The NFC West has been controlled by the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons with Sean McVay’s squad winning the division title in 2017 and ’18. It’s still a competitive division with quality quarterbacks, but the Rams once again look like the best team.
In terms of the secondary, the Rams own that department, too. They have a star-studded group of defensive backs and a good mix of both veterans and young studs.
Ranking the top cornerbacks in the division wasn’t exactly easy because there are a lot of inconsistent players in the NFC West, but we’ve picked out the top six.
1. Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
Peterson will miss the first six games of the season due to suspension, but he remains the best cornerback in the division. He’s a defender who can play in just about any scheme, though he’s much better in man coverage than zone. Peterson’s combination of size and speed make him a dangerous player in the secondary, especially with the ball skills he possesses.
He’s one of the few cornerbacks left in the NFL who will consistently follow opposing No. 1 receivers around the field and cover them no matter where they go. That makes him very valuable to the Cardinals, which is why they’re going to miss him badly for the first six weeks.
2. Nickell Robey-Coleman, Rams
On a team with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, it’s Robey-Coleman who’s the Rams’ best cornerback. He may not be a full-time player the way the other two corners are, but Robey-Coleman is one of the best slot defenders in the league. Despite being smaller in stature, his quickness and instincts put him in the right place at the right time.
Nickel corners are becoming more valuable as time goes on because of how frequently offenses have three receivers on the field. And oftentimes, teams put their best wideouts in the slot to give them more room to work. It’s important to have a corner who can hold up in coverage in the slot.
3. Aqib Talib, Rams
Talib was out for eight weeks last season due to an ankle injury and the pass defense was borderline terrible without him on the field. Marcus Peters’ play took a huge step back, teams were picking apart the secondary and No. 1 receivers were having a field day each week they played the Rams. Talib doesn’t have the physical skills that he once had in his younger days, but he’s still as smart as any cornerback around.
He takes calculated risks and still has excellent hands, which allows him to come down with interceptions instead of just deflections. When Talib returned to the lineup late in the season, the Rams’ pass defense improved dramatically, which is no coincidence.
4. Richard Sherman, 49ers
Sherman isn’t the player he once was, especially after returning from a torn Achilles, but there’s reason to believe he’ll improve in 2019. In the first month of last season, Sherman led the NFL in coverage snaps per catch allowed (146.0), blowing away the competition with Aqib Talib second at 20.8. In the right scheme, Sherman can still be successful and a shutdown cornerback.
The best way to make the most of his skill set is to leave him on one side of the field in Cover 3 like he was in Seattle. He’s still not a cornerback many quarterbacks like to challenge in coverage.
5. Marcus Peters, Rams
Peters took a lot of heat last season after the Rams traded for him, and deservingly so. He didn’t play up to expectations and was once graded as one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. However, he was great at the beginning of the year and towards the end of the season when Talib returned.
In the final seven weeks of the season, he had the eighth-best coverage grade of any corner and allowed the seventh-lowest passer rating in coverage, according to PFF. That didn’t make up for his horrendous eight-week stretch without Talib, but it did show he can still be a great cornerback in the right system.
6. Jason Verrett, 49ers
Verrett was once viewed as one of the better corners in the NFL, but injuries have absolutely derailed his career. He’s only played five games since 2016 and only has one season with more than six games played. Durability is a huge concern with the veteran cornerback, but if healthy, he can still have an impact for San Francisco.
In 2015, his only Pro Bowl season, Verrett picked off three passes, broke up 12 and made 47 tackles. He’s not the biggest cornerback, but he’s a good slot defender and has great ball skills.
Honorable mentions: Tre Flowers, Shaquill Griffin, Robert Alford
