The NFC might not tout the same quarterback gauntlet as the AFC. Still, defenses better deploy a viable group of cornerbacks if they’re hoping to slow down stud wide receivers like CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Puka Nacua and others (whom I’ve likely disrespected by not adding them to this list).
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Some teams have done a better job than others assembling cornerback groups in the NFC, notably the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. Other teams, well, not so much.
I dissected the cornerback groups across the league in my latest positional study, this one focused on the NFC.
Here’s a look at the statistics (via TruMedia, Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference) that I dove into for each team and player:
- Defensive production rating
- Opposing passer rating
- Pass breakups (PBU) or passes defended
- Interceptions
- Touchdowns allowed
The player rankings come for those who had at least 200 pass coverage snaps in 2023. The blue shades in the graphics point toward stronger statistics; red points toward weaker statistics.
GO DEEPER
How do AFC cornerback groups stack up heading into 2024 season?
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
564.0 (14) | 80.8 (6) | 72 (18) | 17 (8) | 21 (10) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
91.25 (1) | 60.8 (8) | 15 (7) | 9 (1) | |
41.0 (31) | 93.9 (70) | 5 (85) | 1 (42) |
Trevon Diggs, c’mon down! The 2021 All-Pro cornerback came off the physically unable to perform list early in training camp after a torn ACL limited him to two games in 2023.
In the meantime, all DaRon Bland did was produce one of the more incredible seasons in NFL history with five pick sixes en route to his own All-Pro honor. Fourteen combined interceptions in two seasons is a pretty impressive start for Bland. Throw in Jourdan Lewis at nickel and the Cowboys should be set … if Diggs is completely healthy.
New York Giants
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
547.75 (20) | 84.1 (9) | 75 (12) | 18 (3) | 21 (10) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
33.0 (45) | 72.4 (19) | 2 (114) | 1 (42) | |
36.0 (40) | 79.6 (30) | 11 (25) | 2 (18) | |
23.0 (73) | 94.2 (72) | 5 (85) | 1 (42) | |
25.25 (64) | 94.4 (73) | 1 (120) | 0 (83) | |
17.5 (90) | 115.0 (113) | 9 (41) | 0 (83) | |
8.75 (117) | 158.3 (125) | 1 (120) | 0 (83) |
The Giants should be happy with Deonte Banks’ rookie season. The 2023 first-round pick was a bit under the radar in last year’s CB draft class, which included Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter Jr., but he produced nice numbers.
Cor’Dale Flott yielded a 96.4 opposing passer rating in his rookie year and stayed basically the same in Year 2, while Nick McCloud produced a solid opposing passer rating in a smaller sample size (312 total defensive snaps). New York also selected Dru Phillips in Round 3 of April’s draft, and he could win the nickel job.
Philadelphia Eagles
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
541.75 (21) | 97.6 (29) | 73 (15) | 9 (25) | 35 (31) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
30.25 (51) | 80.2 (33) | 15 (7) | 2 (18) | |
21.5 (78) | 114.3 (112) | 13 (16) | 1 (42) |
Darius Slay is the no-brainer alpha of this group. And it’s no wonder that the Eagles are trying James Bradberry at safety after his troubling drop-off in 2023. With no one else charted, though, it goes to show how uncertain the rest of the group might be.
Isaiah Rodgers is returning after being suspended all of last season for violating the league’s gambling policy. The Eagles also drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, while Kelee Ringo opened eyes this offseason. Plus, Avonte Maddox is back after being limited to four games last season by injury.
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Washington Commanders
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
495.5 (26) | 105.7 (32) | 77 (7) | 8 (27) | 39 (32) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
35.50 (42) | 86.4 (48) | 4 (105) | 2 (18) | |
42.75 (26) | 87.3 (49) | 17 (4) | 1 (42) | |
21.50 (78) | 103.0 (94) | 11 (25) | 1 (42) | |
29.50 (55) | 119.2 (114) | 10 (34) | 1 (42) |
Benjamin St-Juste seems like the most reliable corner of the primarily young bunch — he’s coming off a 2023 campaign in which he posted a decent opposing passer rating and 17 pass breakups. Emmanuel Forbes Jr., the team’s 2023 first-rounder, is starting from scratch a bit with Dan Quinn and a new defensive staff.
Rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil could be the Commanders’ nickel corner. Michael Davis inked a deal earlier in the offseason but is coming off easily his worst season, in his final year with the Los Angeles Chargers.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
593.00 (7) | 88.0 (13) | 76 (10) | 22 (1) | 31 (29) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
47.0 (21) | 50.9 (3) | 10 (34) | 4 (5) | |
69.5 (2) | 93.7 (66) | 16 (5) | 4 (5) | |
39.25 (34) | 93.9 (68) | 6 (70) | 2 (18) | |
24.25 (68) | 93.9 (68) | 6 (70) | 0 (83) |
The Bears’ top trio of Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon should have the franchise feeling pretty confident. Johnson has improved every season and now stands as a premier corner, which really showed up in Year 4 — he improved his passer rating allowed by more than 40 points from 2023. Stevenson played as well as any rookie last season, and Gordon’s opposing passer rating improved by nearly 10 points in his second year.
Having Terell Smith as a fourth option seems like a win, as he’s entering his second season.
Detroit Lions
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
559.5 (16) | 91.5 (21) | 76 (10) | 16 (11) | 28 (27) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
40.5 (32) | 87.4 (50) | 6 (70) | 2 (18) | |
29.0 (57) | 96.1 (78) | 9 (41) | 2 (18) |
Quite the new-look cornerback group, with former longtime Buccaneer Carlton Davis serving as the veteran voice. Davis’ opposing passer rating jumped into the 90s last season for the first time since his rookie season of 2018, but he’s still a No. 1-type corner.
The youth movement came with Detroit going corner in Rounds 1 and 2 in April — Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., respectively. On the veteran side, Emmanuel Moseley’s bad injury luck continued as he’s out indefinitely (again), but Amik Robertson has improved the past two years.
Green Bay Packers
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
493.0 (27) | 94.7 (25) | 67 (22) | 7 (31) | 21 (10) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
18.75 (87) | 81.2 (36) | 7 (58) | 1 (42) | |
11.0 (110) | 84.8 (43) | 9 (41) | 0 (83) | |
30.0 (52) | 104.8 (97) | 6 (70) | 1 (42) | |
14.75 (102) | 113.4 (109) | 5 (85) | 0 (83) |
Eric Stokes on a contract year? Not a bad time for the 2021 first-rounder to stay healthy and make plays — it’s been a while since the 71.3 opposing passer rating of his rookie year. The Packers could use a bounce-back year from both Stokes and Jaire Alexander, whose opposing passer rating jumped 50 points from 2022.
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Second-year corner Carrington Valentine surprised as a seventh-round pick last season, while having to start 12 games in a pinch. You’d think the Packers would prefer not to play Keisean Nixon a ton on defense, like they had to last year.
Minnesota Vikings
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
536.5 (22) | 95.2 (26) | 66 (24) | 11 (19) | 23 (17) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
17.75 (89) | 72.4 (19) | 5 (85) | 1 (42) | |
18.25 (88) | 81.8 (39) | 8 (50) | 1 (42) | |
46.25 (22) | 97.8 (85) | 13 (16) | 3 (12) | |
44.25 (24) | 120.4 (116) | 7 (58) | 1 (42) |
Tough news for the Vikings with Mekhi Blackmon tearing his ACL to open camp. Minnesota signed veteran Fabian Moreau (98.5 opposing passer rating in 2023) in response, and the former Denver Broncos starter is battling for a roster spot.
Shaq Griffin’s opposing passer rating improved dramatically in 2023 compared to the previous two seasons (about 110.0). That said, the Vikings are his fourth team in three seasons. Byron Murphy Jr. will play either the other outside spot or nickel, and it sounds like the Vikings want Akayleb Evans in the mix, despite a rough 2023 season.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
482.25 (28) | 90.3 (19) | 65 (25) | 8 (27) | 24 (22) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9.25 (115) | 86.3 (47) | 1 (120) | 0 (83) | |
8.75 (117) | 88.8 (54) | 5 (85) | 0 (83) | |
20.0 (83) | 90.8 (58) | 11 (25) | 1 (42) | |
15.25 (99) | 93.2 (65) | 11 (25) | 0 (83) | |
16.25 (94) | 97.6 (84) | 6 (70) | 0 (83) |
A.J. Terrell is a no-brainer starter, but he hasn’t been as effective the past two years as he was in 2021 (61.0 opposing passer rating) — he’s had no interceptions and a combined opposing passer rating around 100.0 since then.
The opposite corner spot could come down to Clark Phillips III and Mike Hughes. Atlanta also could opt to put Phillips, the team’s 2023 fourth-round pick, at the nickel to battle it out with Dee Alford. No matter who’s playing, the Falcons could use a significant uptick in interceptions and pass breakups.
Carolina Panthers
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
390.0 (32) | 88.8 (15) | 62 (27) | 8 (27) | 19 (4) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
30.0 (52) | 96.3 (79) | 6 (70) | 1 (42) | |
15.75 (97) | 109.6 (102) | 5 (85) | 0 (83) |
Jaycee Horn has played only 22 total games his first three seasons, including six in 2023. If that trend doesn’t change, the Panthers will be in a tough spot again.
Carolina added a couple of veterans in Dane Jackson and Troy Hill. Jackson appears to be winning the job as the team’s second starting corner, despite coming off a rough season in Buffalo; Hill has improved his opposing passer rating a good bit after a 129.7 mark across two years with Cleveland.
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New Orleans Saints
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
554.75 (17) | 79.7 (5) | 94 (1) | 18 (3) | 22 (16) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
63.0 (6) | 62.7 (9) | 18 (3) | 4 (5) | |
24.0 (70) | 74.7 (23) | 8 (50) | 1 (42) | |
52.75 (13) | 85.6 (45) | 14 (9) | 2 (18) |
The cornerback group might be the Saints’ strongest unit. Marshon Lattimore missed seven games with injuries in 2023, but he seems to be making a return — despite scuttlebutt surrounding a trade or release. The Saints more than held things together last year, though, thanks to Paulson Adebo’s emergence. The transformation for Adebo has been nothing short of incredible after he posted a 119.6 opposing passer rating in 2022.
Alontae Taylor continues to be a solid piece at nickel. New Orleans also added Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2 of April’s draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
600.75 (6) | 92.0 (22) | 61 (28) | 13 (17) | 23 (17) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
33.0 (45) | 91.0 (60) | 9 (41) | 0 (83) | |
23.25 (72) | 111.0 (103) | 4 (105) | 0 (83) | |
24.75 (66) | 111.6 (105) | 1 (120) | 0 (83) |
Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. can’t play every corner spot, but the Bucs probably wish he could given some of the opposing passer rating numbers of his teammates.
With Davis in Detroit, the second cornerback spot opposite Jamel Dean lingers as a question mark. Zyon McCollum, the team’s 2022 fifth-round pick, seems primed to win the job — he showed improvement last year after a 118.7 opposing passer rating his rookie season. It’s Dean who took a noticeable fall, down from an 86.0 rating in 2022. Rookie Tykee Smith (third-round pick) could slide into the nickel job. Veteran Bryce Hall landed in Tampa Bay early in free agency, as well.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
410.25 (31) | 102.9 (31) | 61 (28) | 11 (19) | 32 (30) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15.75 (97) | 79.6 (30) | 2 (114) | 1 (42) | |
46.25 (22) | 91.8 (63) | 8 (50) | 2 (18) | |
12.75 (109) | 113.1 (107) | 4 (105) | 0 (83) | |
9.50 (114) | 131.0 (121) | 5 (85) | 0 (83) |
All the splattering of red within the charts is why the Cardinals spent three draft picks on cornerbacks: Max Melton (Round 2), Elijah Jones (Round 3), Jaden Davis (Round 7). That happened on top of Arizona adding veteran corner Sean Murphy-Bunting, who’s coming off his first full-time starting role in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans.
Given the rest of the roster, you’d imagine Melton becoming the Day 1 starter. Second-year defender Garrett Williams looks like the top returning corner and a viable nickel option.
Los Angeles Rams
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
515.5 (24) | 88.0 (12) | 73 (15) | 10 (23) | 24 (22) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
57.25 (10) | 63.9 (11) | 19 (2) | 4 (5) | |
22.25 (74) | 89.7 (56) | 10 (34) | 1 (42) | |
9.75 (113) | 90.9 (59) | 6 (70) | 0 (83) |
Darious Williams may be 31 years old, but he put together consecutive seasons of opposing passer ratings in the 60s while in Jacksonville. That’s elite level. Adding him should be a plus. Bringing on Tre’Davious White could be, too, but I’m keeping the “could be” disclaimer on White because of his injury history — he played only 10 total games the past two years in Buffalo. When he was on the field, White allowed a passer rating of 75.8 in 2022 and just 70.8 last season.
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The Rams received a tough blow with Derion Kendrick going down in training camp with a torn ACL.
San Francisco 49ers
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
644.50 (2) | 79.6 (4) | 77 (7) | 22 (1) | 20 (8) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
64.0 (4) | 64.5 (12) | 23 (1) | 5 (2) | |
49.0 (17) | 75.2 (26) | 10 (34) | 3 (12) | |
17.25 (91) | 83.9 (42) | 14 (9) | 1 (42) | |
24.75 (66) | 97.9 (86) | 7 (58) | 1 (42) |
A bit of a familiar refrain when it comes to the 49ers, as they’re in good shape at corner, even if some names aren’t super well-known.
Now, Charvarius Ward should be known as one of the best cornerbacks in the league — he’s coming off easily his best NFL season. Deommodore Lenoir used a successful 2022 playoffs (two interceptions) to elevate his play last season. He’s moved inside to the nickel spots in training camp alongside former Saints defender Isaac Yiadom, who came over in free agency after an under-the-radar 2023 performance. The 49ers also added Renardo Green in Round 2 of April’s draft.
Seattle Seahawks
| team | Def Prod rtg | Psr Rt | PBU | INT | TD allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
563.5 (15) | 92.1 (23) | 75 (12) | 11 (19) | 21 (10) |
| player | Def prod rtg | Pass rtg | Pass def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
31.25 (48) | 79.8 (32) | 11 (25) | 2 (18) | |
53.75 (11) | 87.9 (52) | 16 (5) | 1 (42) | |
42.5 (27) | 90.0 (57) | 6 (70) | 2 (18) | |
10.5 (111) | 95.1 (76) | 5 (85) | 0 (83) |
The Seahawks possess a potentially great young duo of Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. Woolen, a 2022 fifth-round pick, watched his opposing passer rating jump by more than 30 points in 2023 — but it’d still be welcomed by any defensive coordinator. Witherspoon, a 2023 first-rounder, ranked among the league leaders in pass breakups but also yielded a 118.7 opposing passer rating or higher in four of Seattle’s final seven games last year.
Tre Brown became a solid option last season, when he saw the most extensive play of his three-year NFL career.
(Top photo of Devon Witherspoon, left, and Riq Woolen: Jane Gershovich / Getty Images)
