As many as seven cornerbacks may come off the board within the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, and this essential place additionally has some very worthy starters accessible in free company this offseason.
We polled a gaggle of writers from round SB Nation to assemble consensus rankings concerning the accessible gamers.
We are going to take away gamers from the listing as they re-sign with their present groups all the way in which as much as the opening of free company in March.
Others receiving votes: Isaac Yiadom, Brandon Stephens, Mike Hilton, Jonathan Jones, Donte Jackson, Stephon Gilmore
7. Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions
Davis spent one season in Detroit following six in Tampa. He defended 11 passes and recorded two interceptions together with two fumble recoveries in 2024. He began 13 video games and that could be the largest ding on him; he’s by no means performed a full season in his NFL profession.
6. Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings
He was listed all the way in which up at three on one in every of our ballots, and he earned a Professional Bowl nod in 2024. He’s coming off a two-year, $17.5 million contract with Minnesota after 4 seasons with the Cardinals. He had six interceptions alongside 14 passes defended and 81 tackles this previous season. At 27, the dude goes to receives a commission.
5. Rasul Douglas, Buffalo Payments
Douglas turns 30 proper earlier than the 2025 season and has spent 1.5 years on the Payments after being traded by Inexperienced Bay. He’s additionally hung out on the Panthers and Eagles, who drafted him within the third spherical in 2017. An aggressive participant, he will get referred to as for lots of flags, however he additionally averages three interceptions per yr. He’s a stable veteran choice coming off a three-year, $21 million deal.
4. Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
A former second-round decide, Samuel damage his shoulder in observe main as much as Week 1 and performed by way of it for a month. Then he missed the remainder of the season with the harm. When wholesome, he’s had two interceptions, at the very least 11 passes defended, and 43+ tackles in every of his NFL seasons.
3. Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints
There was an enormous soar between the highest three and the remainder of the pack. Nobody had Adebo exterior their prime three. He turns 26 this offseason, however solely performed seven video games in 2024 after breaking his femur. The previous third-round decide was having a pleasant season with three picks, 10 passes defended, and 52 tackles in these seven begins. With the harm, it may complicate his free company curiosity, however he must be absolutely wholesome.
2. D.J. Reed, New York Jets
Reed solely acquired votes on the one or two spot from our people as he seems to be for the potential fourth group of his profession. He turned 28 through the 2024 season, so that is his probability to actually money in another time following his three-year, $33 million contract he signed with the Jets. He began 14 video games with 11 passes defended, one sack, and 52 tackles in 2024.
1. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers
Ward squeaked into the highest spot after receiving probably the most first-place votes simply barely forward of Reed. He turns 29 in Could and made the Professional Bowl in 2023 after defending 23 passes. He solely performed 12 recreation in 2024, defending seven passes with 54 tackles. He’s coming off a large three-year, $40 million contract.
Different free agent cornerbacks
- Jeff Okudah
- Shaquill Griffin
- Tre’Davious White
- Mike Hughes
- Michael Davis
- Kristian Fulton
- Eric Stokes
- Emmanuel Moseley
- Jourdan Lewis
- Marco Wilson
- Tremon Smith
- Isaiah Oliver
- Corey Ballentine
- Avonte Maddox
- Adoree’ Jackson
- Kris Boyd
- Tavierre Thomas
- Khalil Dorsey
- C.J. Goodwin
- Antonio Hamilton
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Kindle Vildor
- Levi Wallace
- Rock Ya-Sin
- Benjamin St-Juste
- Michael Jackson
- Cameron Sutton
- Fabian Moreau
- Anthony Brown
- Elijah Molden
- Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Ambry Thomas
- Trayvon Mullen
- Bryce Corridor
- Elijah Riley
- Darnay Holmes
- Michael Ford
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Harrison Hand
- Tre Brown
- Nate Hobbs
- Brandin Echols
- Israel Mukuamu
- Theo Jackson (RFA)
- Christian Matthew (RFA)
- Darren Corridor (RFA)
- Josh Blackwell (RFA)
- Kader Kohou (RFA)
- Darrell Baker Jr. (RFA)
Lately launched cornerbacks
These cornerbacks had been launched after our rankings had been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league yr.
Kendall Fuller
Fuller began 11 video games for Miami in 2024 after signing a two-year cope with the Dolphins in 2024. In 2020, he signed a giant cope with Washington. The Dolphins didn’t need to pay him $7 million in 2025, however he’s going to be a stable cornerback for somebody if he can keep wholesome.