The 10 Best Cornerbacks In The 2023 NFL Draft

Ranking the Top 10 Cornerbacks in the 2023 #nfldraft

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CB Traits  

Man Coverage (MCV): Ability to stick in a Receivers hip pocket from start to finish In Man Coverage or Zone-Match

Zone Coverage (ZCV): Combination of route recognition, proper risk assessment when in a zone assignment

Press Coverage (PRS): Self Explanatory

Press Style: Notation of whether the Corner prefers and/or is better in Jam or Bail from a Press allignment. Could be Either.

Route Squeeze (RSQ): The combination of physical and mental ability to react quickly at a route's breaking point once a receiver has begun seperating, to snap onto the route and not allow unnecessary seperation.

Ball Skills (BLS): Players composure with the ball in the air to get his head around, find the ball, and not grab when the ball is in the air. Higher grades are given to those who convert interceptions as opposed to swatting the ball.

Run Defense (RUN): The combination of a players' physical ability and willingness to shed blocks and defend the run.

Tackling (TKL): Self Explanatory

CB Scheme Fit

Man: Corners with good press ability, whether it be bail or jam, with good straight line speed and route squeeze to stick with receivers up to any level of the field.

Seattle 3: Throwback, jam-heavy corners who can stunt receivers from getting off the line quick and make their life hell for the first 2 to 3 seconds of the play with good ball skills to disrupt passes. These corners also must be able to shed blocks and defend the run with physicality. Corners in this group may or may not struggle staying in the receivers hip pocket laterally and/or deeper down the field.

Balanced: More scheme independent corners who can do either a lot, or a little bit of everything. They may or may not have elite traits but this grouping of Corner's flexibility to align from any position sets them apart from the more scheme specific corners. They key trait here is the lack of any defining weakness.

Off-Man: Corners more designed to operate in a Quarters Heavy, Split Safety, "Fangio" Style Defense. What these players lack in Press-Jam Coverage ability, they make up for in ability to diagnose route combinations, communicate assignments, and transition downhill quickly in space.

*Slot: Corners who project best into the nickel. These corners excel in lateral movement skills, ball skills, toughness against the run, among many other things in this complex position. Quickness is prioritized over length and long speed as many of the routes defended from the slot are sudden and not downfield.
*Not included in a player's designations as "Any" scheme fit.

(S) Candidate To Convert To Safety

Grading Scale
8.0 Perfect Prospect
7.5 Day 1 Perennial All-Pro  
7.3 Day 1 High-End Starter And Likely All-Pro  
7.0 Day 1 Quality Starter And Potential All-Pro  
6.9 Day 1 Starter With All Pro Upside  
6.7-6.8 Day 1 Starter With High-End Starter Upside  
6.6 Day 1 Starter  
6.5 Boom Or Bust  
6.3-6.4 Likely Starter Within First Two Seasons  
6.1-6.2 Day 1 Backup With Starter Upside / Likely Slot-Only Starter Within First Two Seasons  
6.0 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer - Developmental Traits Based Prospect  
5.9 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer / Role Player - High Floor, Limited Physical Upside  
5.8 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer / Role Player - Low Floor, High Ceiling  
5.7 Day 1 Backup / Special Teamer / Role Player - Limited Physical Upside  
5.5-5.6 Day 1 Roster Bubble or Practice Squader  
5.4 Priority Free Agent
5.0 Chance To Be In An NFL Camp
Under 5.0 Needs Time In A Developmental League