Top 30 Cornerbacks in the NFL Heading into the 2023 Season

Who are the best cornerbacks in the NFL? Having elite cornerback play remains extremely important in shutting down the top offenses in the league. Sauce Gardner and TaRiq Woolen proved that rookie cornerbacks can have an immediate impact, so let’s see where these players rank in the top 30 cornerbacks in the NFL heading into the 2023 season.

A reminder, these are the top cornerbacks for football. Fantasy is not a consideration here.

Top 30 NFL Cornerbacks in 2023 

1. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets

Sauce Gardner exceeded all expectations in his rookie season. After being selected fourth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, he was the most dominant cornerback on his way to earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. According to FTN Data, Gardner was targeted 88 times but only allowed 45 receptions and two touchdowns. Quarterbacks would be wise to avoid looking Gardner’s way this coming season.

2. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers

After only playing four games in 2021, Jaire Alexander was back to his old ways in 2022 as he recorded five interceptions while only allowing two touchdowns. In Alexander’s last three playoff games, he has allowed a total of 22 receiving yards.

3. Pat Surtain, Denver Broncos

Surtain finished the season strong by not allowing 25 receiving yards in any of his last six games. He is particularly impressive in man coverage and only allowed 23 first downs in 2022, according to FTN Data.

4. Stephon Gilmore, Dallas Cowboys

Stephon Gilmore shows no signs of slowing down with age — he is 32 years old but still one of the best in man coverage. The Cowboys traded for Gilmore in March and look to have one of the best cornerback duos in the league by pairing Gilmore with Trevon Diggs.

5. Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles

Darius Slay was given his “Big Play Slay” nickname in college but he has more than earned the moniker in the NFL as well. In 2017, he led the league with eight interceptions. In his three playoff games in 2022, he allowed under 25 receiving yards in each contest.

6. James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles

James Bradberry starts opposite Slay and earned All-Pro honors in 2022. He led all starting cornerbacks in passer rating against. It doesn’t hurt that Bradberry also plays behind the second-best defensive line in the league, according to FTN Fantasy. 

7. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

Marlon Humphrey is not only great in coverage, but he also has a knack for causing turnovers. In 2022, he recorded three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and three sacks. In 2020, Humphrey led the league with eight forced fumbles.

8. Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

Trevon Diggs picked up three more interceptions in 2022 after leading the league in interceptions with 11 in 2021. With Stephon Gilmore on the opposite side for this coming season, quarterbacks are going to have to pick their poison. 

9. Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins

After three and a half seasons with the Rams, Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Dolphins in March. Ramsey sets himself apart from other cornerbacks by not only his outstanding coverage ability, but he is also elite at defending the run and rushing the passer. Ramsey recently underwent a full meniscus repair on his knee and could be out until December. He is unlikely to be 100% when he returns, but you never want to underestimate his ability once fully healthy.

10. D.J. Reed, New York Jets

D.J. Reed is no slouch as the second cornerback next to Sauce Gardner. He did not allow any reception over 35 yards and only allowed two touchdowns this past season, according to FTN Data. Reed has played much bigger than his 5-foot-9 size and fifth-round draft slot.

11. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints

Marshon Lattimore only played in seven games this past season, but he squeezed in another epic battle with Mike Evans and the Buccaneers in Week 2. Both players were ejected following another on-field altercation.

12. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Among cornerbacks, Denzel Ward will be earning the most cash in 2023, over $23 million. He did not play to this level in 2022, but Ward will be looking to bounce back and prove he is worth top-tier money.

13. Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

Riq Woolen got off to hot start in his rookie season as he recorded four interceptions in his first six games. His effort was good enough to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl, but he still has room for improvement as he missed 10 tackles and allowed four touchdowns, according to FTN Data. Woolen was drafted in the fifth round after an impressive combine with the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash time in combine history (4.26). Woolen is currently recovering from knee surgery.

14. Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers

Jaycee Horn is a player on the rise. He was drafted eight overall in 2021 and has been steadily improving. This past season, Horn did not allow a receiving touchdown in coverage and was particularly impressive in Week 3. Against the Saints, he intercepted a pass and did not allow any receiving yards.

15. Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jamel Dean has been the model of consistency, but he was particularly impressive in the first half of this past season. In the first nine games, he allowed only 62 receiving yards. Dean is also one of the best tacklers in the cornerback ranks.

16. A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons

A.J. Terrell disappointed in 2022 after being one of the best in 2021. This past season he allowed nine receiving touchdowns, but he was not helped by playing behind one of the worst defensive lines in the league. There is hope Terrell can regain his old form under new defensive coordinator, Ryan Nielsen.

17. Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals

Prior to suffering a torn ACL in Week 8, Chidobe Awuzie did not allow a touchdown and was playing particularly well in man coverage. According to FTN Data, Awuzie only allowed 20 receptions on 49 targets, one of the best catch rates in the league.

18. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

Charvarius Ward went from being undrafted in 2018 to a Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs in 2021. His excellent play for the Chiefs led to a three-year, $42 million contract with the 49ers in free agency prior to the 2022 season. Ward continues to play at a high level with the 49ers and is one of the best tacklers at the cornerback position. According to FTN Data, only had one missed tackle in 2022.

19. Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots

Jonathan Jones rates very well according to Next Gen Stats. He ranked seventh in the league with a “targeted expected points added” of negative 15.6. In March, the Patriots re-signed Jones to a new two-year deal and then drafted Christian Gonzalez to serve as his running mate. Gonzalez could find himself on this list very soon.

20. Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills

Tre’Davious White missed the first 10 games of the season while recovering from an ACL injury, and he didn’t play up to his normal standards upon his return. However, there is optimism that once he puts the knee injury well in the past, he will be able to regain his old form.

21. Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

It sounds crazy to say this, but Tyson Campbell may not have been the best cornerback on his team in high school or college, but he is the best corner on the Jaguars. Campbell played with Pat Surtain in high school and was drafted after teammate Eric Stokes at Georgia.

22. L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs

L’Jarius Sneed has been known as a slot corner for the majority of first three seasons, but he finished the 2022 campaign on the outside. Wherever he lines up, Sneed makes plays. In his first three seasons, he has recorded eight interceptions, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. According to FTN Data, Sneed led all cornerbacks in quarterback pressures with 15.

23. Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins

Even though Xavien Howard earned a Pro Bowl and has a reputation as one of the better cornerbacks in the league, he has allowed too many big plays. According to FTN Data, Howard allowed 742 receiving yards and 15.8 yards per reception. He played through a groin injury, so there is some hope he can rebound, but age is not on this 30-year-old’s side.

24. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs

After missing eight games, Trent McDuffie played extremely well in his rookie season and showed his versatility by lining up outside and in the slot. After winning a Super Bowl in his first season, it will be hard for him to top that achievement, but McDuffie appears up for the challenge.

25. Mike Hilton, Cincinnati Bengals

Mike Hilton is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league and is often used to blitz the quarterback. Slot cornerbacks like Hilton may only play 80% of the snaps, but they play a crucial role as more teams start lining up their best receivers in the slot to get them more looks in the passing attack.

26. Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Over the past five seasons, Carlton Davis is third in passes defended with 64. He only trails James Bradberry and Denzel Ward.

27. Patrick Peterson, Pittsburgh Steelers

After recording five interceptions and 15 passes defensed in 2022, according to FTN Data, Patrick Peterson left the Vikings for the Steelers in free agency. At 32 years old, Peterson may no longer be elite, but this eight-time Pro Bowler is still playing at a high level.

28. Adoree’ Jackson, New York Giants

Justin Jefferson was held to 47 yards and zero touchdowns in the playoffs, with Adoree’ Jackson playing a big part. Jackson is entering the final year of his contract and the Giants drafted a cornerback, Deonte Banks, in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

29. Kader Kohou, Miami Dolphins

This undrafted rookie had an immediate impact for the Dolphins as he started 14 games as the slot corner. Next Gen Stats has Kader Kohou as the third best defender with a Targeted Expected Points Added of -25.

30. Sean Murphy-Bunting, Tennessee Titans

The Buccaneers could not afford to keep both Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency. As a result, Murphy-Bunting will have a new home in 2023 after signing a modest one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Titans.

IDP Rankings and Fantasy Rankings

• Leo McNeeley’s fantasy football IDP rankings in 2023
• Jeff Ratcliffe’s fantasy football rankings
• Tyler Loechner’s 2023 Underdog Best Ball Rankings
• Full staff rankings