With some downtime before training camp, we will be ranking each positional group in the AFC West entering the 2019 season to gear you up for the upcoming campaign.
Yesterday, we ranked the best safeties. Today, we will be concluding the secondary by ranking the six best cornerbacks in the division.
No. 6, Kareem Jackson, Broncos
After starting his professional career with the Texans, Jackson signed with the Broncos this offseason on a three-year, $33 million deal, making him one of the higher paid players at his position.
Denver was in need of finding the replacement to Aqib Talib, who they traded last year, and they added one of the more physical cornerbacks in the league to play alongside Chris Harris Jr.
Coach Vic Fangio is getting a player who offers versatility to play either safety or corner. Jackson is coming off his best season yet in his nine years as a pro, posting a career-high 87 tackles with 17 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
No. 5, Gareon Conley, Raiders
The Raiders selected Conley in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After a rookie season that saw him spend most of his time injured, he had a lot to prove to his new coaching staff. It was a slow and shaky start but he quickly turned things around.
In the second half of the 2018 season, according to Pro Football Focus, Conley allowed a passer rating of just 72.8 when he was targeted. He finished the year recording three interceptions and 10 passes defensed.
He has shown he can hang in there with the best like Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill. With a full season under their new defense, Conley should be able to thrive even more and could be headed towards his first Pro Bowl this season.
No. 4, Kendall Fuller, Chiefs
The 23-year-old cornerback was moved into a starting role for the Chiefs opposite Steven Nelson, allowing him to top his totals from two seasons ago when he was with the Redskins.
Fuller showed the ability to thrive on the outside and inside the slot, recording a career-best 82 tackles (64 solo), a career-high 12 passes defensed, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 2018.
He only collected two interceptions compared to four in 2017, but there’s a good chance that number increases in his final season of his rookie contract.
No. 3, Desmond King, Chargers
King was a huge contributor to helping the defensive unit rank within the top-10 in passing yards allowed. The former Iowa product had three interceptions on the season, finishing as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 cornerback.
King did the majority of his work in the secondary covering the slot, flourishing at defending the run and he even found himself a starting job as a return specialist over wide receiver Travis Benjamin midway through the season.
This year, he could look to see an expanded role in terms of position, as he’s been playing some outside corner as well as reps at safety this offseason. King should top the amount of success from last year, and lock up his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2019.
No. 2, Casey Hayward, Chargers
Hayward took a step back in the turnover category after posting zero interceptions in 2018. This was after posting 11 total picks between the 2016 and 2017 season. But nonetheless, he was still dominant.
Even though he didn’t have a takeaway, the former Vanderbilt product was still one of the top corners in terms of limiting yards and touchdowns.
Since 2016, Hayward ranks third in forced incompletion percentage (23.7%), ninth in passer rating allowed (71.0) and eighth in completion percentage allowed (53.0%), per Pro Football Focus.
Look for Hayward to post another great campaign in 2019 and earn his third Pro Bowl appearance.
No. 1, Chris Harris Jr., Broncos
Harris has played a huge part in the Broncos’ secondary the past few seasons. He had 49 tackles, one sack, three interceptions (one touchdown) and 10 passes defensed in 12 games last season.
He is the best slot corner in the league and has been that for a while since coming into the league in 2011. With the new additions to the roster, he should continue to play at an elite level.
He is set to enter the final year of his five-year extension signed back in 2014 and he should be cashing in a big check in 2020 as he still has a few good years left in the tank.
