Who is the Best Cornerback in the NFL Right Now?

The start of the 2024 NFL season is just around the corner as players and teams continue to prep for what looks to be an exciting schedule. As you start to look around the NFL and the current landscape of the offensive game plan philosophy around the league, the need for at least one shutdown cornerback is almost a guarantee for any team to compete for a chance to win the Super Bowl if not two or three talented cornerbacks. One of those talented quarterbacks is the New York Jets standout cornerback Sauce Gardner who lands at the top of the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list.

Gardner is a terrific all-around defender while ranking among the top two players at the position in an extensive list of statistics including ranking first posting a 92.1 coverage grade according to PFF.

In addition, the third-year cornerback who played his collegiate career with the Cincinnati Bearcats is one of the most physical cornerbacks in the league and a player who is all around the football despite only posting two interceptions over his first 33 games of his career.

Joining Gardner among the best cornerbacks in the NFL includes Pat Surtain II from the Denver Broncos, Charvarius Ward of the San Francisco 49ers, Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears, and DaRon Bland of the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is a look at the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list:

Honorable Mention

Taron Johnson

Team: Buffalo Bills

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list is the Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson. The longtime Bills cornerback continues to play at a high-level year in and year out with lofty expectations set for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.

Despite failing to post an interception for just the second time over his first six NFL seasons, Johnson played a huge role in the success of the Bills last season. Johnson posted eight passes defended, one sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery while showing up all around the football.

In addition, Johnson led all cornerbacks with 23 pass stops while mostly playing at the slot cornerback position.

Darious Williams

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Despite struggling against the run, it is hard to look past Darious Williams as one of the best overall cornerbacks in the NFL.

While stopping the run is key, Williams gets paid to shut down opposing receivers and that is something the former Jacksonville Jaguars playmaker does each week of the football season.

Williams is coming off a strong season against the pass posting an 85.3 overall grade in pass coverage while forcing 16 incompletions and a career high 19 passes defended over 17 games played. The strong play landed Williams a new three-year deal with the Rams during the off-season.

Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings

10. Kendall Fuller

Team: Miami Dolphins

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list is the Miami Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller.

Fuller is coming off back-to-back breakout seasons including posting an overall 83.1 rating last season with the Washington Commanders. He spent six of his first eight seasons with the Commanders has racked up 16 career interceptions to go along with 75 passes defended.

Fuller will look to form one of the top cornerback tandems in the NFL in 2024 while playing alongside Jalen Ramsey.

9. Jalen Ramsey

Team: Miami Dolphins

Only concern with Jalen Ramsey entering the 2024 NFL season is whether or not the talented playmaking cornerback can stay healthy for 16 or 17 games.

Rasmey, when on the field, is as talented as any cornerback in the NFL and a player most NFL quarterbacks avoid targeting on each passing attempt. Overall Ramsey has posted 22 career interceptions since arriving during the 2016 NFL Draft.

After returning from a torn meniscus last season, Ramsey played into strong form down the stretch while delivering optimism for the Dolphins entering the upcoming NFL season.

Jalen Ramsey is LOCKDOWN 🔒pic.twitter.com/Ipo2PWBAJY

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) June 20, 2024

8. Derek Stingley Jr.

Team: Houston Texans

Another talented young cornerback making a name for himself around the National Football League is the Houston Texans third year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley Jr who was a stellar talent with the LSU Tigers, showcased his playmaking abilities last season while posting career high in interceptions with five as well as 13 passes defended.

The former Tigers cornerback is a shifty and physical cornerback who has a high Football IQ to shut down opposing wide receivers. The Texans cornerback will look to build on his 85.3 overall grade last season from PFF while also continuing to help the Texans take a big step forward in the AFC conference.

7. Jaire Alexander

Team: Green Bay Packers

Entering season seven with the Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander is one of the most underrated and overlooked cornerbacks in the NFL. The former Louisville Cardinals cornerback has been strong at the position since landing with the Packers with the team’s first round pick during the 2018 NFL Draft.

Over 71 career games Alexander has posted 63 career passes defended to go along with 10 career interceptions. Alexander will look to bounce back after missing 10 games last season and failing to record double digit passes defended for just the second time of his NFL career.

Overall, when healthy Alexander ranks among the most consistent defenders in the NFL including posting an average grade of 91.9 from PFF for his spectacular play from 2020 to the 2022 NFL season. 

Jaire Alexander 👽🏝️#GoPackGo🧀 #NFL🏈 pic.twitter.com/WTD2RqZhhy

— Rip (@Gambling400) May 25, 2024

6. Trent McDuffie

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

It is hard not to like what Trent McDuffie brings to the defensive side of the football for the Kansas City Chiefs each week during the NFL season.

Coming off a second straight Super Bowl title the Chiefs will need to continue to improve each week as each team around the NFL looks to slow down their three-peat attempt in 2024.

McDuffie is one of those players that Chiefs will call on for another big season after posting an 84.8 grade at the position while also playing all around the football. In addition, McDuffie is a stellar playmaker who also posted a career high three sacks as well as seven passes defended during the NFL regular season.

5. DaRon Bland

Team: Dallas Cowboys 

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list is the Dallas Cowboys standout DaRon Bland who is coming off a spectacular second season in Texas.

Bland, who the Cowboys drafted during the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, has rewarded the team with 14 interceptions over the previous two seasons including leading the NFL with nine interceptions just a season ago.

In addition, Bland’s playmaking ability opened up the door for the Cowboys cornerback to return five interceptions for a touchdown as well as 15 passes defended. Blands strong play at the position landed him the second highest overall grade (89.5) at the position last season.

4. Jaylon Johnson

Team: Chicago Bears

If you’re looking for a versatile all-around defender Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears is a player who fits that mold while ranking among the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

The former Utah Utes cornerback continues to develop at the position while coming off a career high four interceptions to go along with his first career interception returned for a touchdown. Johnson will look to build on an amazing season leading all cornerbacks with a 90.8 PFF grade after allowing just 195 receiving yards last season.

The breakout season landed the Bears cornerback a new long-term deal at the position while landing Johnson among the highest paid cornerbacks within the National Football League.

Jaylon Johnson reading the 3 step like a demon….. Didn't cash the check though 😩 pic.twitter.com/ZIunjLWXQu

— DB Tips (@dbtips101) June 6, 2024

3. Charvarius Ward

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Coming out of a small college, Charvarius Ward has slowly built up a reputation as one of the best pure cornerbacks in the NFL after playing his college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

Ward, who will be entering his seventh NFL season and third with the San Francisco 49ers is coming off a career high five interceptions last season as well as a career high 23 passes defended.

Ward’s play was key to the success of the 49ers defense while earning the former Blue Raiders cornerback an 82.6 overall grade from PFF last season. Overall, the 49ers cornerback led the NFL in passes defended as well as sitting tied for fourth with five interceptions.

Here’s 8 minutes of Charvarius Ward highlights showing why he’s a top-5 cornerback in the league 🗜️

🎥: Highlight Castle | YT pic.twitter.com/KLJiymFsds

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 1, 2024

2. Pat Surtain II

Team: Denver Broncos

As you start to look around at the best cornerbacks in the NFL it is hard to look past Pat Surtain II of the Denver Broncos. Surtain II who is following in his father’s footsteps has emerged as a playmaker at the cornerback position while posting seven interceptions over his three seasons with the Broncos.

While the overall numbers took a hit last season, the Broncos team as a whole struggled to start the season including on the offensive side of the ball that opened up additional opportunities for opposing offenses.

Nonetheless, Surtain will enter the 2024 NFL season coming off three straight seasons posting at least 10 passes defended. 

Nice off-ball technique here by the Broncos' Pat Surtain II.

The Chiefs' Skyy Moore is going to run a vertical dropout.

Surtain does a good job of being patient as the WR attempts to step on his toes.

Finishes through the hands of the WR. #ArtofX pic.twitter.com/LcH9IFtojj

— Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) May 21, 2024

1. Sauce Gardner

Team: New York Jets

In at number one on the Top 10 NFL Cornerbacks 2024 Rankings list is the New York Jets stud cornerback Sauce Gardner. Gardner who will be entering his third season in the NFL will be just 24 at the start of the upcoming season.

While the numbers look deceiving for Gardner with just two picks over his first 33 games, the deeper you dig and watch the easier it is to understand why the Jets cornerback is at number one. Gardner led the NFL as a rookie with 20 passes defended while adding 11 more last season.

To go along with those numbers Gardner led all cornerbacks allowing only 21.8 of the targets his way get converted for a first down or touchdown as well as just a 63 percent quarterback passer rating on balls thrown his direction. Gardner will look to improve on his 88.6 overall grade from PFF over the course of the upcoming 2024 NFL schedule.

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