The top 10 cornerbacks ahead of 2025 NFL season: Who is ranked after Pat Surtain II?

With 2025 NFL grooming camps connected the horizon, the league's existent insiders made their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to assistance america fertile the apical 10 players astatine 11 antithetic positions, from backmost to cornerback and each positions successful between. This was the sixth variation of these rankings, and arsenic usual, respective players moved up oregon fell disconnected last year's lists.

A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave america their champion 10 players astatine a position, past we compiled the results and ranked candidates based connected fig of top-10 votes, composite mean and dozens of interviews, with probe and movie survey assistance from ESPN NFL expert Matt Bowen. In total, much than 70 voters submitted a ballot connected astatine slightest 1 position, and successful galore cases each positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped america interruption immoderate ties.

Each conception included quotes and nuggets from the voters connected each ranked subordinate -- adjacent the honorable mentions. The nonsubjective was to place the champion players for 2025. This was not a five-year projection oregon a vocation accomplishment award. Who are the champion players today?

We rolled retired a presumption per time implicit 11 days. The schedule: running backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), interior violative linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), wide receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).

Youth has cornered the market. The changing of the defender -- er, screen -- is simply a large taxable successful this year's apical 10 cornerbacks, which features 1 subordinate older than 26 and six players 24 oregon younger.

Several staples from caller apical 10 lists person fallen retired of the elite; fractional of the database is inactive connected a rookie contract. It seems that handling the rigors of matching the champion receivers stride for stride requires caller legs.

Many evaluators complained past twelvemonth that the league did not diagnostic a existent shutdown country similar the ones you spot successful Hall of Fame induction ceremonies oregon NFL Films features. This year, astatine slightest 2 players acceptable that mold.

Also, there's much pushback than ever connected placing nickel country into a abstracted category. The dense usage of 11 unit (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) -- and the assemblage crippled infiltrating the NFL -- has influenced bigger antiaircraft backs with shot skills playing wrong alternatively of out.

"That's wherefore you mightiness spot a Jalen Ramsey oregon a Marlon Humphrey play much wrong aboriginal successful their vocation -- get your bully players much progressive successful the game," an NFL secondary manager said.

Several young slot corners, specified arsenic Philadelphia's Cooper DeJean and New Orleans' Alontae Taylor, got information for the apical 10 but play chiefly inside. They mightiness marque the leap into the ranking adjacent year, but for now, here's the NFL's apical 10 corners based connected voting from executives, coaches and scouts.

1. Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 1

Surtain's grip connected the apical spot was stronger this clip around, arsenic helium earned astir 90% of the first-place votes compared to somewhat supra 50% past summer. He has intelligibly separated himself from the field.

"Complete bundle -- size, speed, bully tackler, bully shot skills, astute and instinctive," an AFC enforcement said.

On 56 targets, Surtain produced a beardown 19.6% ball-hawking complaint with 11 walk deflections and 4 interceptions. His 5.5 yards allowed per people was apical 5 successful the league and helium gave up conscionable 2 touchdowns each season.

Surtain often shadowed opposing No. 1 receivers but showed "no drop-off" successful his play arsenic a result, an NFL coordinator noted.

"You bring unit arsenic a defence and helium tin grip it all," the coordinator said. "Technician. Doesn't get bored doing it the close way. Extremely diligent and big. Can impact a batch of things with method and velocity and is ever successful control."

While immoderate evaluators saw slippage successful his play successful 2023, that was not the lawsuit past season. Opposing quarterbacks produced a 59.1 passer standing erstwhile targeting him, the second-best clip successful the league (minimum 50 targets) and markedly amended than the erstwhile year's 102.5 rating.

Surtain did play successful softer portion coverages that attached "nearest defender" to him loosely successful 2023, but helium was much of a classical antheral screen this past season. The results were impressive, giving Denver its champion screen antheral since Hall of Famer Champ Bailey.

2. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 10

Stingley and Jets country Sauce Gardner went back-to-back aboriginal successful the archetypal circular of the 2022 draft. While Gardner had the borderline done the archetypal 2 years, Stingley is winning the head-to-head conflict aft a banner 3rd season.

Now 1 of the NFL's highest-paid cornerback astatine $30 cardinal per year, Stingley allowed 4.9 yards per people past season, the fewest among extracurricular cornerbacks with a minimum of 30 targets. He allowed 42 completions connected 90 targets, including 18 passes defended. Opposing quarterbacks produced a 56.9 passer standing against him, which topped the league among corners with astatine slightest 50 targets defended.

The shot accumulation -- 10 interceptions and 31 passes defended since 2023 -- has elevated him to elite presumption connected his mode to first-team All-Pro.

"Best shot skills successful the league, successful my opinion," an NFC unit evaluator said. "Some of the INTs and tracking the shot successful the air, it's rare. That prime against Tyreek [Hill], 99% of DBs successful league aren't making that play."

The interception that evaluator referenced happened successful Week 15, erstwhile Stingley ran stride for stride with Hill connected a spell shot and contorted his assemblage to marque the diving pick. It sealed a 20-12 win for the Texans.

"He's physical, a batch thicker than helium looks, question skills explosive," an NFC adjunct manager said. "He has ever had this successful his game, helium conscionable had a dilatory commencement to his vocation owed to injury."

3. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 2

Ward has uncommon diversion traits that are perfectly suited for walk coverage. One happening holding him backmost was durability, but helium appears to person turned a country aft a career-high 16 games past season.

Ward was 1 of the agleam spots of a disappointing Browns season, starring the NFL with 19 walk deflections. His 26.4% ball-hawking complaint led each defenders, and though his 10.1 yards allowed per people is not ideal, helium deflected each 4th walk effort successful his area.

"Man sum quality -- premier feline successful this area," a high-ranking NFL enforcement said.

Ward's 17 interceptions and 95 walk deflections person led to 4 Pro Bowl berths successful his seven-year career. He has ne'er had much than 3 picks successful a azygous season, but arsenic 1 NFL unit evaluator noted, Ward easy could person had 5 picks successful 2024. He failed to decorativeness a fewer plays.

"Really bully feet, smooth, comfy with the shot successful the air," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "He's been bully for a agelong time. Has God-given endowment that you can't truly match."

4. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 6

McDuffie has emerged arsenic 1 of the league's astir versatile corners. In 2023, helium often played from the slot, disrupting opposing offenses with 3 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. In 2024, helium was featured much connected the outside, owed successful portion to injuries.

McDuffie aligned arsenic a wide cornerback connected a career-high 82.6% of snaps successful 2024 -- his erstwhile vocation precocious was 66.8% arsenic a rookie successful 2022. He was up to the situation of playing outside, producing 11 walk deflections and 2 interceptions connected 90 targets.

"Elite instincts to key/diagnose. Understands each the leverages you request to play wrong the playcall," an NFL coordinator said. "He has question and spot to support smaller players and capable velocity and leaping quality to support bigger players. Strong tackler. Complete player."

McDuffie is besides portion of that accomplished 2022 draught people with 3 players (Stingley, Gardner, McDuffie) connected this year's apical 10. All 3 person been named a first-team All-Pro. McDuffie was 1 of 3 cornerbacks connected each ballot.

"His versatility has been truthful invaluable to [the Chiefs]," a seasoned NFL adjunct manager said. "There are instances wherever helium tin conflict to decorativeness connected contested catches vs. bigger receivers, but overall, helium is precise solid, has large instincts and method and is precise smart."

The interest surrounding McDuffie is simple: His size (5-foot-11, 193 pounds) gives him a disadvantage compared to his peers.

"He does springiness thing up to bigger receivers, but helium virtually does everything other truthful well, truthful I don't sound him for that," an NFC enforcement said.

5. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 3

Gardner remains 1 of the much polarizing players successful the league. He reached superstardom arsenic a rookie, wasting nary clip entering the speech for the NFL's champion cornerback. He made back-to-back All-Pro teams from 2022-23, but immoderate evaluators person had problems with his play for the past 2 seasons.

"Needs a bounce-back twelvemonth successful 2025," a seasoned AFC unit staffer said. "Lots of missed tackles and penalties and didn't marque galore plays past year. Too much, excessively soon and thought the NFL was easy."

Gardner had a respectable 2024 season, holding quarterbacks to an 83.3 passer standing erstwhile targeted. He gave up 1 touchdown and recorded 9 walk deflections connected 51 targets. And Pro Football Focus precocious named him the league's apical corner. This is not a sentiment the league shares.

As aggregate scouts noted, officials flagged his handsy sum for holding much often successful 2024. He committed 10 penalties (one declined) past twelvemonth compared to 7 implicit the erstwhile 2 seasons combined, according to NFLPenalties.com.

"I similar his game, truly bully feet, long, bully astatine the drawback constituent -- but helium was getting enactment successful conversations that I didn't deliberation were morganatic oregon fair," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "When I ticker the film, I spot a top-10 cornerback. I don't spot the apical three."

One NFC unit evaluator said he's got shades of Richard Sherman to his crippled -- without the shot accumulation yet. The Jets are hoping their caller defense, with manager Aaron Glenn and coordinator Steve Wilks asking him to play much antheral coverage, volition bring retired his best. He'll beryllium asked to bash a batch aft signing a four-year, $120.4-million hold this week.

6. Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

Gonzalez caught the league's afloat attraction arsenic an honorable notation past twelvemonth contempt missing 13 games with a enarthrosis wounded successful 2023.

He reached top-10 presumption aft his second-year performance, arsenic expected, allowing 46 of 86 targets to beryllium completed arsenic the nearest defender successful coverage. That 53.5% completion percent was the third-lowest among 33 players with astatine slightest 75 targets coming their way.

"I deliberation Gonzo is the adjacent large one," a seasoned NFL adjunct said. "Skills, patience, length. He's the closest happening to Pat [Surtain II]. Smooth, large athlete, travels a lot, tin matchup against the champion guy."

Gonzalez isn't known arsenic a large thumper, though astir corners aren't. Physicality is an country wherever helium could improve.

"He'll tackle, but I wouldn't telephone him physical," an NFL coordinator said. "But he's got the size and sum skills to enactment him connected the extracurricular and helium tin grip himself, and helium tin besides travel up and play tally enactment and play wrong the conception of the defense."

7. Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 4

Healthy for a afloat play for the archetypal clip successful his career, Horn enactment unneurotic a implicit performance. His 68 tackles (five for loss), 2 sacks and 13 walk deflections reminded scouts wherefore they saw him arsenic a top-10 endowment successful the 2021 draft.

He appeared connected astir fractional the ballots, but galore of his votes were successful the apical three.

"His lone happening is health," an NFC unit evaluator said. "When he's been connected the tract the past 3 years, he's been good. Can play wrong and out, urgent and carnal successful the tally game."

That physicality shows up from the sideline connected Sundays. One NFC violative manager said it's hard to tally a "duo" play -- designed to get the moving backmost to the 2nd level, matched up against the country connected the extracurricular -- against Carolina due to the fact that of Horn.

"That's expected to beryllium the worst tackler of the (defense) -- not him," the manager said. "He'll cleanable that up."

Horn gave up 5.56 passing yards per target, a coagulated clip among this apical 10. He was rewarded this offseason with a four-year, $100 cardinal contract.

Added an NFL coordinator: "Excellent successful bump antheral [coverage], a precise bully blitzer and tackler."

8. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 8

Johnson was 1 of the astir accordant corners implicit the past 2 years with a combined six interceptions and 18 walk deflections. His shot accumulation dipped somewhat successful 2024, but helium was much disruptive astir the enactment of scrimmage with 7 tackles for loss.

"Really bully portion awareness. Sticky," an NFL coordinator said. "Versatile accomplishment set."

On 53 targets, Johnson allowed 32 receptions for 448 yards and 2 touchdowns with a 15.1% ball-hawking rate. In 2023, that complaint was amended astatine 17.5%, during which helium gave up 162 little yards (286 total). It is worthy noting that the Bears, arsenic a team, were a messiness past season, which tin impact country play.

Johnson often played Cover 2 nether erstwhile Bears manager Matt Eberflus, but helium should get much man-coverage opportunities nether antiaircraft coordinator Dennis Allen.

"I deliberation it volition beryllium bully for him," the coordinator said. "He's got bully feet, gets handsy astatine times, but helium has capable consciousness astatine this constituent successful vocation that helium tin marque a caller strategy work."

9. Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: N/A

Mitchell, the youngest subordinate connected this list, turns 24 tomorrow, signaling the Eagles person the extracurricular covered for years to come.

Mitchell was stellar successful the predraft process successful 2024 and continued that momentum passim his rookie season. When a receiver catches a walk successful Mitchell's vicinity, helium doesn't spell far. Mitchell allowed an mean of 1.5 yards aft drawback arsenic the nearest defender successful sum past season, the fewest by immoderate subordinate with astatine slightest 30 targets. The adjacent closest was Surtain astatine 1.9.

In 3 playoff games, Mitchell allowed 7 yards aft the drawback connected 5 receptions.

"Loved him coming retired -- heard a batch astir him passim the season, and it looked similar teams tried to find ways to propulsion distant from him," an NFL coordinator said. "He proved to beryllium capable to grip 1s."

This was true. The Eagles' defence nether Vic Fangio often squeezed the mediate of the field, leaving corners with chunks of abstraction to cover. Mitchell faced 76 targets arsenic a result, yet helium deflected 12 of those passes for a 15.8% ball-hawking rate. Veteran country Darius Slay (76 targets) did assistance by holding up good connected the different side.

"His biggest happening is confidence," an NFL passing crippled coordinator said. "He hardly played property successful assemblage but got successful people's pockets. He got truly bully astatine that."

10. Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 9

Witherspoon has back-to-back Pro Bowls to lucifer 2 consecutive apical 10s to commencement his vocation -- achieving the second successful adjacent fashion. Witherspoon won a tiebreaker with erstwhile No. 1 Jalen Ramsey for the 10th spot.

Statistically, Witherspoon wasn't arsenic disruptive arsenic the erstwhile year. His walk deflections dropped from 16 to nine, sacks from 3.0 to 1.0. But he's the classical tone-setter, the benignant of subordinate you request to spot successful person.

He's stout astatine the line, with a 90.0 tally defence people past play that ranked 3rd among corners by Pro Football Focus. He besides recorded 66 solo tackles, a coagulated fig for a corner.

"Extremely urgent, aggressive, fantabulous top-down velocity from the perimeter oregon retired of the slot," an NFL unit evaluator said. "Violent tackler, little assemblage twitch, bully blitzer, disruptive."

Added an NFL coordinator: "Better nickel than extracurricular country successful my sentiment but helium makes splash plays. You request to relationship for him."

Honorable mentions

Jalen Ramsey, Pittsburgh Steelers: Ramsey's trade to Pittsburgh should bolster his Hall of Fame way astatine property 30. "He had a down twelvemonth past year, but helium inactive had flashes of being the golden modular astatine corner," an NFL unit manager said. "His premix of diversion ability/fluidity, velocity and question skills astatine that size is rare. He tin play antheral oregon portion coverage, tin play wrong arsenic a nickel and has the quality to determination to escaped information if helium wanted to."

Pittsburgh is expected to usage Ramsey each over, with slot country oregon information functionality connected the inside, akin to Rod Woodson's modulation into Pittsburgh's defence implicit 25 years ago. Some coaches inactive spot a shutdown country connected the outside, but galore evaluators don't stock that sentiment.

"Still a bully starter but is successful carnal decline," an AFC enforcement said. "You could marque the statement he's inactive apical 10, but he's conscionable extracurricular of it for me."

Added different AFC evaluator: "In my opinion, he's amended successful the nickel oregon with specialty roles astatine this stage."

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McAfee ecstatic astir Steelers trading for Jalen Ramsey

Pat McAfee reacts to the blockbuster woody sending Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Steelers with Minkah Fitzpatrick returning to Dolphins.

Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: "He's champion successful the slot astatine this stage, but he's specified a earthy successful there, precise disruptive and tin get the ball, physical." -- NFL coordinator

Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys: "I deliberation he's made improvements arsenic a corner. He ever had the shot skills. Discipline is simply a small spot better. The injuries are present the superior concern." -- NFL coordinator

Byron Murphy Jr., Minnesota Vikings: "He made a batch of plays past year. You person to springiness him credit. He was seen arsenic much of an wrong feline to commencement his career, but he's connected the extracurricular and producing successful a large way." -- NFL unit evaluator

A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons: "Prototypical screen country with magnitude who has a batch of disruption. But the shot accumulation has been up and down. I deliberation helium would beryllium much of a household sanction had helium produced much successful that area." -- NFL unit evaluator

L'Jarius Sneed, Tennessee Titans: "I cognize helium had a unsmooth twelvemonth with injuries and immoderate off-the-field stuff, but helium was truly bully for 3 years [in Kansas City]. The Chiefs indispensable person known it was a bully clip to locomotion away." -- NFL unit evaluator

Also receiving votes: Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles), DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys), Charvarius Ward (Indianapolis Colts), Deommodore Lenoir (San Francisco 49ers), D.J. Reed (Detroit Lions), Carlton Davis III (New England Patriots), Marshon Lattimore (Washington Commanders), Alontae Taylor (New Orleans Saints), Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers), Taron Johnson (Buffalo Bills), Riq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks), Jaire Alexander (Baltimore Ravens), Nate Wiggins (Baltimore Ravens)