Who is the best cornerback in the NFL? The National Football League is catered to the passing game, which makes it harder than ever before for cornerbacks to consistently be lockdown coverage standouts. It’s a position that sees plenty of year-to-year volatility, even among the best NFL corners right now.
Let’s dive into our list of the best NFL corners right now as we enter the 2025 season.
1. Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Best NFL corners, best NFL cornerbacks
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Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL. Selected by the Denver Broncos with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he’s the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Surtain doesn’t rack up a ton of interceptions – 11 in 66 games – but it’s difficult to pick off passes when quarterbacks stay away from you. From 2021-2023, Surtain allowed just a 56.1 percent completion rate with a 76.8 average QB rating allowed when targeted in 50 games. Quarterbacks learned their lesson, with Surtain seeing just 3.88 targets his way per game in 2024 compared to 5.28 targets per game in the previous three seasons. He also recorded a career-best in yards per completion (8.6) and yards per target (5.3) allowed, surrendering just 326 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns and a 58.9 QB rating in 978 defensive snaps.
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2. Derek Stingler Jr, Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans picked cornerback Derek Stingley Jr over Sauce Gardner in the 2022 NFL Draft, a decision that didn’t seem wise early on. it all came together for Stingley Jr. in his third season. The 6-foot-1 defender cemented himself as one of the best NFL corners right now, allowing the second-lowest completion rate (47.1 percent) in the NFL among defenders targeted 70-plus times. Notably, teammate Kamari Lassiter (43.8 percent) was first. Stingley also surrendered the lowest average QB rating (51.2) among qualified defensive backs. He’s also a playmaker – 31 pass deflections and 10 interceptions in his last 25 games – who fits perfectly in DeMeco Ryans’ scheme. Needless to say, Houston’s decisions to draft him and recently make him the highest-paid defensive back ever are justified.
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3. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
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Two of the best NFL corners were taken with consecutive picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Sauce Gardner’s underwhelming 2024 season highlights some of the year-to-year inconsistency at the position. Last season, he allowed a career-worst 16.4 yards per completion on 58 targets, surrendering 541 receiving yards (36.1 per game) in 15 games after ceding just 10.2 yards per completion and 784 receiving yards (23.76 per game) in his first 33 games. Tackling is a big issue with Gardner, but it’s one we’re hoping head coach Aaron Glenn can change to unlock the best version of this All-Pro corner. While a rough 2024 campaign drops Gardner a few spots in our cornerback rankings, he’s already proven he can be the best shutdown weapon in the NFL.
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4. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
Best NFL corners, best NFL cornerbacks
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Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo found the perfect cornerback for his system with Trent McDuffie. The 5-foot-11 defensive back has already demonstrated his versatility, earning All-Pro honors for his work in the slot (first-team All-Pro, 2023) and on the outside (second-team All-Pro, 2024). McDuffie doesn’t do much playmaking – 2 interceptions in 43 career games – but his versatility and consistency in coverage make up for that. The one thing that puts him below our top three cornerbacks is that, as the Super Bowl showed, McDuffie has some issues against big-bodied wide receivers.
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5. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
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Unlike some of the other best NFL cornerbacks on our list, Jaylon Johnson hasn’t had the benefit of sharing the field with a premier pass rusher. Even without that benefit, he’s still held opponents to a career 59 percent completion rate when they targeted him in coverage. Johnson’s 2023 was outstanding – 3.9 yards per target (1st) and 50.9 QB rating allowed – earning All-Pro honors. He wasn’t quite as good in 2024 – 92.6 QB rating and 8.6 yards per target allowed – but the Bears’ defense also dealt with injuries and inconsistency. Heading into his age-26 season, Johnson will keep demonstrating why he’s one of the best at his position.
6. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
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Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has consistently been one of the best in the league for years now. From 2018-2024, he’s surrendered just 6.2 yards per target with an average 76.2 QB rating and 56.7 percent completion rate. Quarterbacks went after him more in 2024, with Humphrey being targeted 96 times (most since 2020). He turned those opportunities into a career-high 6 interceptions with the sixth-most pass breakups (eight) and just 5.8 yards per target allowed. As long as Humphrey stays healthy, which isn’t a given, he’ll remain one of the most effective playmaking defensive backs in football this year.
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7. Christian Benford, Buffalo Bills
Best NFL corners, best NFL cornerbacks
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The Buffalo Bills certainly know how to find value. Christian Benford fell to the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, taken by Buffalo with the 185th overall pick. It became pretty evident early on that he was much better than 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Benford became a full-time starter in 2023 and over the last two seasons, he’s allowed just 6 touchdowns and 6.6 yards per target with an 87.7 QB rating on 120 targets. What makes Benford’s level of play particularly remarkable is that he is doing it for a defense that has been ravaged by injuries at every level in consecutive seasons. Heading into his age-25 season, Benford can take another leap forward and he’s at the very least deserving of a Pro Bowl selection.
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8. Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots simply need Christian Gonzalez to stay healthy. He looked like a future All-Pro in his rookie season, but only played in 4 games due to a torn labrum. In his second season, the 6-foot-1 defensive back started 16 games and began piecing it all together. On 88 targets drawn, he surrendered a 55.7 percent completion rate with a 71.7 QB rating, 2 touchdowns and 6.0 yards per target. While those numbers pale in comparison to some of the best NFL corners, it’s worth recognizing that Gonzalez had the second-highest shadow rate (58.5 percent) in the NFL, while Gardner (42.3 percent), Johnson (41.6 percent) and McDuffie (41.7 percent) were significantly lower. Gonzalez is an ascending talent who could legitimately challenge for second-team All-Pro honors in his third season.
9. Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
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Many of the best NFL cornerbacks in 2025 have entered the league only recently. Devon Witherspoon, chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is another ascending talent. He’s already earned Pro Bowl selections in his first two NFL seasons, thanks to both his cover skills and his outstanding run defense. While Witherspoon might never be one of the best pure cover corners in football, his all-around ability stands out at a time when plenty of cornerbacks hate lowering their shoulders to defend against the run.
10. Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
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We’re betting on Quinyon Mitchell to prove himself as one of the best NFL cornerbacks in 2025. Grabbed by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 22nd overall pick, Mitchell immediately proved his dominance at Toledo translated to the NFL. He finished second for Defensive Rookie of the Year, holding opponents to a 54.7 percent completion rate and an 87.2 QB rating when targeted in coverage (75 targets). By the time the playoffs rolled around, he became the best defensive back for the eventual Super Bowl champions. Mitchell is primed for a breakout season and all you need to know regarding his talent level is that he’s the No. 1 cornerback in Philadelphia, while Cooper DeJean, another premium talent, will be deployed in the slot and at safety.
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NFL, MLB & college football writer for Sportsnaut. Graduated from San Diego State University with BA in Journalism, 2019. ... More about Matt Johnson