102 overall pick to close out the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday. Rex Ryans favorite player in the Big Apple made seven Pro Bowls in his career, as well. The greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time each held serve at the point of attack, never got beat deep, and were rarely even challenged. Humphrey sneaks into the final spot here over New Orleans' Marshon Lattimore, who had a down year in 2021 and allowed seven touchdowns in coverage. Despite the solid number, Haynes lost out on additional statistics based on his ability to shut down the opposing teams top stars and forcing teams to not throw his direction. It's that time of year again, when NFL players cast their votes to identify the best in the league heading into the 2022 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs made their final selection on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, taking cornerback Nic Jones from Ball State University. Quarterbacks apparently feel more comfortable throwing his way than they do when it comes to a lot of other guys on this list, and that's why he's able to make so many big-time plays for the Dolphins. However, Charvarius Ward is one of the critical pieces to the dominant 49ers defense that shut down the explosive Miami Dolphins, embarrassed Tom Brady, ended Seattles hopes for a divisional crown, and held Justin Herberts Chargers to just 16 points. Learn more about NFL+. In advance of the finale, Adam Schein provides his own personal top-10 list. Green, who was considered the fastest player during his time and also considered to be one of the fastest players to play in the NFL used his speed to make him the great he was on the field. Arguably the greatest cover cornerback of all-time, less than average tackling skills drop Sanders to third on this list. Shawn Springs 7. Not known for his tackling abilities, Sanders made up for it with his ability to shut down opposing receivers while being able to make a play on any pass thrown his way. Twitter GMs were going wild during the first round of the 2023 NFL draft Thursday when the Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes at No. ", Scouting report: "Known as the first one in, last one out, Stroud possesses all the intangibles that NFL Decision-makers seek from a franchise quarterback head coach Ryan Day has praised his work ethic and professional approach to the game on a daily basis." We included 32 cornerbacks in the table below to show transparency and highlight how close things got after the top 25. You can see Mel Kiper's complete final 2023 mock draft here. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-medrectangle-4-0'); As his NFL continues to roll along, Richard Sherman has anchored himself as one of the top cornerbacks of All-Time and could potentially play himself into the Top 10. ", Scouting report: "Blessed with rare athleticism, a lightning quick first step and violent hands, the Bulldogs defensive tackle makes a living in the opponents' backfield." The former Chicago Bears center was actually a member of the Decatur Staleys, making him the oldest person on this list. What Kiper says: "He's going to be their face of the franchise for years to come, though they need to focus on putting talent around him. Throughout the 1990s, Rod Woodson made a compelling case as the most complete cornerback of all time, if not the greatest. 19 on 'The Top 100 Players of 2017', New York Jets, 2007-2012, 2015-2016; Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2013; New England Patriots, 2014 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 29 career interceptions, Detroit Lions, 1967-1977 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Recorded 56 career interceptions, seven of which were returned for touchdowns Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Green Bay Packers, 1961-1969; Dallas Cowboys, 1970-1972 Three-time Super Bowl Champion, Five-time NFL champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 48 career interceptions, seven of which he returned for touchdowns Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1961-1976 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 47 career interceptions Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Washington Redskins 1999-2003; Denver Broncos, 2004-2013 Voted to 12 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Recorded 52 career interceptions, four returned for touchdowns, Los Angeles Rams, 1952-1953; Chicago Cardinals, 1954-1959; Detroit Lions, 1960-1965 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Recorded 68 career interceptions, which ranks No. Baltimore allowed nearly five more points per game in Weeks 14-18 without Humphrey than it did in Weeks 1-13 with him. While his style might not transition into the rules of the modern game of football, it worked during his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blount unleashed 11 interceptions, a first-team All-Pro nod, and extremely proudly: DPOY in 1975. Stroud rounds out the top five. Well, Im going to untwine the 10 best cornerbacks of all time. Cincinnati Bengals Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson 29. Raiders: Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez: "Terrific length and subtle weight that doest burden his athleticism. The former New England Patriots star was a key member of the teams success and their success on the defensive side of the ball. ", 7. He'll provide a big boost to a Chargers unit that ranked 29th in scoring defense in 2021. His success showcased as he earned two First Team All-Pro honors, led the NFL in interceptions in two different seasons and was named to five Pro Bowl teams. Woodson, who retired with 65 career interceptions over 18 NFL seasons, made the Pro Bowl during his final NFL season after picking off five passes at the age of 39. 10 all-time. Lets look at who the top cornerback in the NFL is and where the top NFL cornerbacks fall on the list after that. After being drafted with the fourth pick of the 1998 NFL draft, Woodson would go on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Oakland Raiders recording 64 tackles, intercepting five passes, forcing two fumbles and recording one interception return for a touchdown. Kansas City Chiefs, 1983-1993; Oakland/Los Angeles, 1994-1998 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Recorded 42 career interceptions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2008-2012; New England Patriots, 2012-2013; Denver Broncos, 2014-2016 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one times Has recorded 33 career interceptions, nine of which he's returned for touchdowns, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1977-1986 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 39 career interceptions, Detroit Lions, 1959-1972 Voted to three Pro Bowls Recorded 62 career interceptions, tied for 10th on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1997-2012 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Recorded 47 career interceptions, eight of which he returned for touchdowns, New England Patriots, 1995-2004; New York Jets, 2005, 2008; Kansas City Chiefs, 2006-2007; Denver Broncos, 2009 Three-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Recorded 53 career interceptions, seven of which he returned for touchdowns, St. Louis Cardinals, 1969-1982 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Recorded 40 career interceptions Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Arizona Cardinals, 2011-2016 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Has recorded 20 interceptions through six seasons, while starting in all 96 career games Ranked No. Over his career, Haynes recorded 46 career interceptions, two interception returns for touchdowns and recovered 11 fumbles. His athleticism and confidence are two reasons he broke out as a rookie, allowing the second-lowest passer rating in coverage (69.7) last season, per PFF (among 42 players with at least 75 targets in coverage). Sauce Gardner Named Defensive Rookie of the Year. With that in mind, we bring you the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. Michigan added another player to its No. ?Charles Woodson INT compilation?#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/AWOtn8ANho. Blackmon is the third Trojan taken in the draft along . Trevon Diggs is playing better at cornerback than he was last year when he earned All-Pro consideration and led the league in interceptions. His punt return for a score in the 1987 playoffs helped the Redskins defeat the Bears en route to their second Super Bowl victory. 4, and Ohio State quarterback C.J. NFL Draft Bible, What Kiper says: "He's explosive at the snap and finished well around the ball, even though he had just six career sacks. Bears: Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson: "He showed significant improvement in his footwork and his hand placement which, while still a work in progress, are no longer true weaknesses. The reason is that, even though his turnover totals are down, hes playing more consistently and giving up fewer yards in coverage. Hes already turned in high-level performances both years of his career. *Lets not forget that he was also a talented Kick Returner. Next Gen Stats had Emmanuel Forbes as the 2023 NFL draft's 2nd-ranked cornerback. Take a look at the best photos from the red carpet. Some of this has to do with the dearth of shutdown cornerbacks across the league, but Gardner is playing at an elite level. pic.twitter.com/PXh5LHpMES. Falcons: Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson: "One of the most physically gifted prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft,possessing the arm length, frame, explosiveness, and power to be an immediate impact player at the next level. Darius Slay has been a nightmare for opposing passers, with one of the highest rates of pass breakups in the NFL when targeted. Over his career Green recorded 1,159 career tackles, 54 interceptions and six touchdowns. Devon Witherspoon was the top cornerback in the 2023 NFL draft and was drafted accordingly, going to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 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. Sadly, Bailey never won a Super Bowl ring. His consistent production on the island led to a massive contract extension this offseason, but his health remains a concern as he has yet to play a full regular-season slate. Brown recorded 54 career interceptions and two touchdowns over his career while being named a First Team All-Pro twice and First Team All-AFL three times. Hes also made a whopping eight Pro Bowls! Over the past decade, CBs like Darrelle Revis (also known as Revis Island), Charles Woodson, and Champ Bailey have caused a plethora of agony against opposing offenses. 30 and 21. The NFL has showcased countless talented cornerbacks with an alpha-like attitude in its existence. Nonetheless, not needing each to be successful, the Top 10 Cornerbacks All-Time all had the ability to shut down opposing wide receivers and tight ends. Teams are afraid to throw at Surtain, and he has one of the lowest target totals among cornerbacks in the NFL right now. His rise in confidence and comfort level has helped him become one of the top players at his position. The five-time Pro Bowler is elite at seeing route concepts develop and understanding where he needs to be on the field. A little more inconsistent than the other cornerbacks on this list, Jaire Alexanders best is still among the elites. 19) Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars The former Heisman Trophy winner enjoyed a remarkable NFL career that included nine Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro nods, the 1998 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. 40 and 31. In 2021, he allowed just 200 total yards on the season. He also was a world champion as he won Super Bowl XLVIII. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter remains the No. His physical talent stands out immediately; its not just that players that large shouldnt be able to move with that speed or agility, its also that he does it with such fluidity and ease that it looks effortless. 50-41? Without further ado, here is our list of the top 25 cornerbacks in the league, factoring in all of those things alongside the PFF play-by-play grading. It includes every starting cornerback from throughout New York Giants history, including current cornerbacks and past ones. Some of these men are considered to be the best cornerbacks to ever play the game, and if you're looking for a specific football player you can look for them by using the "search" function on this list. and "Who are the best cornerbacks of all time ?" Deion Sanders Cornerback and Punt returner from Fort Myers, Florida, USA Age: 55 Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers A nine time Pro Bowler, two time All-Pro and the 1976 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Haynes retired with 46 career interceptions. Champ Bailey was a She-Hulk-like cornerback in his NFL journey especially for the Denver Broncos. He earned an 86.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus (first among cornerbacks with a minimum of 120 coverage snaps). James is the more physically gifted player. Deion Sanders, also known as Prime Time, talked the talk and walked the walk. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson Land? Who was the top rookie? Woodson also had two other AP seasons from his CB position (which arrived in 1999 and 2011). Even if he doesnt, hes a quality player. Sanders was a dominant cornerback in an era with numerous stars at wide receiver. The Best New York Giants Cornerbacks Of All Time. Playing opposite Slay is James Bradberry, who might be one of the best offseason pickups this year. New Orleans Saints (via trade) Bryan. Who Are the Best NFL Players Under 25 Right Now? Week to week, Diggs is doing an excellent job creating tough passing windows and contributing to one of the top defenses in the league by being a demon in coverage. This includes the likes of Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, Rod Woodson, Wilie Brown and Charles Woodson. Colts: Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents 45. NFL Draft Bible, our sister publisher in the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network, agrees with Kiper, naming Carter the No. While with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1996), he forced 20 fumbles and scored six defensive TDs. School: Alabama. 28)Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens Of course, he switched to play from the safety spot between 2012 and 2015. In 94, he ousted a personal best three pick-sixes. However, you've also got to consider long time vets like Patrick Peterson, not to mention Darius Slay, A.J. 20-11? 26) LJarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs Episode 7 of the "Top 100 Players of 2022" airs on Sunday, revealing two productive QB-pass catcher combos in the players' list between Nos. Which 10 players make up Nos. Woodson ranks third All-Time with 71 career interceptions and holds the record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with 12 over his career. Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots Gilmore is as close to a Darrelle Revis as the league has right now he's a true shutdown cornerback. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Over his 11 NFL career, Barney raked up 56 career interceptions, 10 touchdowns and 1,077 interception return yards. Ranking the best Cornerbacks in the history of the NFL such as Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, and many more, By Fan Rankings | October 24, 2021 - 09:05 PM. 17) Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs Blount was a key part of the Steelers defensive units that are considered to be one if not the greatest defenses of All-Time. The league's top prospects stepped into the NFL Photo studio for Draft portraits.