Ranking the top 30 NFL cornerbacks for 2022
Ranking the top 30 NFL cornerbacks for 2022
The modern NFL relies on the passing game more than ever, which means shutdown cornerbacks are at a premium
The modern NFL relies on the passing game more than ever, which means shutdown cornerbacks are at a premium. I wouldn’t put any active corners in the same class as the position’s top players from the 2010s (Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman), but several players could eventually get there. We’ll examine them as we rank the league’s top 30 cornerbacks for 2022.
I organized this list by factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers. Stats come from Pro Football Focus (PFF) unless otherwise specified.
There are two 2021 rankings below each cornerback. The first shows where I ranked the corner among their peers during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each corner landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 30 Cornerbacks
Tier 1: Perennial All-Pro Candidates
1. Jalen Ramsey, CB Los Angeles Rams
2021 Cornerback Rank: 2
2021 Top 200 Rank: 19
2. Jaire Alexander, CB Green Bay Packers
2021 Cornerback Rank: 1
2021 Top 200 Rank: 16
3. AJ Terrell, CB Atlanta Falcons
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
4. Xavien Howard, CB Miami Dolphins
2021 Cornerback Rank: 3
2021 Top 200 Rank: 36
5. J.C. Jackson, CB Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Cornerback Rank: 12
2021 Top 200 Rank: 144
Tier 1 consists of cornerbacks that generally fall into one of two categories. They either shut down their section of the field, or they generate turnovers at a high rate while only surrendering moderate amounts of yardage. Tier 1 corners are franchise cornerstones that teams value at $20 million per year or more on the open market.
Howard and Jackson are Tier 1’s turnover machines. Since Jackson entered the NFL in 2018, the two All-Pros have combined for 48 interceptions, and that’s with Howard missing 11 games in 2019. The Dolphin has two interception crowns and All-Pro selections to his name, along with a third-place finish in the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year race.
Howard isn’t a true lockdown cornerback in the mold of Revis. The 29-year-old surrendered more than 1,300 yards and ten touchdowns over the past two years. However, he offers a good mixture of pure coverage skills and ball production.
Jackson, who led the NFL with 23 passes defensed this past season, also allows his fair share of yards. The former undrafted free agent gave up more than 1,200 yards since the start of 2020. However, it’s worth noting these yardage totals are mild compared to other corners in the league and fall within expected parameters for defensive backs who see 90 or more targets per year.
Alexander and Terrell play in defenses that stress zone principles. These schemes prevent the Second-Team All-Pros from surrendering as much yardage as corners in man schemes, like Jackson in New England.
Alexander missed 13 games with a shoulder injury in 2021, but he was incredible in 2020. The 25-year-old allowed well under 400 yards in coverage and surrendered just over 100 YAC (yards after the catch). Players who made receptions against Alexander averaged under ten yards per catch. Hopefully, the fifth-year Packer remains healthy in 2022.
Terrell is the player PFF and Pro Football Reference (PFR) significantly differ on in terms of statistical production. PFF claims the 23-year-old Clemson product allowed 200 yards in coverage and under 100 YAC. PFR pins 417 yards on Terrell along with 199 YAC. Either way, 2021 was a fantastic season for the third-year corner.
That just leaves Ramsey. The NFL’s top cornerback in the post-Revis/Sherman era took on an interesting role in 2021. Instead of playing pure outside cornerback, Ramsey adopted the ‘Star’ role, which is commonly employed in college defenses. The 27-year-old nearly doubled his single-season career-highs for snaps in the slot, box, and along the defensive line.
Even in the ‘Star’ role, Ramsey’s physical abilities and elite understanding of NFL schemes stood out. He set career-highs with 77 tackles and nine tackles for loss while tallying 16 passes defensed, including four interceptions.
Ramsey is one of two cornerbacks in the top 30 (along with Stephon Gilmore) who could retire tomorrow and have a chance to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tier 2: Inconsistent Stars
6. Tre'Davious White, CB Buffalo Bills
2021 Cornerback Rank: 6
2021 Top 200 Rank: 70
7. Denzel Ward, CB Cleveland Browns
2021 Cornerback Rank: 10
2021 Top 200 Rank: 123
8. Darius Slay, CB Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
9. Marshon Lattimore, CB New Orleans Saints
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: Honorable Mention
10. Marlon Humphrey, CB Baltimore Ravens
2021 Cornerback Rank: 4
2021 Top 200 Rank: 50
Tier 2 cornerbacks occasionally have Tier 1 seasons and have the upward mobility to reach Tier 1 in the future. It’s common for these corners to compete for All-Pro selections and end-of-year awards. Tier 2 corners are sometimes considered franchise cornerstones, and we’ve already seen three sign extensions worth more than $19 million per year.
Humphrey (26) and White (27) are in this tier because they’re working back from injuries and seasons that fell short of their lofty standards. White missed six games in 2021 with a torn ACL, and Humphrey missed five games with a torn right pectoral muscle. Both 2017 first round picks were First-Team All-Pros in 2019.
Neither Lattimore (26) nor Ward (25) has earned All-Pro status yet, but they’ve both made multiple Pro Bowls. The Ohio State products consistently miss a few games annually with injuries, although Ward’s injury streak is much more troublesome than Lattimore’s.
This past year was Ward’s first time playing in more than 13 games. In his 15 starts, the former fourth overall pick amassed ten passes defensed, including three interceptions. Ward allowed under 450 total yards and under ten yards per reception despite facing upward of 70 targets.
Lattimore’s rookie campaign is still his best to date. The former 11th overall pick struggled to perform at a high level in recent years, but his 2021 season broke a tough streak. Lattimore totaled 19 passes defensed, including three interceptions. It’s difficult to judge Lattimore accurately because he allows a ton of yardage each year (including over 800 yards in 2021).
Slay was a First-Team All-Pro in 2017. His reputation lived off that accomplishment for a while, but he honestly looked washed up in 2019 and 2020. Fortunately for Philadelphia, Slay returned to All-Pro form in 2021. The 31-year-old allowed the fewest yards per reception in his career and trimmed his passing yards allowed by almost 300. The former Lion also scored three defensive touchdowns.
Tier 3: Boom or Bust
11. Stephon Gilmore, CB Indianapolis Colts
2021 Cornerback Rank: 8
2021 Top 200 Rank: 79
12. Trevon Diggs, CB Dallas Cowboys
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
13. Marcus Peters, CB Baltimore Ravens
2021 Cornerback Rank: 11
2021 Top 200 Rank: 136
Three players fell into Tier 3 for several reasons. I established this category to hold players who have performed at All-Pro levels in the past but are plagued by injuries and inconsistency. These corners have different circumstances and styles of play, but they fall in a gray area between elite and above-average. At their best, Tier 3 corners post Tier 1-caliber performances.
Injuries limited Gilmore to 19 games over the past two years and eight in 2021. The former Defensive Player of the Year is a month away from turning 32 years old, which is usually around the time cornerbacks experience sharp decline. The arrow is pointing down for Gilmore, but we know he can still perform at a high level. Last season, the former Patriot allowed roughly 160 yards in his eight appearances.
Peters is 29 years old and returning from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2021 season. When healthy the former first round pick averages five interceptions and one defensive touchdown per season. He’s earned All-Pro honors three times in his six seasons with significant snaps. However, Peters’ playing style comes with its fair share of risk.
Peters was horrendous with the Rams in 2018, allowing over 700 yards. He’s prone to these rollercoaster seasons, but his All-Pro campaigns are significant boons for defenses.
Oh boy. It’s time to discuss the most controversial corner in the NFL. For the record, I really liked Diggs during the 2020 scouting cycle. However, I think his ball production in 2021 (21 passes defensed, including 11 interceptions) has skewed his public perception. Diggs is a good cornerback, but he’s heavily reliant on gambling for the football. His playing style backfires in ways that make Peters’ risks look minuscule, especially when you consider that interception totals are historically inconsistent year-to-year.
This past season, Diggs led the NFL in interceptions, interception return yards, and pick-sixes. However, he also led all corners with 11 penalties (per PFF), and PFF and PFR list him as allowing the most passing yards (1,016 for PFF and 907 for PFR) among all defenders.
PFR credits Diggs with allowing the tenth-most yards per reception (16.8) among all qualified defenders, tied with Daniel Sorensen. PFF lists Diggs as allowing 18.5 yards per reception, the most among all cornerbacks with at least 300 snaps played.
In conclusion, Diggs is a very good cornerback, but his game is the definition of boom-or-bust. He added plenty of value to Dallas’ struggling defense last season, but inconsistent play usually comes back to bite players.
Tier 4: Above-Average Starters
14. Carlton Davis, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Cornerback Rank: 13
2021 Top 200 Rank: 156
15. Jamel Dean, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Cornerback Rank: 14
2021 Top 200 Rank: 170
16. Adoree' Jackson, CB New York Giants
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
17. Patrick Surtain II, CB Denver Broncos
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
18. Kenny Moore II, CB Indianapolis Colts
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
19. Casey Hayward Jr., CB Atlanta Falcons
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
20. Chidobe Awuzie, CB Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
While Tier 3 holds potential All-Pros, Tier 4 consists of high-level starters that usually don’t compete for end-of-year honors. Some of these players make the Pro Bowl, but they’re outside of the All-Pro discussion by a significant range. However, teams still seek out these corners as they’re sometimes capable of posting Tier 2 seasons.
Tier 4 corners aren’t elite players, but their high-end play helps elevate defenses. Teams give players at this level contracts worth up to $15 million per year, although that number will likely increase in the near future.
Davis and Dean form one of the best cornerback pairings in the NFL. In 2021, the two 25-year-olds each missed several games but allowed under 700 yards in coverage combined. Davis and Dean are an unheralded part of Tampa Bay’s success during the Tom Brady era.
Jackson and Moore are unique cases. Jackson constantly battles injuries and doesn’t have much ball production, but he doesn’t give up much in coverage either. In comparison, Moore allows a ton of yardage. He’s surrendered over 1,500 yards in coverage over the past two years, but he’s also faced over 200 targets during that time. Moore is the first slot corner to appear on this list.
Surtain lived up to his billing as a rookie. The Alabama product amassed 14 passes defensed, including four interceptions, and a defensive touchdown. There were some hiccups along the way, but the 22-year-old is positioned to take the next step in 2022. I’m projecting with this pick, but it’s easy to fall in love with Surtain’s skill set and playing style.
Awuzie and Hayward altered public perceptions with terrific 2021 seasons. Hayward performed at an All-Pro level in the past, but his final season with the Chargers (2020) was ugly. The soon-to-be 33-year-old rebounded last year by allowing over 200 fewer yards than his previous campaign. Meanwhile, Awuzie stood his ground against more than 90 targets and allowed under ten yards per reception.
Tier 5: The Youth Movement
21. Greg Newsome II, CB Cleveland Browns
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
22. Eric Stokes, CB Green Bay Packers
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
23. Kristian Fulton, CB Tennessee Titans
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 5 consists of three young cornerbacks that each has about one season’s worth of starting time under their belts. These defensive backs, who are all 24 years old or younger, only have small sample sizes in the NFL, but their high-level college play, draft pedigree, and promising flashes suggest they’ll develop into Tier 4 defenders at least.
The ceilings and floors of players in this tier aren’t well defined. They could rise to Tier 2 by the end of 2022 or completely drop outside the top 30.
Newsome battled injuries as a rookie. He appeared in 12 games, earning 11 starts in a crowded secondary. The Northwestern product wasn’t outstanding, but he only had two or three poor performances in his debut season. Newsome has a bright future alongside Ward.
Stokes played the most regular season snaps among the rookie corners. The Packers dealt with a fair amount of criticism for taking the Georgia product in the first round, but their controversial decision paid off. Stokes totaled 14 passes defensed, including an interception, while allowing a completion percentage near 50% and a passer rating in the seventies.
Injuries limited Fulton to 19 games and 15 starts over his first two seasons. He looked much more comfortable in 2021 than in 2020, recording 14 passes defensed and two interceptions. Fulton allowed under 500 yards in coverage and a completion percentage of around 50%.
Tier 6: Quality Starters
24. Mike Hilton, CB Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
25. Shaquill Griffin, CB Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
26. Kendall Fuller, CB Washington Commanders
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
27. D.J. Reed Jr., CB New York Jets
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
28. Darious Williams, CB Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 Cornerback Rank: 7
2021 Top 200 Rank: 78
29. Byron Jones, CB Miami Dolphins
2021 Cornerback Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
30. James Bradberry, CB Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Cornerback Rank: 5
2021 Top 200 Rank: 66
Tier 6 players are above-average starters who occasionally suffer from poor play and have down seasons. While Tier 4 cornerbacks constantly compete for top-15 spots at the position and are average at worst, Tier 6 corners compete for top-30 spots and sometimes have below-average seasons. These players drop out of the top 30 year-to-year, but some peaked as Tier 2 corners in the past.
Hilton is one of the few slot corners to appear in these rankings. Other slot corners like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Nate Hobbs might have higher ceilings than Hilton, but the former undrafted free agent is incredibly consistent. The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately missed Hilton in 2021.
Bradberry and Jones are former Tier 2 players who failed to maintain their All-Pro levels of play. Jones hasn’t been the same since arriving in Miami in 2020. He’s allowed over 650 yards in coverage in each of the past two seasons. Bradberry was excellent in 2020, but the Giants cut him to save money just a year later as he returned to his normal level of play.
Fuller, Griffin, Reed, and Williams are inconsistent players with Tier 4 potential. Combined, the four have five or six quality seasons as starters. Unfortunately, those stretches of quality play are often separated by subpar seasons. There are reasons why those four are no longer with their original teams.
Honorable Mentions
Bryce Callahan, CB Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Cornerback Rank: 9
2021 Top 200 Rank: 89
Tyson Campbell, CB Jacksonville Jaguars
Rasul Douglas, CB Green Bay Packers
Ahmad Gardner, CB New York Jets*
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB New Orleans Saints
Chris Harris Jr., CB Free Agent
Nate Hobbs, CB Las Vegas Raiders
Jaycee Horn, CB Carolina Panthers
William Jackson, CB Washington Commanders
Jaylon Johnson, CB Chicago Bears
Taron Johnson, CB Buffalo Bills
Roger McCreary, CB Tennessee Titans*
Trent McDuffie, CB Kansas City Chiefs*
Elijah Molden, CB Tennessee Titans
Byron Murphy Jr., CB Arizona Cardinals
Steven Nelson, CB Houston Texans
Amani Oruwariye, CB Detroit Lions
Asante Samuel Jr., CB Los Angeles Chargers
L'Jarius Sneed, CB Kansas City Chiefs
Derek Stingley Jr., CB Houston Texans*
Tavierre Thomas, CB Houston Texans
Charvarius Ward, CB San Francisco 49ers
Greedy Williams, CB Cleveland Browns
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Pittsburgh Steelers