NFL power rankings: The top 25 cornerbacks in 2020
By Ian Wharton
15. A.J. Bouye, Denver Broncos
The Jacksonville Jaguars tore their defense down to the bones this off-season, and that included moving their best pure man corner, A.J. Bouye. Bouye struggled to make an impact in Todd Wash’s defense, so moving his giant contract for a low fourth-round pick made sense. But it was a smart pickup for Vic Fangio and the Broncos, who immediately will see an upgrade on the boundary since Bouye is a better outside corner than Chris Harris Jr.
Bouye’s one of the best route-reading corners in the league and Fangio will utilize his off-ball skills to read quarterbacks like Kyle Fuller did in Chicago. I expect his production to take a leap back into the range he established prior to 2019, which was right in the elite names.
14. Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
The two things that Xavien Howard has become known for is becoming an impactful turnover-forcer, and missing games with injuries. He’s played in just 40 games over four years, playing more than 12 games only once. He’s developed into quite the ballhawk in that time though, and is a dangerous playmaker that must be accounted for.
That being said, Howard’s still highly aggressive and grabby in coverage. He takes a lot of risks in order to get the ball and he’s vulnerable to sharp-cuts and double moves. He has to stay healthy and will hopefully continue honing in on his route discipline.
13. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
It’s not fair to hold what the Rams gave up to acquire Jalen Ramsey, but their decision to trade Marcus Peters and two first-round picks for the right to overpay a worse corner in Ramsey very much encapsulates the franchise’s quick demise. Ramsey’s one of the most overrated players in the league due to his lack of consistency being dialed in. He’s incredibly talented and offers elite upside but isn’t as reliable weekly as he can be.
His footwork and balance cost him at the top of routes and negates some of the athleticism that otherwise allows him to shadow receivers. His ballhawk skills are top-notch in zone, but he has to be more of the 2017 version of him than any other year in order for him to be a top-five corner.
12. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Not even 24 years old yet, the ceiling for 5-foot-10, 196-pounder Jaire Alexander is considerable. He took a leap in his sophomore year and is statistically very good, but there’s another level to his game I expect he’ll reach in the next two years. Alexander’s an elite short-area athlete and is tenacious in coverage.
The second-half of 2019 showed he has more maturation to develop as a patient defender though. He’s quick to bite on routes and his balance is vulnerable because he wants to leap forward. That aggressiveness has led to 28 pass breakups in two years, but also openings for big plays. My prediction is Alexander finds the top-eight by 2022, if not sooner.
11. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
A six-game suspension put a big damper on Patrick Peterson’s 2019 season before it even began. The Cardinals were fun to watch but non-factors, and Peterson had a quiet but solid season amid some trade rumors. Now 30 years old, Peterson is facing the backside of his career and fighting off some of the younger stars who benefit statistically from more targets heading their way.
Peterson’s only tallied five interceptions and 20 pass breakups in the last three seasons but there’s too many factors to get wrapped into that. He’s become a top-tier technician and threat at the position. I expect his profile to rise as the Cardinals get more attention this year.