TOP 10 FROM NUMBER TEN 2017: CORNERBACKS

Top 10 from number ten is a new section where I will give my rankings based on my opinion of who are the best 10 at the position; any comments will be greatly received.

10. Marcus Peters #22 (Chiefs):

Peters is about to enter his third year in the NFL and the first two were sensational, he has 14 interceptions and couple of them pick six (one against Peyton Manning). He led the league in INTs in the 2015 season, went to the Pro Bowl on both seasons and he was in the first team All-Pro for the 2016 season. In terms of skill the guy is amazingly gifted, he’s got the speed, great strength and he is one of the toughest corners in this league. Marcus is one of the corners that intercepts the most in the NFL; he can step up in the big moments and earned a lot of respect from NFL quarterbacks quite quick.

9. Casey Hayward #26 (Chargers):

I am quite sure he wouldn’t like this, but he is number nine on my list, not close to one yet. Hayward had an outstanding season specifically because he is one of the most underrated corners in the league. He came to the Chargers from the Packers and has done a great job earning number one spot with the team. If you doubt his season performance checkout his stats: Had 58.1% Catch Rate Allowed, 12.7 Yards/Catch, 1 TD, 7 INT, 9 Pass Breakups and allowed a 53.4 Passer Rating. Some people says that he was that good because he fits the scheme of a mostly zone coverage defense, but scheme CB or not he has developed and I think we can expect even more from him.

“Utilizing a traditional backpedal or a “bail” technique (side-shuffle), Hayward keeps enough distance between himself and the receiver to see the big picture and react accordingly based on the route combination. This makes him a perfect fit for a team that employs a lot of zone coverage because this allows a corner to play with vision on the quarterback instead of locking in on his man. This might be why Hayward has played at an “A” level with the Chargers after a pretty nondescript four-year tenure in Green Bay.” — NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks

8. A.J. Bouye #21 (Texans/Jaguars*):

A.J. had a breakout season in 2016, being a part of that great no. 1 defense, we all expected the Texans to lock him up, but they didn’t and they do have a big spot to fill in for 2017. Bouye had a big role in that secondary he could travel to the slot or anywhere he was needed, he is the kind of player that steps up when the team most needs him. During the 2016 postseason he had 2 INT and 1 FF in key moments. Entering his 6th season, A.J will be a member of the best secondary he has ever been a part of and the expectations are high after he signed a $67.5 million deal with the Jags. The contract is set to pay Bouye $44 million over the first three years.

*Will play for that team on 2017

7. Aqib Talib #21 (Broncos):

When you think about it it’s unfair to have Talib out of the top 5. He is such a tough CB, he is fearless, he goes out there and fights every play, sometimes he goes way too far, but that explosiveness at the position is definitely what makes him one of the best in the game. Talib has played for the Bucs, Patriots and now Broncos, and has made a huge impact in all three teams. Talib had a good season, not as good as the previous one when they won the SB, but still up to the expectations.

6. Josh Norman #24 (Redskins):

Josh Norman might be the most debated one, some guys put him at the top, some don’t (like me) but I still think he is a good player and one of the best, he has good skills, he is always focused and a tough guy to beat one on one. He is not the Josh Norman we saw on 2015 though, that guy was tremendous, unbeatable, he was at the top of his game but not this year. Norman had a decent season in his first year with the Redskins, he was criticized because he did not travel with Antonio Brown on week one and this and that, but still made a big impact in that secondary, he is one of the best in his position when it comes to bringing guys down, he is fearless and always makes that clear.

5. Janoris Jenkins #20 (Giants):

Jackrabbit, that’s right, overpaid and overrated they said… But look at my kid and the season he had, had so many clutch performances this season, intercepting Rodgers twice in one game, shutting down Dez Bryant, intercepting Dak and forcing a fumble in that game and so many more, Janoris joined a secondary that lost Prince Amukamara and drafted a young talented guy like Apple and what a mentor and key piece he was. If the Giants defense went back to a top 5 spot in the league it was big time because of Jenkins.

4. Xavier Rhodes #29 (Vikings):

Xavier Rhodes had some huge games last season, and how about that one against the Cards where he allowed a passer rating of 0.0 against Arizona, picking off QB Carson Palmer twice and bringing one back all the way from his own end zone for a touchdown that ultimately was the difference. Over the season, Rhodes allowed a passer rating of just 31.5, the best mark in the NFL, and allowed just very few touchdowns. Rhodes is one underrated player that has been paying well in past seasons but this last one was outstanding.

3. Chris Harris Jr. #25 (Broncos):

When you talk about Chris Harris you have to mention him as a shutdown corner. Either outside or in the slot Harris gets the job greatly done, and does go up against legitimate №1 receivers. Last season, Harris allowed less than 10 yards per reception, and just 53.8 percent of passes thrown into his coverage to be caught, he has amazing hands, agility and speed and even when he is quiet with his mouth most of the time, he talks with his game.

Via: newsday.com

2. Richard Sherman #25 (Seahawks):

Via: NFL.com

He comes down as one of the only three shutdown corners in the league in my opinion. The member of the LOB has made himself a room in the top 20 players of the league. He is one of the big trash talkers in the league but his game kind of lets him. Quarterbacks don’t want to throw too many balls his way because he might end up with some. His speed, hands, ability to read QBs and stay up with the play are amazing.

1. Patrick Peterson #21 (Cardinals):

Ptwice on top. Can’t lie to you, I’m a huge fan, but let’s face it, he is the best in the game, the guy can cover from every spot, he can cover any guy, either if its Evans, A.J. Green, Julio Jones or anybody else. Peterson is a playmaker; QBs just don’t throw it his way. It’s not about the INTs but how close he always is to the play.

JAdE!

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