The Los Angeles Rams didn’t give the Jacksonville Jaguars two first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey with the expectations that he would simply be a top-10 cornerback in the NFL. They made that trade believing he was the best player at his position.
And after a full season in L.A., that’s exactly what Ramsey has become. He was a true shutdown cornerback last year, taking away everyone from DK Metcalf to DeAndre Hopkins to Allen Robinson. In doing so, he was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, shining as the best cornerback in football.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled NFL executives, coaches, scouts and players to find out who’s viewed as the top corner in the league and Ramsey came in at No. 1, up from the second spot a year ago. One NFL head coach even told Fowler, “There’s Jalen Ramsey, and there’s a line,” separating him from the rest of the league’s best cornerbacks.
Marlon Humphrey of the Ravens was No. 2, followed by Xavien Howard and Stephon Gilmore. You might be surprised to see Jaire Alexander all the way down at No. 6, despite him being viewed by many fans and analysts as one of the two best corners in the NFL.
Darious Williams didn’t make the list, which isn’t all that surprising. But if he puts together another season like the one he had in 2020, he could at least find himself in the honorable mentions section next year.
Ramsey is the second Rams player to be voted the best player at his position, alongside Aaron Donald as the top interior defender.
