The Top 32 NFL Cornerbacks of 2022

By
Jack Tuttle
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208

In today’s NFL, true lockdown cornerbacks are few and far between. In a position that has become arguably the most difficult to master in all of football, the great cornerbacks of today’s game deserve some recognition. This list is based on each player’s current 2022 campaign as well as their past success in the league.

32. Marco Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

Wilson has shown some impressive talent in only his second season. Allowing only a 52.9% catch rate and a 71.9 passer rating when targeted, Wilson has been a bright spot in an overall lackluster Cardinals’ secondary.

31. Patrick Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

In somewhat of a resurgence year, Peterson is having a fantastic 2022 season, allowing a catch rate of 48.4% and a passer rating allowed of 63.9. He is, however, frequently guarding the opposing team’s second or even third-best receiver at times, preventing him from being higher on this list.

30. Cameron Sutton, Pittsburgh Steelers

Top 12 in the league in pass breakups with 5 and only allowing a catch percentage of 51.9%, Sutton has been holding his own as Pittsburgh’s most consistent cornerback in a defense still without superstar T.J. Watt.

29. Avonte Maddox, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles’ slot corner has only allowed 124 total yards on the season, ranking 20th among all eligible corners. Also ranking 11th, he has only allowed 11 total receptions in the 4 games that he has played this season.

28. Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas Raiders

Hobbs has been the Raiders’ most reliable corner since he was selected in the 5th round out of Illinois. Hobbs this season carries an overall PFF rating of 70.6.

27. Bryce Callahan, Los Angeles Chargers

The former Chicago Bear and Denver Bronco hasn’t missed a beat since joining the Chargers, shutting down the opposing slot receivers game in and game out. Callahan has yet to give up 40 yards in a game to his primary assignment and already has 2 interceptions this season.

26. Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Davis is having a down, yet still productive, season so far. This year, Davis is only allowing 1.3 yards of separation in coverage when targeted, ranking in the top 15 in the NFL. In a good bounce-back game, he held Drake London to one catch on five targets for 10 yards.

25. Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

The second-year corner from Georgia is having a fantastic season, allowing only 1.3 yards of separation when targeted, which is 12th in the NFL. Routinely being matched with the opposing team’s number-one receiver, Campbell is 16th in the league with 4 pass breakups.

24. Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals

Awuzie is having an outstanding season, overall. He currently ranks 5th in the NFL in pass breakups (7), 5th in catch rate allowed (37.8%), and 4th in passer rating allowed (54.8).

23. Greg Newsome, Cleveland Browns

Newsome has done a good job locking up the other team’s number two receiver overall this season, ranking top 16 in fewest receptions allowed, fewest yards allowed, lowest catch percentage allowed, and lowest passer rating allowed.

22. Mike Hilton, Cincinnati Bengals

Yet to give up 50 yards in a game to his primary assignment, Hilton has come up big for the struggling Bengals. Carrying an overall PFF grade of 72.2, Hilton has tackled well and currently is only giving up 1.3 yards of separation when targeted, ranking 14th in the league.

21. DJ Reed, New York Jets

Reed has created some highlight plays amid the best season of his career. He currently has yet to give up 30 yards in a game to his primary assignment, all while guarding the opposing team’s top receiver. Reed is also top 12 in pass breakups, fewest yards per reception, and lowest passer rating allowed.

20. Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts

Having a down season, Moore is still an extremely effective player. In 17 games last season, Moore held eight of his primary receivers to under 20 yards for the game. He’ll look to get back on track in the second half of 2022.

19. Ronald Darby, Denver Broncos

Prior to his injury against the Colts, Darby was having a phenomenal season. This season, Darby had only allowed 1.2 yards of separation when targeted, ranking 11th in the league. He also ranked 10th in fewest receptions allowed, 8th in fewest yards allowed, 9th in fewest yards per reception, and 13th in lowest passer rating allowed.

18. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets

The rookie out of Cincinnati has been extremely impressive at times. Since the rocky start against Amari Cooper and Tee Higgins, Gardner has only allowed a total of 4 receptions on 15 targets for 33 yards, while becoming the league leader in pass breakups with 9.

17. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

Ward has played stellar football in his first year with the 49ers. He currently ranks 9th in fewest receptions allowed (9), 5th in pass breakups (7), 3rd in lowest catch rating allowed (36.0%), and 3rd in lowest passer rating allowed (50.8).

16. J.C. Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers

Easily the most drastic fall on this list, J.C. Jackson has struggled since joining the Chargers. His talent and resume to this point keep him from falling any further, but after getting benched against the Broncos on Monday Night Football, Jackson is going to need to find his footing quickly.

15. James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles

In what is proving to be a resurgence year for the former Panther and Giant, Bradberry has played excellently in 2022. Ranked 2nd in the NFL in passer rating allowed, 4th in catch percentage allowed, and 3rd in pass breakups, Bradberry has been as reliable as any corner so far this season.

14. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Struggling so far this season, Ward has still shown flashes of his usual play. He currently sits at 8th in the NFL in pass breakups with 6 and will look to limit the yardage allowed as the season moves forward. Still very young and very talented, Ward has plenty of time to return to form.

13. Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers

Horn has had a phenomenal 2022 season, to this point. Ranking in the top 5 in target separation, receptions allowed, yards allowed, and catch percentage allowed, Horn has looked the part. As of now, the only thing holding him back is the small sample size, as he’s only played in 8 career games thus far.

12. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

In an up-and-down season for Humphrey, he has unquestionably shown more good plays than bad. Currently carrying a PFF grade of 70.0, Humphrey just needs to show more consistency before he proves himself to be a true number-one corner in this league.

11. Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another quietly outstanding season for Dean, ranking top 10 in the NFL in target separation and carrying a PFF grade of 82.6. Dean has only allowed 92 total yards this season to his primary assignment. After this many stellar seasons, Dean is in serious consideration for one of the best in the league.

10. Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins

Falling a bit over the last two seasons, Howard is currently having his worst season to date. Still an all-world talent, his previous seasons keep him just inside the top 10. He is leading the NFL in shadow rate, meaning that throughout a game, he is on the opposing team’s top receiver more than any other corner in the league.

9. A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons

Following an All-Pro caliber season, Terrell has taken a slight step back. Still ranked 11th in the league with 5 pass breakups, Terrell just needs to find more consistency and he can solidify himself inside the top five corners in the NFL.

8. Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

While his interception numbers may not be on pace to match his astounding total of 11 last season, Diggs’ play overall has greatly improved. He still gambles enough to give up major yardage at times but ranks 3rd in the NFL in pass breakups with 8.

7. Stephon Gilmore, Indianapolis Colts

At 32 years old, Gilmore has shown that he’s still a true number-one corner in this league. In his first season with the Colts, he’s carrying an overall PFF grade of 72.4. While he may have lost a step since his Defensive Player of the Year campaign, he is as technically sound as any corner in the NFL.

6. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints

In his 6th season, Lattimore is allowing a catch percentage of 52.4% and a passer rating of 75.1 when targeted. While he struggled against Justin Jefferson and the Vikings, giving up 7 receptions, he has only allowed 11 total receptions on the season.

5. Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills

Yet to play in 2022, White had an incredible season last year. Last season, White ranked in the top 15 for fewest yards allowed and receptions allowed while also ranking in the top 7 for target separation, catch percentage allowed, passer rating allowed, and touchdowns allowed. Recovering from an ACL tear, White should return soon for his 6th season.

4. Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles

Leading the NFL in pass breakups with 9 and already with 3 interceptions, Slay has dominated his matchups this season. Headlining these matchups, Slay only allowed 1 reception for 7 yards on 7 targets to Justin Jefferson, who has been dominating nearly every corner he’s faced.

3. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers

Astoundingly, Alexander has yet to record a season with a PFF grade less than 70.0. This year being no different, he has been a bright spot on the Packers’ defense. Staying healthy has been Alexander’s largest roadblock in his career, however, he is working his way back to his standard full-time role as the season goes on.

2. Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos

Shadowing the opposing team’s best receiver this season, Surtain is 5th in the NFL in pass breakups, 2nd in fewest yards allowed, and currently has the highest coverage grade of any corner in the league at 86.7, according to PFF. Having an All-Pro season thus far, Surtain is already pushing for the crown in his second season.

1. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams

The unanimous best corner in the league over the last few years, Ramsey is still at the top. After a down Week 1, Ramsey held Drake London, Hollywood Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, and CeeDee Lamb to a combined total of 6 catches for 67 yards on 15 targets while also having 4 pass breakups. The reigning Super Bowl champion carries a PFF grade of 85.8, showing no signs of slowing down in his 7th NFL season.

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