Top 10 Cornerbacks in the NFL – #7 Jaire Alexander
#7 – Jaire Alexander
The Packers defense took a massive leap forward last season and direct alot of credit to rising star Jaire Alexander. For the first time in a long time, the Packers secondary is a strength to their team.
Going into his 2nd season, this former first round pick has made it clear that he wants to be considered one of the best. When it came to prime time games, there wasn’t a Cornerback better than Jaire who always rose to the occasion.
Jaire Alexander had a couple dud games, but that comes with the volatility of the Cornerback position. The eye test has been passed for me as Jaire Alexander has superstar written all over him. He could very well become the best cover cornerback in the NFL.
Best Cornerbacks in the NFL – #6 Casey Hayward
#6 – Casey Hayward
I was shocked to see how low Casey Hayward was on the fan voting. Yes, the Chargers were a massive disappointment this season, but Hayward was still great. There were so many holes in this Chargers defense that it didn’t make sense for other teams to target him. He was clearly the most reliable player in the secondary and teams just plain out avoided him.
He is still able to run with the elite NFL Wide Receivers at the age of 30 due to his elite footwork and technique. Patience is the key for Hayward. When the ball is in the air, he doesn’t panic and finds ways to play the ball perfectly. In coverage, was targeted 47 times but allowed only 26 receptions throughout his 512 snaps in coverage.
Best Cornerbacks in the NFL – Honorable Mention Denzel Ward
Honorable Mention – Denzel Ward
I think it’s only a matter of time before Denzel Ward gets the respect he deserves. At only 22 years old, Denzel Ward shows all the makings of an elite cornerback. He made some costly technique errors this past season, but his great plays make up for it.
Denzel Ward only allowed a 42.7% completion rate when Quarterbacks targeted him which was the 2nd best among qualifiers. Even his 54.8 passer rating allowed was in the top 10. He only played 12 games this season, but those stats are still elite.
I think a lot of people are quick to write him off because of the Browns’ dysfunction, but Denzel Ward should easily be in the conversation for top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL. I would not be shocked at all if Denzel Ward has a breakout season as the Browns look to evolve from their status as perennial losers.
