Post 34 - Top 10 Cornerbacks of 2015

Hello! And welcome to my corner!

Earlier this month I got my newest series underway when I revealed my Top 10 Kickers and Punters of 2015. I've now unveiled my Top 10 Safeties of 2015, so now it is time for the cornerbacks.

In the coming weeks I'll be revealing my top 10 at each position and eventually my top 100 players in the NFL. Unlike the traditional rankings, though, I'm basing these rankings entirely on the 2015 season and the 2015 season only. Not looking further than that and without influence from their name alone.

Without further ado, then, here are my Top 10 Cornerbacks from 2015:


10. Ronald Darby, Buffalo Bills
63 Combined Tackles (Comb), 23 Passes defensed (PDef), 2 Interceptions (Int). 
If not for Marcus Peters' insane Int production, Darby could've been well in contention to be the best rookie cornerback last year. Playing next to Stephon Gilmore, Darby was more than capable of holding his own. The future looks bright for the Bills secondary. 

9. Malcolm Butler, New England Patriots
66 Comb, 17 PDef, 2 Int.
Butler went from undrafted to Super Bowl hero to number 1 cornerback in a very short amount of time. Surprisingly though, it didn't seem like it was too much for him. Yes, he had a few forgettable moments, but he was easily a top 10 cornerback last year and is on his way to becoming one of the premier shutdown corners in the NFL.

8. Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
60 Comb, 34 PDef, 8 Int, 1 Forced Fumble (FF), 1 Touchdown (TD).
Peters would've been the top cornerback in last years draft if not for some off-field issues. Well, he not only showed he was the most talented corner in last years class, but his off-field concerns were worth the risk. He deservedly won Defensive Rookie of the Year and now - along with Eric Berry and Justin Houston - forms one of the most formidable defensive trios in the NFL. 

7. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
39 Comb, 14 PDef, 5 Int, 4 Fumble Recoveries (FR).
Darrelle Revis did seemingly suffer from a drop in effectiveness this year, but the fact he is still comfortably in top 10 speaks volumes to his quality. His age could be a factor in his having lost a step so this could be one of his last years among the positions elite, if not his last. Nevertheless, he was still one of the best shutdown corners last year. 

6. Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons
42 Comb, 1 Sack (Sck), 12 PDef, 1 Int, 2 FR, 1 TD.
Trufant is a corner that is oft-overlooked thanks to a lack of success on the Falcons part, a overall poor Falcons defense and because he doesn't seem to pop up in the news like the other 'elite' cornerbacks. However, that doesn't make any less difficult to play against. He is a lone bright spot for the Falcons and has really developed into one of the more effective corners in the NFL.

5.. Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos
58 Comb, 8 PDef, 2 Int, 2 FF, 1 TD
Harris is one of several players on this list who rose up from obscurity to become one of the best cornerbacks in the game. Between December 2013 and December 2015, Harris allowed 0 touchdowns. Not a single one. The only reason he isn't higher on here is because he is often matched up against a teams second receiver.
4. Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers
56 Comb, 23 PDef, 4 Int, 3 FF, 2 FR, 2 Int.
Norman burst onto the scene this year and was quickly considered among the 'elite' of the position, and it isn't hard to see why. Apart from a very select few plays, Norman was an excellent shutdown corner and really limited some of the leagues biggest stars - Beckham, Hopkins, Jones and Bryant. It will be interesting to see if he continues his rise in a new defense.

3. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos
45 Comb, 16 PDef, 3 Int, 2 TD. 
Harris Jr.'s running mate and the main reason he isn't higher on this list. Since leaving Tampa Bay, he's risen to be one of the top shutdown corners in the NFL. He is possibly the top corners when it comes to reading quarterbacks and he feasts on contact. Despite getting quite a bit of laundry thrown his way by officials, I love his style of play and it's what makes him as effective as he is. 

2. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
50 Comb, 16 PDef, 2 Int.
The Legion of Boom, and entire Seahawks defense, may not be quite as dominant as it was during their successful Super Bowl run, but that doesn't mean its parts aren't as talented. Sherman, despite sticking to just one side of the field, is just doing what his scheme dictates, and he is damn good at it, and that remains to be true. 

1. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
35 Comb, 10 PDef, 2 Int, 1 FF.
Last year was a down year for Peterson, well he certainly bounced back this year. Peterson returned to being a shutdown corner on a team's number one receiver on every play this year. Though he may get beaten a little more than some of the other corners on this list, he is trusted with more, more often than most of the other guys on here, and that must count for something.

There we have it, my Top 10 Cornerbacks from the 2015 NFL season. What do you think? Think I've got it right or am I completely wrong? Let me know!
Next up? The Top 10 Inside Linebackers of 2015.

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