Champ Bailey (2019), Ty Law (2019), Ed Reed (2019), Charles Woodson (2021), Darrelle Revis (2023) & Ronde Barber (2023)
Cornerbacks: Champ Bailey (2019), Ty Law (2019), Ed Reed (2019), Charles Woodson (2021), Darrelle Revis (2021) & Ronde Barber (2021)
Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed and Aeneas Williams. Cornerbacks and Safeties were split in 2020, but kept at four in both categories to keep everything modern. This year, Barber and Rvis entered and with Bailey, Law & Reed entering in the same year, we have six comprsing the Modern Positional Average. The changes did not alter the MPAs by very much, the largest difference beingin Pro Bowls (8.6 to 7)
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2022 Pre-Season Rank #15, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #18, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #21.
After going to eight straight Pro Bowls to begin his career, Peterson slipped badly, first suffering a six-game suspension in 2019, and upon his return, he wasn’t the same player. Peterson joins the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 after two years with the Vikings, and he is easily the active Cornerback with the greatest Hall of Fame chance. We don't think he has another Pro Bowl type season, but currently has a higher AV/G than the Modern Positional Average, and with 34 Interceptions, should be able to get to 40 in the career rank. At present, he feels like a Hall of Fame inductee, but not a first ballot one.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #35, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #54, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #73.
The Rams believed that Jalen Ramsey is the best Cornerback in the NFL, and they went all in to get him during the 2019 season when he was disgruntled in Jacksonville. Ramsey was the top CB in 2020, adding a second First Team All-Pro, a fourth Pro Bowl, and posting a career-high in Approximate Value (15). Currently, over the AV/G, Ramsey added another Pro Bowl, First Team All-Pro, and more importantly a Super Bowl in 2021. Ramsey added a sixth Pro Bowl in 2022, and now joins his third team, Miami, who in 2023 has cornered the market in exciting players. Could this be the year that cements him as a Hall of Famer?
2022 Pre-Season Rank #55, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #55, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #54.
It is usually easy to rank former Defensive Players of the Year, but as we are ten years deep into the career of Stephon Gilmore, and it looks like we now know what we have. After a decent run in Buffalo, Gilmore had an out-of-nowhere DPOY year in 2019 (though it did follow a really good 2018), though he has not matched that year since. A Panther two years ago, and a Colt last year, his lone season in Indianapolis broke a four-year streak of Pro Bowls. He enters 2023 as a Cowboy, but his best years are behind him.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #49, 2021 Pre-Season Rank: 2015 #50, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #60
A part of Denver’s Super Bowl 50 win, Harris is inow a free agent and might be done playing in the NFL. If this is true, the fcat that he has an All-Decade Selection is huge for consideration, and that Broncos defense was potent. His last good year was in 2018, and he was unimpressive with New Orleans last year, but this was one hell of a career that we hope Denver will recognize in the future.
2022 Pre Season Rank #61, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #114
Howard had one of the biggest jumps on this list last year, and while he is temperamental, he is the top defensive star on a rising Dolphins team. A two-time leader in Interceptions and a four-time Pro Bowl Selection, if Howard keeps his composure and remains a star, his HOF chances could tip over the other side of the fence in three years.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #60, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #56, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #57.
Missing the entire 2021 Season with a torn ACL, Marcus Peters had a decent season last year in Baltimore, but it was in the shadow of his past glory. A three-time leader in Interception Return Yards and former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Peters is now with the Las Vegas Raiders and needs to return to 2016-20 form. It is possible, but this season will tell the story if he has a Hall of Fame shot or not.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #101, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #125, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #125.
Slay’s last three seasons in Detroit have been phenomenal, but it came after three average years, and a rookie year where he only played started four Games. Slay joined the Philadelphia Eagles three years ago hoping to build on that, and after a rough debut year, he has done just that in 2021 and 2022. Slay now has five Pro Bowls and was almost a Super Bowl Champion.
2022 Pre-Season Rank: #106, 2021 Pre-Season Rank: #125, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #138.
Lattimore does his job well and he was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017. Having said that, Lattimore has never had a year where his Approximate Value of nine, nor has he had a First Team All-Pro, despite four Pro Bowls. He enters 2023 after a disappointing injury-plagued year, but he has to show another level if he wants to make a serious Canton run.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #113, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #108, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #129.
A six-year veteran, White was electric in 2019 and 2020, but while Buffalo went to the next level lthe last two years, White did not, as injuries compiled and he is coming off his worst season in the NFL. White should be able to bounce back in 2023 and will need to regain lost momentum.
2022 Pre-Season Rank #149, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #146.
Humphrey has gone to the Pro Bowl twice and he is on a team that are Super Bowl contenders. He slumped in 2021 but had a spectacular 2022, that vaulted hm up the list and has put him back into a potential Hall of Fame path,
2022: Pre-Season Rank: Unranked
A three-year veteran with the Dallas Cowboys, Trevon Diggs was named the PFWA Most Improved Player in 2021, in a year where he was a First Team All-Pro. Digges went to his second straight Pro Bowl last year, and he is a large part of a potent Cowboys defense that could win a Super Bowl.
2022 Pre Season Rank #138, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #132, Last Year’s Rank #118.
Fuller led the NFL in Interceptions with seven in 2018, where he was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro, but that seems like a lot longer ago than it was. Fuller, whose best years were with Chicago, has not had a good year since, with last season ending after one game with a torn ACL. He is one of many veterans on this list looking for a spot on an NFL roster as the season begins.