NFL Free Agency 100: Top 10 Cornerbacks

We love to rank things in the NFL world, including free agents. But this time they’re being ranked with a scouting emphasis to give a full picture of what each team is getting with a free-agent contract.

The goal of the NFL Free Agency 100 is to look at each player the way an NFL front office will. By evaluating on-field play (production), past injuries (durability), off-field and locker room behavior (intangibles), potential as a player (upside) and the type of contract expected (value), we’re able to get a complete image of the player.

In the case of ties, I have asked myself, "Which player would I rather have on my team?" and set the rankings accordingly.

Subjective? Yes. But ties are no fun. 

Each player was scouted by me and a team of experienced evaluators with these key criteria in mind. The following scouting reports and grades are the work of months of film study. 

All statistics from Pro Football Focus. Players' heights, weights and seasons from NFL.com. 

10. Chris Culliver, San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Production

22/30

A third-round pick in the 2011 draft, Chris Culliver has started 20 games in his four years. He’s logged seven interceptions in that time, showing an ability to attack the ball and read the offense. He’s not a great tackler, but Culliver’s range at 6’0” and 199 pounds makes him an intriguing investment on the edge.

Durability

7/10

Injuries are a big part of Culliver’s history. He tore his ACL in the 2013 preseason and was banged up with ankle, concussion, shoulder, hamstring and knee injuries in 2014. 

Intangibles

8/15

Culliver has a long string of off-field issues, with two of them revolving around inappropriate comments toward women and the prospect of having a gay teammate. He was also arrested for a hit-and-run before the 2014 season. 

Upside

20/20

On the field, Culliver is just scratching the surface of what he can be. He’s athletic and explosive and has the size that teams crave. He’s a wild card off the field, though, and could scare away big money or a long-term investment.

Value

21/25

Due to his injuries and off-field issues, Culliver could be a very low-cost signing. He’s a risk-versus-reward player who may frighten away established teams.

Overall

78/100

9. Perrish Cox, San Francisco 49ers

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Production

22/30

It may seem like Perrish Cox has been in the NFL forever, but the four-year veteran has just played for a lot of teams. Three of them, to be exact. He enjoyed his best season in 2014, starting 14 games for the San Francisco 49ers and logging five interceptions and 49 solo tackles. With a good pass rush in front of him, Cox responded with big plays and the best coverage of his career. 

Durability

10/10

Cox was banged up with shoulder, ankle and quadriceps injuries in 2014, but he played through them and started 14 games for the 49ers.

Intangibles

12/15

In 2012, Cox was arrested for sexual assault but was later found not guilty in a trial, according to The Associated Press via The Huffington Post. With an increased focus on domestic and sexual violence in the NFL, a second incident could lead to major time missed for Cox. 

Upside

16/20

Cox played his best season on a one-year deal in San Francisco, and the 49ers may try to keep him locked up. He’s only 28 years old and has shown the skills to be a starter on the edge.

Value

20/25

As far as value signings go, Cox may be the best one at cornerback. He’s proved to be a reliable, capable starter and will likely see a contract well below what the more experienced starters get.

Overall

80/100

8. Walter Thurmond, New York Giants

David Richard/Associated Press

Production

24/30

Walter Thurmond was supposed to go from slot cornerback in Seattle to star in New York, but a torn pectoral muscle put him on injured reserve for 14 games. He’s long (5’11”, 190 lbs), physical and versatile enough to play in the nickel or on the edge as a starter. Thurmond has just one interception in his career, though, and teams will question if he was a product of the scheme and talent around him in Seattle.

Durability

8/10

The torn pec cost Thurmond a ton of games, but prior to 2014 he had never missed an NFL game due to injury. 

Intangibles

12/15

The NFL suspended Thurmond for four games in 2013 for violating the substance abuse policy. That puts him in the program, which means another violation could result in a season-long suspension. 

Upside

19/20

Thurmond looked like a budding star before getting injured in ‘14. The good news is the injury wasn’t to his lower body and the 27-year-old has plenty of time to recover.

Value

20/25

The injury could push Thurmond’s asking price down, but he is also a bit of an unknown as a true starter on the edge. Teams must weigh his value relative to his position (inside or outside cornerback) and price him accordingly.

Overall

83/100

7. Buster Skrine, Cleveland Browns

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Production

22/30

The 2014 season was a career best for Buster Skrine. His four interceptions and 16 starts were both personal bests, and his 18 passes defensed tied a career high. He’s entering the market at his peak. Skrine is a smaller (5’9”, 185 lbs) player but has speed and instincts both on the edge and in the slot. He’s a versatile cornerback who should stay on the field consistently. 

Durability

10/10

Injuries are not an issue for Skrine. He’s never missed a game due to injury in his four-year NFL career. He’s started 31 of the last 32 games in Cleveland.

Intangibles

15/15

Skrine hasn’t had any issues on or off the field since coming into the NFL from Tennessee-Chattanooga. He’s a low-risk signing off the field.

Upside

17/20

Skrine is still young (he turns 26 in April) and has shown improvement with more reps. He has upside as a starter, but teams need to view him as a secondary cornerback and not as a No. 1.

Value

20/25

Signing Skrine as a starter could backfire, as the jury is still out on his ability to be a consistent No. 2. But a team signing him as a possible starter and possible nickel starter would get a good value.

Overall

84/100

6. Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans

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Production

23/30

A first-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Kareem Jackson hasn’t become a top-tier cornerback, but he has progressed over the last two seasons and enters free agency as a solid No. 2 cornerback. He’s physical at the line of scrimmage but doesn’t have great size (5’10”, 188 lbs) for downfield coverage. He’s notched just 10 interceptions in five seasons. 

Durability

8/10

Jackson missed three games in 2014 and was probable for three others with a knee injury and then probable for Week 17 with a back injury. He’s been hurt often, but the injuries are generally not keeping him out of a lot of games.

Intangibles

15/15

There are no issues off the field to report with Jackson. He’s never been arrested or suspended and isn’t an off-field risk.

Upside

16/20

Jackson has been in the NFL for five years, but he doesn’t turn 27 until April 10. He’s still a young player who is improving each season. He has never been a No. 1, though, and may be best in a No. 2 or slot cornerback position.

Value

22/25

Jackson is the top of the third tier of cornerbacks available, and he’ll get paid as such. That said, he has starter qualities and could be a good value signing after the dust settles from the big contracts. 

Overall

84/100

5. Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers

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Production

26/30

The Kansas City Chiefs moved Brandon Flowers to slot cornerback in 2013, and his play dipped as a result. The San Diego Chargers, who picked him up after he was released, put him back on the outside, and he returned to his pre-2013 form. He limits targets and can create turnovers. He has proved to be a good tackler in the run game.

Durability

7/10

Flowers has missed time with a concussion and with an ankle injury in the past. His last full season was 2011, having missed six games in the last three years.

Intangibles

15/15

Flowers has been a leader since entering the NFL. He’s not a concern on or off the field.

Upside

16/20

Kansas City released Flowers after deeming he was not a fit in the new regime’s defense, but he played well in San Diego. The 28-year-old has a lot of football ahead of him.

Value

23/25

Flowers should be signed as a starting cornerback—and not a nickel starter but as a legitimate top two cornerback. He doesn’t have great size at 5'9" and 187 pounds, but he has at least another four or five seasons of play ahead of him.

Overall

87/100

4. Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Production

26/30

In nine NFL seasons, Antonio Cromartie has 31 interceptions, good for No. 8 among active players. He’s big (6’2”, 210 lbs), long and fast and has a knack for the football. Cromartie isn’t a great tackler, but he is an off-the-ball cornerback with zone- and man-coverage talents.

Durability

10/10

Cromartie hasn’t missed a game since 2010, and then he missed just one. He’s a durable starter.

Intangibles

13/15

Cromartie’s off-field issues are unique. He has 12 children, according to Fox Sports, and he had to ask the New York Jets for a $500,000 advance to pay child support in 2010, per ESPNNewYork.com. Those issues may not affect his play or character but could be a financial bind for the player and team.

Upside

17/20

Before the 2015 season, Cromartie will turn 31 years old, but he’s a day one starter and impact player in coverage. He isn’t likely to become a top-tier cornerback anytime soon, but Cromartie is still capable of well-above-average play.

Value

23/25

Cromartie may be looking for his last big payday, which could drive up his price on the open market, but he’s reliable and consistent. 

Overall

89/100

3. Byron Maxwell, Seattle Seahawks

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Production

25/30

As a starter for roughly one season (17 games), Byron Maxwell doesn’t have a ton of film for teams to view against top-tier wide receivers. But in his 47 career regular-season games, he has been impressive and is a player on the rise. As an older player (26), Maxwell has production and potential. He’s big (6’1”, 207 lbs), can play the run and is very physical on the edge. With teams ignoring Richard Sherman, he’s been tested often and has held up well.

Durability

9/10

Maxwell missed three games with a calf injury and still struggled with it after coming back to the field. He was healthy by season’s end, though. 

Intangibles

15/15

Maxwell doesn’t have any documented suspensions or arrests and is a player that teams don’t have to worry about.

Upside

19/20

Is Maxwell an up-and-comer with big talent or the product of a brilliant defensive system? Walter Thurmond was supposed to be the test case last year, but he was lost to injury this season, so there’s not a good study in how Seattle cornerbacks produce outside of a dominant secondary.

Value

23/25

Maxwell will be a second-tier cornerback on the market if Darrelle Revis becomes a free agent, but he could be a high-level starter for a good price. Teams with links to the Seahawks (Jacksonville, Atlanta) should be taking a look.

Overall

91/100

2. Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers

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Production

26/30

Tramon Williams has proved to be a versatile, athletic cover man during his eight years with the Green Bay Packers. At 5'11", 191 pounds, he has the size to cover on the boundary and not get taken advantage of, and he is an underrated runner down the field. He’s shown the hands to be a threat at creating turnovers and is a good tackler in space.

Durability

10/10

Williams hasn’t missed a game since 2011, and even then he only missed one start. 

Intangibles

15/15

A leader for a young Green Bay secondary, Williams has no issues in his profile.

Upside

18/20

Williams will be 32 years old when the 2015 season starts, and that must be factored into his signing. He’s looking at one more deal, but any team must be aware that his play could drop off quickly.

Value

23/25

Williams’ age makes his signing a little riskier than his production would make you think. He’ll command a big salary based on his performance and the position he plays, but teams must be aware of his age and the possibility of regression.

Overall

92/100

1. Darrelle Revis, New England Patriots

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Production

30/30

If Darrelle Revis isn’t the best cornerback in the NFL, he’s the second best. He has been a dominant coverage player throughout his career and excels in man coverage on the edge. He routinely “travels” to cover the opposing team’s top player and is a shutdown figure. His interception numbers might not be great (23 in his career), but that’s because no one is brave enough to challenge him consistently. Revis is one of the best free agents to hit the market if the New England Patriots decline to pick up his 2015 option or workout a long-term deal.

Durability

10/10

Revis hasn’t missed time often throughout his eight years in the NFL. He missed 14 games with injury in 2012 and three in 2010. Other than that, he’s been on the field and has been a starter for 111 games.

Intangibles

15/15

Revis isn’t the loudest guy, but he’s a leader by example and has no issues on or off the field that teams should worry about.

Upside

20/20

Even at 29 years old, Revis proved in 2014 that he’s still playing at an unreal level. His return from a torn ACL in 2012 was quick, and he’s shown no lasting effects.

Value

25/25

The Patriots can choose to keep Revis if they want to pick up his $20 million option for 2015, so he may never see the street. But if he does, expect a heavy bidding war from the rest of the league.

Overall

100/100