Football PFF: The top eight slot cornerbacks for 2018 - Page 2

T-post Tom · 06-01-2018, 09:23 AM

As the offseason moves into its fifth month, we’ve been busy here at PFF discussing the value of various aspects of the defensive side of the ball. For example, a couple of months ago my colleague, George Chahrouri, and I showed that targeting (and hence covering) tight ends and slot receivers represents one of the more valuable things that an offense (defense) can do. Efficacy in coverage in general, while being the least-stable trait a player can possess on the defensive side of the ball, also doubles as the trait that moves the needle the most in terms of team success. With the increasing realization that this is a sub-package league, and that offenses have long figured out they can generate an edge throwing to receivers inside, players who can cover in the slot play an important (and unique) role in the modern defense.

While the market value in the free agent market has still yet to catch up with this notion, a predominantly slot cornerback (Minkah Fitzpatrick) was taken by the Dolphins in the front end of April’s draft. This is exciting news, since we know that the pro performance of players who play the same position in college as they do at the next level is easier to predict than that of players that change positions (e.g. from outside corner to inside corner).

In this article we provide the NFL’s top eight (veteran) slot cornerbacks heading into the 2018 season. This list will include a number of differences from Sam Monson’s article last week discussing the best overall cornerbacks in the league, for the reasons discussed above. All of these players are slated to play predominantly inside again in 2018, and will test the statistical theory that staying in the same position cluster allows us to more-easily predict future success:

Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos
Harris has been a PFF darling for some time and while his play (along with the play of the entire Broncos defense) took a dip in 2017, he remains the standard-bearer at the position. Even in a down season (he allowed three touchdown passes and a 108.8 rating in 37 slot targets in 2017) he had the second-most coverage snaps from the slot per reception allowed (16.3), suggesting teams are still less-likely to throw his way than they are to most other players lined up inside. While he’s not the blitzer that many of the players below are (just two pressures the last two seasons), he remains one of the best tacklers at the position, missing only one a season ago in 45 tries and earning a top 10 run-defense grade at his position.

Patrick Robinson, New Orleans Saints
After a terrific season for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, Robinson returns to his initial NFL team to bolster a defense that improved from 30th in our rating system in 2016 to seventh a season ago. With Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley already solid players on the outside, Robinson should be able to stay inside and play the role that saw him allow only a 65.2 passer rating on 55 slot targets in Philly. That will be a substantial upgrade over Kenny Vaccaro (96.2), Vonn Bell (122.9) and P.J. Williams (98.6), who all struggled in that role during the course of the Saints’ improvement defensively in 2017.

Kendall Fuller, Kansas City Chiefs
A key piece of a late-January trade between Washington and Kansas City, Fuller emerged a season ago into one of the high-graded cornerbacks in the league independent of alignment. His efficiency (only 0.74 yards per coverage snap from the slot, second-best in the league) will be a welcome addition to the Chiefs’ defense that was last in the league in our defensive ratings in 2017. There are legitimate questions as to how well he’ll do if Kansas City asks him to play both inside and outside (he played roughly 90.0 percent of his snaps in the slot last season), but if the Chiefs continue to play sub packages at higher-than-league-wide rates, he should be in a position to succeed more often than not.

Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
King is a solid contributor on a Chargers defense that could be one of the league’s best in 2018. Picked in the fifth round out of Iowa in 2017, King was a player who played enough in the slot in college to project there as a pro, and did not skip a beat once it was time to translate those skills in Los Angeles. He was terrific in coverage (less than a yard per coverage snap allowed from the slot), as a blitzer (second among cornerbacks in pass-rush productivity) and in run support (third in run-stop percentage). With King and Derwin James as young, versatile players to compliment Casey Hayward on the outside, it’s not difficult to make the case that the Chargers’ secondary is the league’s upper echelon. If that projection pans out, the sky is the limit for the Chargers as a football team.

Nickell Robey-Coleman, Los Angeles Rams
A criminally-undervalued player in the free agent market last offseason, Robey-Coleman allowed only 0.80 yards per coverage snap inside for the upstart Rams in 2017. He was impressively consistent, allowing more than five completions or 65 yards into his coverage just once, and in that game he broke up three passes. Like King and Robinson above him, Robey-Coleman has the potential to be one of the best role players on a defense that could, by season’s end, be in the conversation for the league’s best unit.

Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Jones is an interesting name for this list, as he has been listed as a safety on the Cowboys roster the last two seasons. However, it appears that he is changing to cornerback in Kris Richard’s new defense, and he played almost 200 snaps as slot cornerback in 2017. In those snaps, he performed terrifically, surrendering only a 51.5 passer rating into his coverage in 2017 and only a 53.1 percent completion percentage there in 2016. He’s been especially good covering tight ends, which we know offer the biggest bang for an offense’s buck in terms of Expected Points Added on targets. Hence, we like this move from a value standpoint for the Cowboys moving forward.

Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite being an undrafted player and largely unheralded going into 2017, Hilton became one of the most valuable players on a Steelers’ team that earned a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. An example of a player who was predominantly a slot player in college, Hilton excelled at many of the intangible things a nickel player must do: generating 17 total pressures and finishing first among cornerbacks in run-stop percentage. He was no slouch in coverage, either, allowing just 53 yards into his coverage from Week 12 on.

Bryce Callahan, Chicago Bears
While Callahan missed some time in 2017 with an injury, he performed well when healthy, generating the third-most slot coverage snaps per reception allowed. While he hasn’t offered much in terms of run defense or as a blitzer (only four career pressures), he’s allowed less than an 80.0 passer rating from the slot in each of his three pro seasons, showing a consistency that is a very valuable piece on an up-and-coming Chicago defense.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-the-top-eight-slot-cornerbacks-for-2018

TomBarndtsTwin · 06-01-2018, 01:58 PM

I like the idea of locking down the middle of the field with Fuller and our LB’s and safeties and forcing QB’s to beat us on the outside against Amerson and Nelson. Also gives our pass rush more opportunity, which we all know is ultimately going to determine the success of the defense.

Hopefully the guys Veach drafted, plus a fully healthy Justin Houston, Chris Jones and motivated Dee Ford (contract year) will be enough to significantly increase our pressure this year.

Coach · 06-01-2018, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staylor26

Did anybody read the article on the Chiefs website about Nelson?

The team and coaching staff seem to expect a breakout season from him. He struggled coming back in the middle of the season from his injury, but he got better as the year went on and had his best game in the playoffs.

I wouldn't be surprised if he does have a breakout season. He was coming back from injury with no training at all/off-season training, since I imagine he had to spent a lot of his time/effort on rehab, right in the middle of the season.

Now that he had an actual off-season training, with no limitations, I would expect his projectile to trend upwards.

WhiteWhale · 06-01-2018, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Kendall Fuller is a guy with a lot to prove. He's just as much of a ? as any other ?'s on this team. He had one down year playing outside, and then one good year playing slot.

The Chiefs will ask him to play outside, where he struggled. Granted, that was a rookie season and one in which he suffered an injury.

He'll be a guy to watch and root for, but he's far from a guy we can say, "Yeah that position is locked down". Assuming as much is incredibly premature.

Usually playing outside is EASIER than playing inside in terms of dealing with route combinations.

The issue comes from the talent you have to deal with on the outside. How will he match up?

WhiteWhale · 06-02-2018, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

I wouldn't be surprised if he does have a breakout season. He was coming back from injury with no training at all/off-season training, since I imagine he had to spent a lot of his time/effort on rehab, right in the middle of the season.

Now that he had an actual off-season training, with no limitations, I would expect his projectile to trend upwards.

I like Nelson. He's good in M2M. He's not a turnover machine or anything, but even when passes are completed on him he's RIGHT THERE in good position.

He keeps windows small. His injury hurt KC last season.

Couch-Potato · 06-02-2018, 09:27 AM

Can we trade for an outside CB?

OKchiefs · 06-02-2018, 09:40 AM

The two position groups I worry about the most are CB and OL.

Naptown Chief · 06-02-2018, 09:49 AM

Our CBs are fine. I'll continue to say it..

Both Amerson and Nelson were injured, playing injured, and then trying to recover from said injuries. Both will have an entire off-season to continue to heal. One is on a prove it deal while the other is in a contract year. Clearly Andy and Veach see something in them, perhaps we should too? EB was gushing over Nelson the other day.

Naptown Chief · 06-02-2018, 09:52 AM

I'd take this D, regardless of age/inexperience, over a lot of our D's from years past. The youth, the speed, the hybrid players... I honestly think they will impress and excite.

If not you can label me CP's dumbest mofo on an indefinite basis.

ChiefAshhole1056 · 06-02-2018, 10:14 AM

I’m still very concerned with the outside CBs, I’m really hoping KC takes a chance on Adonis Alexander in the supplemental draft. I’ve seen some say he’s worth a 2nd rounder but I’d be very happy with a 3rd.

BlackOp · 06-02-2018, 10:29 AM

Amerson was a 2nd round pick...Obviously Veach must have liked him in college. He had good stats/measurables...6’1″ 4.3 40 18 int in college.

S. Smith did pretty well in Sutton's system...then sucked bad in Oakland.

He's the one major question mark going in to the season...that and Berry's achilles. I hope he can be at least average.

Nelson has graded out really high in PPF...I think KC is alright there if he stays healthy.

pugsnotdrugs19 · 06-02-2018, 11:58 AM

Nothing wrong with using Fuller in the slot where he excelled at an elite level last year. There’s a big need for guys like that in today’s league. VERY difficult position to play.

Just think—if we run into New England come January, we’ll at least have a guy who might be able to stick to Edelman. Fuller’s skill set and build screams slot CB, and that’s a strong asset to have.

Pitt Gorilla · 06-02-2018, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

Can we trade for an outside CB?

We don’t have that kind of capital. The Rams did, but not us.

OKchiefs · 06-02-2018, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

We don’t have that kind of capital. The Rams did, but not us.

Well, we're talking 2019 draft picks now, so we do have the capital if we wanted to. Not saying we should, but we have the picks.

There are talks still that Philly might look to trade Ronald Darby.

But I'm pretty sure we'll stand Pat. Next year is the year to load up if Mahomes shows he can lead us deep into the playoffs.

pugsnotdrugs19 · 06-02-2018, 01:27 PM

We’ve got the extra 2nd rounder in 2019 to trade if need be.

I see 2019/2020 being big opportunities for KC to contend.

Otter · 06-02-2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Then we have a gaping hole outside then.

That's what she said?

06-01-2018, 09:23 AM
T-post Tom Threepeat! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $4577293	PFF: The top eight slot cornerbacks for 2018 As the offseason moves into its fifth month, we’ve been busy here at PFF discussing the value of various aspects of the defensive side of the ball. For example, a couple of months ago my colleague, George Chahrouri, and I showed that targeting (and hence covering) tight ends and slot receivers represents one of the more valuable things that an offense (defense) can do. Efficacy in coverage in general, while being the least-stable trait a player can possess on the defensive side of the ball, also doubles as the trait that moves the needle the most in terms of team success. With the increasing realization that this is a sub-package league, and that offenses have long figured out they can generate an edge throwing to receivers inside, players who can cover in the slot play an important (and unique) role in the modern defense. While the market value in the free agent market has still yet to catch up with this notion, a predominantly slot cornerback (Minkah Fitzpatrick) was taken by the Dolphins in the front end of April’s draft. This is exciting news, since we know that the pro performance of players who play the same position in college as they do at the next level is easier to predict than that of players that change positions (e.g. from outside corner to inside corner). In this article we provide the NFL’s top eight (veteran) slot cornerbacks heading into the 2018 season. This list will include a number of differences from Sam Monson’s article last week discussing the best overall cornerbacks in the league, for the reasons discussed above. All of these players are slated to play predominantly inside again in 2018, and will test the statistical theory that staying in the same position cluster allows us to more-easily predict future success: Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos Harris has been a PFF darling for some time and while his play (along with the play of the entire Broncos defense) took a dip in 2017, he remains the standard-bearer at the position. Even in a down season (he allowed three touchdown passes and a 108.8 rating in 37 slot targets in 2017) he had the second-most coverage snaps from the slot per reception allowed (16.3), suggesting teams are still less-likely to throw his way than they are to most other players lined up inside. While he’s not the blitzer that many of the players below are (just two pressures the last two seasons), he remains one of the best tacklers at the position, missing only one a season ago in 45 tries and earning a top 10 run-defense grade at his position. Patrick Robinson, New Orleans Saints After a terrific season for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, Robinson returns to his initial NFL team to bolster a defense that improved from 30th in our rating system in 2016 to seventh a season ago. With Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley already solid players on the outside, Robinson should be able to stay inside and play the role that saw him allow only a 65.2 passer rating on 55 slot targets in Philly. That will be a substantial upgrade over Kenny Vaccaro (96.2), Vonn Bell (122.9) and P.J. Williams (98.6), who all struggled in that role during the course of the Saints’ improvement defensively in 2017. Kendall Fuller, Kansas City Chiefs A key piece of a late-January trade between Washington and Kansas City, Fuller emerged a season ago into one of the high-graded cornerbacks in the league independent of alignment. His efficiency (only 0.74 yards per coverage snap from the slot, second-best in the league) will be a welcome addition to the Chiefs’ defense that was last in the league in our defensive ratings in 2017. There are legitimate questions as to how well he’ll do if Kansas City asks him to play both inside and outside (he played roughly 90.0 percent of his snaps in the slot last season), but if the Chiefs continue to play sub packages at higher-than-league-wide rates, he should be in a position to succeed more often than not. Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers King is a solid contributor on a Chargers defense that could be one of the league’s best in 2018. Picked in the fifth round out of Iowa in 2017, King was a player who played enough in the slot in college to project there as a pro, and did not skip a beat once it was time to translate those skills in Los Angeles. He was terrific in coverage (less than a yard per coverage snap allowed from the slot), as a blitzer (second among cornerbacks in pass-rush productivity) and in run support (third in run-stop percentage). With King and Derwin James as young, versatile players to compliment Casey Hayward on the outside, it’s not difficult to make the case that the Chargers’ secondary is the league’s upper echelon. If that projection pans out, the sky is the limit for the Chargers as a football team. Nickell Robey-Coleman, Los Angeles Rams A criminally-undervalued player in the free agent market last offseason, Robey-Coleman allowed only 0.80 yards per coverage snap inside for the upstart Rams in 2017. He was impressively consistent, allowing more than five completions or 65 yards into his coverage just once, and in that game he broke up three passes. Like King and Robinson above him, Robey-Coleman has the potential to be one of the best role players on a defense that could, by season’s end, be in the conversation for the league’s best unit. Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys Jones is an interesting name for this list, as he has been listed as a safety on the Cowboys roster the last two seasons. However, it appears that he is changing to cornerback in Kris Richard’s new defense, and he played almost 200 snaps as slot cornerback in 2017. In those snaps, he performed terrifically, surrendering only a 51.5 passer rating into his coverage in 2017 and only a 53.1 percent completion percentage there in 2016. He’s been especially good covering tight ends, which we know offer the biggest bang for an offense’s buck in terms of Expected Points Added on targets. Hence, we like this move from a value standpoint for the Cowboys moving forward. Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh Steelers Despite being an undrafted player and largely unheralded going into 2017, Hilton became one of the most valuable players on a Steelers’ team that earned a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. An example of a player who was predominantly a slot player in college, Hilton excelled at many of the intangible things a nickel player must do: generating 17 total pressures and finishing first among cornerbacks in run-stop percentage. He was no slouch in coverage, either, allowing just 53 yards into his coverage from Week 12 on. Bryce Callahan, Chicago Bears While Callahan missed some time in 2017 with an injury, he performed well when healthy, generating the third-most slot coverage snaps per reception allowed. While he hasn’t offered much in terms of run defense or as a blitzer (only four career pressures), he’s allowed less than an 80.0 passer rating from the slot in each of his three pro seasons, showing a consistency that is a very valuable piece on an up-and-coming Chicago defense. https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-the-top-eight-slot-cornerbacks-for-2018
Posts: 20,216

06-01-2018, 01:58 PM	#16
TomBarndtsTwin MVP Join Date: Mar 2013 Casino cash: $5089883	I like the idea of locking down the middle of the field with Fuller and our LB’s and safeties and forcing QB’s to beat us on the outside against Amerson and Nelson. Also gives our pass rush more opportunity, which we all know is ultimately going to determine the success of the defense. Hopefully the guys Veach drafted, plus a fully healthy Justin Houston, Chris Jones and motivated Dee Ford (contract year) will be enough to significantly increase our pressure this year.
Posts: 8,783

06-02-2018, 09:27 AM	#20
Couch-Potato MVP Join Date: Jan 2015 Casino cash: $3233065	Can we trade for an outside CB?
Posts: 6,118

06-02-2018, 09:49 AM	#22
Naptown Chief Banned Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Annapolis, MD Casino cash: $10002400	Our CBs are fine. I'll continue to say it.. Both Amerson and Nelson were injured, playing injured, and then trying to recover from said injuries. Both will have an entire off-season to continue to heal. One is on a prove it deal while the other is in a contract year. Clearly Andy and Veach see something in them, perhaps we should too? EB was gushing over Nelson the other day.
Posts: 6,583

06-02-2018, 09:52 AM	#23
Naptown Chief Banned Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Annapolis, MD Casino cash: $10002400	I'd take this D, regardless of age/inexperience, over a lot of our D's from years past. The youth, the speed, the hybrid players... I honestly think they will impress and excite. If not you can label me CP's dumbest mofo on an indefinite basis.
Posts: 6,583

06-02-2018, 10:14 AM	#24
ChiefAshhole1056 Veteran Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Houston Casino cash: $6781100	I’m still very concerned with the outside CBs, I’m really hoping KC takes a chance on Adonis Alexander in the supplemental draft. I’ve seen some say he’s worth a 2nd rounder but I’d be very happy with a 3rd.
Posts: 1,164

06-02-2018, 10:29 AM	#25
BlackOp MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $5875267	Amerson was a 2nd round pick...Obviously Veach must have liked him in college. He had good stats/measurables...6’1″ 4.3 40 18 int in college. S. Smith did pretty well in Sutton's system...then sucked bad in Oakland. He's the one major question mark going in to the season...that and Berry's achilles. I hope he can be at least average. Nelson has graded out really high in PPF...I think KC is alright there if he stays healthy.
Posts: 17,754

06-02-2018, 11:58 AM	#26
pugsnotdrugs19 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2013 Casino cash: $9129447	Nothing wrong with using Fuller in the slot where he excelled at an elite level last year. There’s a big need for guys like that in today’s league. VERY difficult position to play. Just think—if we run into New England come January, we’ll at least have a guy who might be able to stick to Edelman. Fuller’s skill set and build screams slot CB, and that’s a strong asset to have.
Posts: 26,376

06-02-2018, 01:27 PM	#29
pugsnotdrugs19 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2013 Casino cash: $9129447	We’ve got the extra 2nd rounder in 2019 to trade if need be. I see 2019/2020 being big opportunities for KC to contend.
Posts: 26,376