in Weeks 1 through 6. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound linebacker has made eye-widening plays on the ball over his career, as his 33 passing stops, 14 combined forced incompletions and interceptions, and 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 all rank top three among FBS off-ball linebackers. section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-10-cornerbacks-of-2022-jalen-ramsey-remains-king-trevon-diggs-explodes-onto-list | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Quarterbacks were generating a 58.2 passer rating when targeting him, and he had six pass breakups in eight games while not allowing a touchdown on 286 coverage snaps. 80 overall; cornerback 10 Size/speed: 6-2, 198 pounds; 4.36 seconds in 40-yard dash PFF skinny: Rush has the combination of length Already an ESPN+ subscriber? School: Alabama | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-0 | Wt: 190 pounds, Daniel Jeremiah: S1 (Note: Branch is listed as a DB; he mainly handled nickel duties but many believe he could play safety), 2022 stats: 13 games; 90 tackles (58 solo), 14 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 INT, 7 pass breakups. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Before we dive in, though, a note on our methodology: To help create quantifiable rankings, we have devised a formula that yields a Next Gen Stats percentile score, which measures how a player is performing relative to his peers. The Green Bay Packers are the NFLs only team with three players in Pro Football Focus rankings of the top 32 cornerbacks entering the 2022 season. Hes allowed just 258 yards on 58 targets while letting up just a 41.2 passer rating. With Alexander healed, Stokes entering Year 2 and Douglas re-signed, the Packers have a very strong case for possessing the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL. Harrison Smith reworked his contract this offseason in order to remain with the Vikings. Ever since last postseason, a narrative developed suggesting Jalen Ramsey is no longer a shutdown cornerback or one of the best at his position. He might not be the flashiest cornerback in the league, but Nelson has been incredibly productive this year. Unfortunately, not every team can boast such a thing, while others might have more than one elite CB to throw at not only Matthew Stafford and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, but any quarterback/receiver combo that comes their way. 1 / 87 Andy Kenutis/Minnesota Vikings 2 / 87 Andy Berg/Minnesota Vikings 3 / 87 Andy Expert rankings of players projected as safeties. For instance, he allowed a career-high seven touchdown receptions in coverage, which is a big reason fans seemed to sour on him this season. Log in here. He has yet to allow a single touchdown this season and has recorded five pass breakups. Biggest weakness: The right side of Buffalo's offensive line has some potential with Ryan Bates and Spencer Brown, but neither has much experience. The Colts Kenny Moore landed atop the list, followed by Mike Hilton, Jonathan Jones, Taron Johnson, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to round out the top-5. Forbes opted to play in the Bulldogs bowl game in part to honor former Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach, who passed away Dec. 12, 2022, weeks before the game. The Eagles now have one of the NFLs most talented cornerback trios, with both Bradyberry and Slay making PFFs top 32 cornerbacks list. 1 cornerback in the league in run-defense grade (92.0), as he is as physical as it gets on the edge. The Eagles have been dominant playing man this year, allowing just 3.8 yards per attempt (second in NFL), and Bradberry has been a key factor. The physical tools were always there, but Allen has managed to add the accuracy that was missing during his first few years in the league. Campbell might not be the most notable Jacksonville player to show signs of improvement in Year 2, but his growth has nonetheless played a role in the Jaguars' increased competitiveness. The second-year cornerback out of Alabama has made waves this season, leading a stout Broncos defense that has kept the team competitive in spite of having the lowest scoring offense in the NFL. He was once again one of the best cornerbacks in the league this year, even if he did give up too many big plays in coverage. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. Ramsey added a second interception later in the game, his fourth of the season. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This is a player who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent (2017) and had to grind his way to a starting role, then rewarding the Colts with a Pro Bowl campaign in 2021 that helped them to one of their most special defensive seasons in recent memory. Sydney closed his college career by helping the Illini lead FBS in scoring defense (12.8 points allowed per game) and recorded six interceptions against one touchdown allowed on 46 targets in coverage (according to PFF). At the quarter mark of the 2022 NFL season, the Next Gen Stats analytics team ranks the top 10 defensive lines. He also has two interceptions, including a pick-six against, Playing opposite Darius Slay, Bradberry has had an excellent bounce-back season with the Eagles. Smart move, Dolphins. A former WR turned CB, his ability to diagnose routes and the intentions of an opposing QB is as inhuman as his ability to close gaps and actually catch the ball, whereas many other cornerbacks see most of their would-be INTs instead become a pass deflection. 1? 5 with the Eagles, hell look to cement himself as one of the top nickel cornerbacks in the game. Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas all made the top 32 for PFF. Can street race king Perez challenge Verstappen for the title? He still has three interceptions on the season, and opposing quarterbacks are still mindful of where he is at all times. The Patriots' secondary has been excellent this season, with both of their starting outside cornerbacks making this list. Howie Roseman might have a knack for this. He also finished with 14 career interceptions in just 36 games. Pro Football Focus grades of 90-plus categorize as elite, 80-89.9 are good/high quality, 70-79.9 check in as average and 69.9 or lower are considered below average. A wild offseason filled with surprising trades shook up rosters from coast to coast. A key way to do that will be to make sure the pass rush and secondary are elite, and the latter will involve coming equipped with at least one dominant cornerback to help the cause. Best Cornerbacks in the NFL 2023: Sauce Gardner Tops In 2021, as Maddox moved back to the nickel spot full-time, things were different, as his 76.1 coverage grade was top-five at the position. Who are the most impactful tight ends in the NFL right now? Thats higher than the 84.4 grade he received in 2021 and is the second-best season grade of his career. Certainly not the highest on the list, J.J. McCarthy comes in ranked No. He locked it down in 2022, when PFF calculated his allowed completion percentage at 42.5 (second lowest among ACC cornerbacks). And while All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard is rightfully the centerpiece of all conversation about the unit, Moore has earned respect, hence his presence and positioning on this list -- a mostly durable cornerback who can both take the ball away and who doesn't make business decisions when it's time to tackle someone. Kris Boyd, a 2019 seventh-round pick who became one of the Vikings top players on special teams, signed with the Cardinals after becoming a free agent. Key stat from PFF: Stokes allowed the lowest rate of separation among cornerbacks in 2021. School: Texas A&M | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 198 pounds, 2022 stats: 9 games; 71 tackles (35 solo), 5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 INT, 1 pass breakup, 3 FF. Diggs inhales passes, and the more QBs test him, the more he aces the exam, now having 14 INTs in only 27 starts, and even Jalen Ramsey noted he's "one of the best" at taking the ball away -- Diggs now positioned to become the next highest-paid CB in the near future. This week, we've assembled a list of the top 10 shutdown cornerbacks heading into Week 7. Ward's elite ball skills have been on full display, as he leads the NFL with a 32.0 percent ballhawk rate (percentage of targets resulting in a pass breakup or interception) among players with at least 15 targets. Hobbs has missed a lot of time due to a hand injury this season, but hes been phenomenal whenever on the field. Which game-wrecking unit reigns supreme right now? And just before 2022 ended, he reminded everyone just how talented he is. Gilmore was one of the best free-agent signings of the offseason, as he continues to be one of the leagues best coverage players. From there, he was limited to only four games in 2020 due to the pandemic and played six games in 2021 due to injury. Although he recorded four interceptions in his first season and seven as a senior, he was given 0 stars by recruiting services. 29) and Douglas (No. He has the leagues best coverage grade (90.4), as he has yet to allow a touchdown this season. While he has allowed nearly 400 yards through nine games, hes also been the third-most-targeted cornerback in the league (58 targets). NCAA CB Position Grades | PFF Unfortunately, when it comes to who gets recognized for their work in the NFL, market size matters. Each week of the 2022 NFL season, the Next Gen Stats analytics team will present a different Position Power Ranking meant to spotlight the top performances among a specific group of players. We looked at both the PFF grades from the 2021 season -- a number included for every projected starter -- and a more comprehensive assessment of each player's career using both PFF grades and statistics. Banks and 22. 2022 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 25 off-ball Please check your email for a confirmation. Young CBs rise to the top: Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardner have dominated thus far in 2022, establishing themselves as the cream of the crop at cornerback. Veterans still playing well: Jalen Ramsey, Stephon Gilmore and Darius Slay make the top 10 after strong campaigns to add to their already decorated resumes. If he keeps up this level of play, the similarities will only build with another Seattle fifth-round pick: Richard Sherman, who was selected 154th overall in 2011 (compared to Woolen's 153rd in 2022) and went on to be selected to five Pro Bowls. Ward has allowed a 39.6 passer rating when targeted as the nearest defender this season -- or, in other words, the same number a quarterback would have if he threw the ball into the turf on every play. The Next Gen Stats analytics team uses its newly launched Expected Return Yards model to identify the top 10 returners of the 2022 regular season. While hes allowed a few big plays in coverage, hes also made some timely interceptions to help seal wins for the Vikings. His 712 yards allowed were 161 fewer than he gave up last season and he tied last years interception total with four. The 2012 first-round pick described his decision and how "it felt right to stay" with Minnesota. Position group power rankings: Where Michigan stacks up at Reed and Jordan Whitehead in the fold, the Jets' secondary is night and day from what it was a year ago, and it's leading a New York team that has won as many games through Week 6 as it did in the entire 2021 season. Playing opposite Darius Slay, Bradberry has had an excellent bounce-back season with the Eagles. Lewis Cine, Minnesota's first-round pick in 2022, is making progress in his recovery from the broken leg he suffered while playing special teams in Week 4. @nyjets | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/295hcX4Mf3. Click to sign up for GoPowercat's daily newsletter! 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Brad Spielberger's final mock, including Martial may not look imposing at 5-foot-9, 216-pounds, but that small stature clearly hasnt held him back. Kalon Barnes (nine special teams snaps in two games) and Tay Gowan (15 special teams snaps in three games) had their first opportunities with the Vikings last season. ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has five cornerbacks in his overall Top 25: 8. He has allowed only 244 yards on 46 targets this season and has yet to surrender a touchdown. The Vikings are also poised to return 2022 draft picks Andrew Booth, Jr., and Akayleb Evans after their rookie seasons were cut short. (For what it's worth, the fourth member of that 2018 relay team, Ja'Den McBurrows, is now a cornerback at Michigan). School: Miami (after Georgia) | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-0 | Wt: 198 pounds, 2022 stats: 11 games; 25 tackles (18 solo), 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 7 pass breakups. The Pitt product is an effective tackler who consistently breaks downhill and snuffs out plays underneath his 17 passing stops in the slot tied for the most in the NFL last season. Campbell, who was high school football and track and field teammates with fellow 2021 draft picks Surtain and Anthony Schwartz (Browns WR) at American Heritage High School in Florida, has put his speed to use on the field this season.