NFL Player Grades: What defenders passed the test?

Cornerbacks

Making The Grade:

Will Davis – Miami Dolphins

While Brent Grimes and Cortland Finnegan may be the bigger household names, it’s Davis that has played the best during the preseason thus far. In fact his +5.9 coverage grade is the best of any defensive back in the NFL through two preseason games. Regardless of who has the bigger name or the bigger contract, if Davis can continue to cover at that level he’ll see plenty of action for the Dolphins this season.

Melvin White – Carolina Panthers

Last season White made the impressive jump from undrafted rookie to starting CB on one of the top defenses in the NFL. In case anyone thought that perhaps this was just luck, White is backing his impressive rookie year up with a great preseason so far this year. His +4.1 PFF grade ranks him fourth amongst NFL CBs this preseason and he appears to be one of the rare CBs that is both solid in coverage and strong enough to provide run support as well.

Missing The Mark:

Tarrell Brown – Oakland Raiders

Brown was a key starter for the 49ers at CB during the past three seasons. When he signed on in Oakland it looked like a quality move by the Raiders. Unfortunately, the move hasn’t paid off, at least not yet. Brown has an overall PFF grade of -2.8 that ranks him 157th amongst NFL CBs this preseason including an unimpressive -2.4 grade in coverage. The Raiders have to be hoping he recovers his 49ers form before the regular season starts.

Walter Thurmond – New York Giants

Thurmond, like Brown, has a key player on a dominant NFC West defense (Seattle) that was signed as a free agent this offseason. Also like Brown, Thurmond has underwhelmed thus far with his new team. Thurmond’s -3.0 overall grade and -3.3 coverage grade are amongst the worst at the CB position this preseason. Thurmond is going to have to play better than that just to earn a starting spot, let alone his free agent contract.

Finally, the safeties…..