Like every other year, 2023 will be a big competition when it comes to the best cornerbacks.
It’s a position that seems to attract players with big egos who pride themselves on being the best. That’s at least one of the reasons why, year after year, it’s difficult to distinguish between the NFL’s top cornerbacks.
Ranking of the top 10 cornerbacks in 2023
Who are the best NFL cornerbacks right now? Well, we made a long list of candidates and then narrowed it down to the top 10.
Of course, we know there’s a lot of room for debate between the corners of this list. But here’s our list of the 10 best cornerbacks of 2023.
10. Charvarius district
It’s no coincidence that Charvarius Ward played for one of the best defensive teams in the NFL last season after signing with the 49ers. Of course, San Francisco’s defense would have been good without him, but Ward clearly helped take the 49ers to new heights with his covering skills.
He’s obviously not one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, nor does he have the resume of the other top cornerbacks in the league. But he was an underestimated part of Kansas City’s success for several years and continued to excel with the 49ers, earning Ward worthy of being ranked among the NFL’s top cornerbacks.
9.James Bradberry
Despite being something of a scapegoat in last season’s Super Bowl, James Bradberry still has to be called one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Remember, he was a second-team All-Pro last year and played a pivotal role in getting the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the first place.
Aside from that controversial Super Bowl penalty, the Eagles knew what they had in Bradberry, which is why he got an overtime this offseason. He should be ready to put that penalty behind him and have another strong season in 2023.
8.Stephon Gilmore
After more than a decade of his career, Stephon Gilmore refuses to walk away. Now with the Cowboys, Gilmore will play for his fourth other team in four years this season. Nonetheless, he’s still considered one of the best cornerbacks in 2023.
Gilmore missed some time in 2020 and 2021 but came back strong in 2022, playing 16 games for the Colts with two interceptions and 11 passes defended. A five-time Pro Bowler, Gilmore brings a wealth of experience that few cornerbacks in the league can match. Keep in mind that he’s only a few years away from being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. So there’s still every reason to believe Gilmore is among the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
7.Trevon Diggs
Last season, teams finally figured out not to throw the ball in Trevon Diggs’ direction after he racked up 11 interceptions in 2021. Of course, in 2022, Diggs still had three picks and 14 passes defended on his way to being picked to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season.
It seems like Diggs has been around a lot longer, but he’s only got three seasons under his belt. That means he should be reaching his prime and ready for another impressive campaign in 2023.
6. Marshon Lattimore
It’s a little tempting to forget Marshon Lattimore after a kidney injury limited him to seven games last season. But there’s no reason to believe he can’t return to the level he was before the injury.
After all, Lattimore has attended four of the last six Pro Bowls and is just two years away from signing a $97.8 million contract extension with the Saints. When he was perfectly healthy two years ago, Lattimore was averaging 19 pass defenses in the first five seasons of his career and averaging nearly 15 pass defenses a year. He is currently at his best and Lattimore should prove that in 2023.
5. Kill Darius
Darius Slay has long been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He’s appeared in five of the last six Pro Bowls and played a big part in Philadelphia’s success last season. Good for at least a few interceptions every year, Slay impressed in 2022 with 14 pass defenses.
Even in his early 30s, Slay shows no signs of aging and will continue to be among the NFL’s elite at his position in 2023.
4.Jaire Alexander
After an injury-plagued 2021 season, Jaire Alexander proved last season that he still ranks among football’s elite cornerbacks. There’s also little doubt that if he can stay healthy, he’ll be one of the best cornerbacks in 2023.
Alexander finished last season with a career-best five interceptions and 14 pass defenses, which made teams pay for thinking he lost a step following his injuries in 2021. Apparently, he was left out of the All-Pro team in 2021 due to the injuries. But Alexander quickly got back to that level last year and should have no problem maintaining that level this season and beyond.
3. Patrick Surtain II
As the son of a three-time Pro Bowler, Patrick Surtain II still has a long way to go to step out of his father’s shadow. However, after only two seasons into his career, he is well on his way to doing so.
Surtain already has 24 pass deflections and six interceptions in two seasons and earned First-Team All-Pro honors last year. With his size and physique, he looks like a top-notch cornerback, which is why Surtain played such a big part in a great Denver defense last year. We expect the same from him in 2023, given that he’s only 23 and likely to have his prime ahead of him.
2.Jalen Ramsey
There’s little doubt that Jalen Ramsey will be one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. He went to six straight Pro Bowls, helped the Rams win a Super Bowl, and is also the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. Obviously, Ramsey’s track record speaks for itself. But he’s only 28 years old and just in his prime.
Ramsey’s move to the Dolphins in March means a change of scenery and some new challenges. However, Ramsey should have a lot to prove in 2023 playing with a new side, which is why he’s still among the league’s elite corps this year.
1. Gardner sauce
After just one season, calling Sauce Gardner the best cornerback in the NFL is no stretch. In addition to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year last year, he was also a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro. This is what happens when you lead the league with 20 passes defended. Gardner dropped out of college and immediately played at the elite level. He has a chance to be even better in 2023 now that he has a year of experience under his belt.
It will be interesting to see if teams are aware of avoiding him this season. But even if he doesn’t, it’s clear that Garner is up to the challenge and will be one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks for a long time to come.
