Power Ranking NFL Secondary Depth Charts
The modern NFL landscape is littered with multiple-receiver sets, explosive passing attacks and uptempo offenses. Naturally, finding elite pass defenders has become a priority.
It's no coincidence that two of the game's top cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman, appeared in this past Super Bowl.
However, today's cornerbacks and safeties are often asked to do more than deflect passes. They must also switch between zone and man coverages, jam receivers off the line, create turnovers, provide additional run support and even rush the passer on occasion.
This is precisely why some of the most successful defenses are designed around top-notch secondaries.
Which NFL team is likely to field the best secondary in 2015? This is a question we are going to try to answer here.
We ranked all 32 teams on the overall talent and depth of their secondaries. We placed emphasis on the ability to provide coverage and force turnovers, but we definitely didn't overlook a unit's ability to defend the run.
32. Chicago Bears
1 of 32
| Cornerback | Tim Jennings | Demontre Hurst | Terrance Mitchell |
| Strong Safety | Antrell Rolle | Ryan Mundy | |
| Free Safety | Brock Vereen | Adrian Amos | |
| Cornerback | Kyle Fuller | Tracy Porter | Alan Ball |
Analysis
Trying to defend the pass was like trying to push a semi uphill last season for the Chicago Bears.
The Bears defense allowed an average of 264.4 passing yards per game (30th in the NFL) and was rated 28th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
Only one team (Washington) allowed more passing touchdowns last season than Chicago.
The Bears added safety Antrell Rolle in free agency and drafted safety Adrian Amos. However, any significant improvement may have to come from second-year cornerback Kyle Fuller.
Fuller flashed some potential (four interceptions, three forced fumbles) as a rookie but battled injuries and struggled to maintain consistency.
Fuller has a solid running mate in Tim Jennings. If he can take the next step this year, the Bears could be much more formidable on defense. This group is also going to have to shed the soft image the team earned under former head coach Marc Trestman.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
2 of 32
| Cornerback | Demetrius McCray | Davon House | Jeremy Harris |
| Strong Safety | Johnathan Cyprien | James Sample | |
| Free Safety | Sergio Brown | Josh Evans | |
| Cornerback | Dwayne Gratz | Aaron Colvin | Tommie Campbell |
Analysis
The Jacksonville Jaguars have some young talent in the back of their defense. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough for this secondary to perform well as a unit in 2014.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Jaguars ranked 30th in pass coverage overall. The team also tied for a league low with just six interceptions.
On a positive note, they did manage to add a couple of new pieces during the offseason. The team brought in safety Sergio Brown and slot corner Davon House via free agency. Jacksonville also spent a fourth-round pick on rookie safety James Sample.
Unfortunately, these aren't the types of moves that are likely to transform one of the league's worst secondaries into one of the best overnight. It was surprising not to see Jacksonville make pass defense more of a priority in free agency or the draft.
Luckily, a steadily improving pass rush (45 sacks last season) does help make up for Jacksonville's coverage issues.
30. Washington Redskins
3 of 32
| Cornerback | Bashaud Breeland | DeAngelo Hall | Thomas Wolfe |
| Strong Safety | Duke Ihenacho | Jeron Johnson | |
| Free Safety | Dashon Goldson | Trenton Robinson | Kyshoen Jarrett |
| Cornerback | Chris Culliver | David Amerson | Tevin Mitchel |
Analysis
The Washington Redskins fielded one of the worst coverage units in the league a season ago. Though the team was ranked 24th in passing yards allowed (249.4 yards per game), it was rated dead-last in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
Washington forced just seven interceptions on the season. No team allowed more than the 35 passing touchdowns surrendered by the Redskins.
The team made it a point to go out and get a starting-caliber corner in free agency and landed former San Francisco 49ers standout Chris Culliver in the process. This was a big move, as he (rated 15th overall among corners by Pro Football Focus) is one of the better young pass defenders in the NFL.
The team made another sound move by trading for veteran safety Dashon Goldson. He is a former Pro Bowl player, though probably past his prime at 30 years old. Jeron Johnson comes from the Seattle Seahawks and is a quality depth player.
Unfortunately, it was disappointing to see the Redskins avoid addressing the secondary earlier than Round 6 in the draft. This unit shouldn't be the worst in 2015, but a dramatic turnaround seems unlikely.
.jpg?w=256 "Cardinals Draft Love Football")
29. Atlanta Falcons
4 of 32
| Cornerback | Desmond Trufant | Phillip Adams | |
| Strong Safety | William Moore | Kemal Ishmael | Sean Baker |
| Free Safety | Ricardo Allen | Charles Godfrey | |
| Cornerback | Jalen Collins | Robert Alford | Dezmen Southward |
Analysis
The Atlanta Falcons struggled to defend the pass last season. In fact, no team allowed more yards per game through the air than the 279.9 allowed by Atlanta. The team did come away with 16 interceptions during the year, but this was easily one of the worst secondaries in the league overall.
In some ways, this is surprising because Desmond Trufant is a criminally underrated corner (ranked sixth overall by Pro Football Focus last season) who should be on the verge of becoming a household name.
However, there are major questions at the other cornerback spots and at both safety positions. The addition of rookie second-rounder Jalen Collins should help upgrade the No. 2 or nickel corner position. There is also reason to believe that Ricardo Allen can step in and solidify the free safety spot.
Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com wrote:
"Second-year player Dezmen Southward, who has the speed and size but not the ball skills, was moved from free safety to cornerback, leaving veteran Charles Godfrey as the No. 1 option before organized team activities. [Head coach Dan] Quinn said Godfrey, Allen and strong safety Kemal Ishmael would compete for the spot, but Godfrey watched Allen surpass him on the depth chart.
"
It will be interesting to see how much Quinn can influence his new defense and exactly how much guys like Collins and Allen can improve the secondary; however, this unit has a long way to go.
28. Oakland Raiders
5 of 32
| Cornerback | D.J. Hayden | James Dockery | Chimdi Chekwa |
| Strong Safety | Nate Allen | Jonathan Dowling | Brandian Ross |
| Free Safety | Charles Woodson | Tevin McDonald | |
| Cornerback | T.J. Carrie | Neiko Thorpe | SaQwan Edwards |
Analysis
The Oakland Raiders were pretty bad last season when it came to overall defense (ranked 32nd, allowing 28.2 points per game), and a shaky secondary was one prime culprit.
The Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown experiment didn't go as planned, and though the defense only allowed 238.1 yards per game through the air (16th in the NFL), the Raiders were ranked 27th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
Oakland also gave up 29 touchdown passes, tied for sixth-most in the NFL.
Safety Charles Woodson continues to be a star, but there are some serious questions in this group.
Surprisingly, the Raiders didn't make a real effort to upgrade the secondary in free agency or the draft. The team didn't even select a pass defender until Round 7.
The Raiders appear content to follow their methodical, build-for-the-future game plan instead of rushing to fill major needs. This should yield success in the long term, but for 2015, it leaves Oakland with one of the more suspect secondaries in the league.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6 of 32
| Cornerback | Alterraun Verner | Sterling Moore | Brandon Dixon |
| Strong Safety | Bradley McDougald | Major Wright | |
| Free Safety | Chris Conte | Keith Tandy | Chris Hackett |
| Cornerback | Johnthan Banks | Leonard Johnson | Mike Jenkins |
Analysis
Pass defense was one of the bigger weaknesses for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. The team allowed an average of 255.2 yards per game passing, fifth-most in the NFL.
At least one cornerback spot is in good hands with Alterraun Verner. He was rated seventh overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus last season.
However, it was surprising that the Buccaneers didn't take more steps to address the secondary in free agency or the draft. The team did bring in safety Chris Conte and cornerback Sterling Moore as free agents, but neither player is likely to turn this into a top unit.
Tampa left free agency with more than $20 million in cap space and completely ignored the secondary during the draft.
Expect this secondary to once again struggle in 2015, which could prove to be a massive problem in the quarterback-driven NFC South.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
7 of 32
Projected 2015 Depth Chart
| Cornerback | Cortez Allen | Senquez Golson | Doran Grant |
| Strong Safety | Shamarko Thomas | Will Allen | |
| Free Safety | Mike Mitchell | Robert Golden | Gerod Holliman |
| Cornerback | William Gay | Antwon Blake | B.W. Webb |
Analysis
The days of the Pittsburgh Steelers fielding a dominating defense appear over. This especially feels true when you take a long look at the Pittsburgh secondary.
Last season, Pittsburgh gave up an average of 253.1 yards per game (27th in the league) through the air. The team was rated 26th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus for the season and allowed 30 passing touchdowns with just 11 interceptions.
The Steelers also lost longtime veterans Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor to retirement in the offseason.
However, there is hope that this unit can bounce back in 2015, especially if young players like Shamarko Thomas and rookie second-round pick Senquez Golson can deliver. The players on the defense still take pride in playing a physical brand of football. If their coverage skills can catch up, this can be a decent unit.
Overall, though, this looks like a team that is going to lean on the arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a lot more than on its defense in the coming season.
25. Arizona Cardinals
8 of 32
| Cornerback | Patrick Peterson | Alfonso Dennard | Jimmy Legree |
| Strong Safety | Tony Jefferson | Deone Bucannon | |
| Free Safety | Tyrann Mathieu | Rashad Johnson | Chris Clemons |
| Cornerback | Jerraud Powers | Justin Bethel | Damond Smith |
Analysis
In terms of passing yardage allowed, the Arizona Cardinals (ranked 29th with 259.5 yards per game) were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season. While inconsistent pass rush is partly to blame, Arizona was still ranked just 25th in coverage by Pro Football Focus for the season.
This may seem a bit surprising, considering the Cardinals have a perennial Pro Bowler at one cornerback spot in Patrick Peterson.
The second and third cornerback spots, however, were sometimes an issue, and the team did not have a safety ranked inside the top 40 by Pro Football Focus. It is worth noting, though, that free safety Tyrann Mathieu was limited by injury for much of the season and missed three games.
The challenge this year will be replacing starting corner Antonio Cromartie, who left as a free agent. The team recently picked up former New England Patriots cornerback Alfonso Dennard and will take a long look at former role players like Jerraud Powers and Justin Bethel.
If Arizona can find better safety play this season (Marc Sessler of NFL.com recently predicted a big leap for Mathieu this season) and can minimize the loss of Cromartie, this unit should be serviceable. An ability to snag the football (18 interceptions last season) certainly helps cover some of the deficiencies.
However, the strength of this defense (just 18.7 points allowed per game) resides in its ability to operate as a whole and not in the secondary.
24. New England Patriots
9 of 32
| Cornerback | Logan Ryan | Malcolm Butler | Robert McClain |
| Strong Safety | Patrick Chung | Jordan Richards | Nate Ebner |
| Free Safety | Devin McCourty | Tavon Wilson | |
| Cornerback | Bradley Fletcher | Justin Green | Darryl Roberts |
Analysis
The New England Patriots still have a good safety duo in Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty, but much of last year's Super Bowl secondary is gone.
The Patriots parted ways with cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington during the offseason.
“I’d be lying if I came out here and told you we were gonna be great,” McCourty said of the Patriots secondary earlier this offseason, per Brendan Hall of ESPN.com.
It's difficult to predict what to expect with guys like Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler and Bradley Fletcher taking over for the departed standouts. However, the Patriots were ranked third overall in pass coverage last season by Pro Football Focus, and we probably can anticipate a noticeable drop from that mark with Revis and Co. out of the picture.
The Patriots will have an opportunity to surprise, of course, but right now this feels like an above-average overall unit at best.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
10 of 32
| Cornerback | Byron Maxwell | Brandon Boykin | Nolan Carroll |
| Strong Safety | Earl Wolff | Walter Thurmond | Chris Maragos |
| Free Safety | Malcolm Jenkins | Chris Prosinski | |
| Cornerback | Eric Rowe | EJ Biggers | JaCorey Shepherd |
Analysis
On the surface, it would appear that the Philadelphia Eagles struggled badly to defend the pass in 2014. After all, the team did allow 264.9 yards per game (31st in the NFL) last season to go with 30 passing touchdowns.
However, it has to be pointed out that head coach Chip Kelly's uptempo offense frequently leaves the Philadelphia defense on the field and in pass-defense situations.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Eagles were actually rated 12th overall in pass coverage.
Much of this is moot, of course, as the Eagles dramatically overhauled their secondary in the offseason. The team brought in cornerback Byron Maxwell and defensive back Walter Thurmond during free agency and drafted cornerbacks Eric Rowe, JaCorey Shepherd and Randall Evans.
We will have to wait and see if the new additions make for a drastic improvement, but the Eagles had better hope at least one of them delivers. The team gave Maxwell a gargantuan six-year, $63 million deal to come to Philadelphia. If nothing else, he should at least bring some of that Super Bowl swagger over from the Seattle Seahawks.
This should be an average unit in 2015, but the Eagles defense probably won't be anything spectacular.
22. Dallas Cowboys
11 of 32
| Cornerback | Brandon Carr | Byron Jones | Morris Claiborne |
| Strong Safety | J.J. Wilcox | Jeff Heath | |
| Free Safety | Barry Church | Danny McCray | |
| Cornerback | Orlando Scandrick | Corey White | Tyler Patmon |
Analysis
The defense of the Dallas Cowboys overachieved in a big way in 2014. Dallas' secondary probably overachieved more than any other part of the team.
Overall, the Cowboys ranked 26th in passing yards allowed (251.9 per game), and the defense was rated 22nd in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. However, Dallas did snag 18 interceptions while allowing just 22 touchdowns.
It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys can overachieve again in 2015, now that star running back DeMarco Murray is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He helped Dallas control the clock and keep the defense off the field with regularity last season.
It will also be interesting to see if Dallas' latest first-round cornerback, Byron Jones, will live up to expectations. The Cowboys used the sixth overall pick on Morris Claiborne back in 2012, but he may struggle to even see playing time this season.
Overall, the Dallas secondary should look very much like it did last season, when it was a below-average unit. It will be up to the rest of the team to compensate and lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs.
21. New York Giants
12 of 32
| Cornerback | Prince Amukamara | Jayron Hosley | Mike Harris |
| Strong Safety | Landon Collins | Nat Berhe | |
| Free Safety | Cooper Taylor | Mykkele Thompson | |
| Cornerback | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Trevin Wade | Josh Gordy |
Analysis
The secondary of the New York Giants was far from the worst unit in 2014. New York was ranked 19th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. The defense also came away with 17 interceptions on the year, 11th-most in the NFL.
However, tackling and run support were large issues (the Giants ranked 30th in run defense, allowing 135.1 yards per game), which is why the team didn't hesitate to trade up and snag run-stuffing safety Landon Collins with the 33rd overall pick in this year's draft.
Collins should bring some much-needed physicality to the back end of New York's defense, along with a confident attitude.
"Defensive Rookie of the Year, that's my expectation," Collins said this offseason, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com.
Barring a vast improvement in the pass-rush department, the Giants are again likely to be average against the pass in 2015. However, we should expect to see a little more attitude in the secondary.
20. New Orleans Saints
13 of 32
| Cornerback | Keenan Lewis | Stanley Jean-Baptiste | Delvin Breaux |
| Strong Safety | Kenny Vaccaro | Vinnie Sunseri | Jamarca Sanford |
| Free Safety | Jairus Byrd | Rafael Bush | Kenny Phillips |
| Cornerback | Brandon Browner | Kyle Wilson | Damian Swann |
Analysis
Though the unit came into the season with some promise, the New Orleans Saints secondary was a disappointment last year. The defense allowed 251.2 yards through the air (25th in the NFL) and was ranked 31st in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
The Saints came away with just 12 interceptions on the year.
It is worth mentioning, of course, that the team lost Pro Bowl safety and free-agent prize Jairus Byrd after four games with a knee injury. When he was healthy in 2013, he was rated eighth overall among safeties by Pro Football Focus.
Byrd should be back and healthy this season, and the Saints brought over cornerback Brandon Browner from the Patriots. These two should help improve the pass defense and add some physicality and swagger to the secondary.
Byrd's injury last season meant more playing time for guys like safety Rafael Bush. This, in turn, should help strengthen the overall depth for the coming season.
Expect the Saints secondary to be an above-average unit in 2015 and an improved one over last year's group.
19. Carolina Panthers
14 of 32
| Cornerback | Bene Benwikere | Melvin White | Chris Houston |
| Strong Safety | Roman Harper | Kurt Coleman | |
| Free Safety | Tre Boston | Colin Jones | |
| Cornerback | Josh Norman | Charles Tillman | Carrington Byndom |
Analysis
Considering the Carolina Panthers secondary featured lot of young and relatively unknown cornerbacks in 2014, one has to be a little impressed with the job the unit did overall.
Carolina ranked 11th in pass defense last season, allowing an average of 227.8 yards per game through the air. The Panthers also came away with 14 interceptions. Pro Football Focus ranked the team 15th overall in pass coverage.
This offseason, the Panthers added longtime Chicago Bears star Charles "Peanut" Tillman to the party mix. He definitely isn't a young or unknown defender. Though he suffered a season-ending triceps injury in each of the past two seasons, he still has a lot to offer the Panthers.
For starters, his veteran presence should be huge. Even if he cannot return to his playmaking ways (36 career interceptions, 42 forced fumbles), he will have plenty of veteran savvy to pass on to the younger guys.
If Tillman can return to form, this group could see a big jump in production. For now, though, expect this secondary to be just above-average.
18. St. Louis Rams
15 of 32
| Cornerback | E.J. Gaines | Trumaine Johnson | Marcus Roberson |
| Strong Safety | T.J. McDonald | Cody Davis | Mo Alexander |
| Free Safety | Rodney McLeod | Mark Barron | Lamarcus Joyner |
| Cornerback | Janoris Jenkins | Brandon McGee | Jay Hughes |
Analysis
Last season, the St. Louis Rams had a good, but not great, secondary that was supported in many ways by a scary physical defensive line.
In terms of pure coverage, the Rams were rated 17th overall by Pro Football Focus for the 2014 season. In terms of yardage, St. Louis was ranked 19th (241.3 yards per game allowed).
However, the Rams did allow the third-fewest passing touchdowns (tied) with 18.
Overall, they appear content to allow the young secondary to develop. The team didn't go after any major free agents and did not target a cornerback or safety in this year's draft.
This is a fairly average unit, but one that should be serviceable in 2015. Paired with a stout defensive front, the St. Louis secondary is likely to look good at times, and the Rams should be a formidable team if the offense can find a rhythm.
17. Baltimore Ravens
16 of 32
| Cornerback | Jimmy Smith | Asa Jackson | Rashaan Melvin |
| Strong Safety | Matt Elam | Will Hill | |
| Free Safety | Kendrick Lewis | Terrence Brooks | Quinton Pointer |
| Cornerback | Lardarius Webb | Kyle Arrington | Cassius Vaughn |
Analysis
Last season, the Baltimore Ravens were without starting cornerback Jimmy Smith for eight games. This is part of the reason the team surrendered an average of 248.7 yards per game through the air (23rd in the NFL).
Another reason is that teams simply couldn't run with consistency against the Baltimore front. The Ravens allowed just 88.2 yards on the ground per game and were ranked a slightly more respectable 20th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
However, the defense begins up front and relies heavily on the pass rush to be effective. The team generated just 11 interceptions a year ago while allowing 22 passing touchdowns.
Getting Smith back from injury will be a boon, and the addition of former New England Patriots corner Kyle Arrington will help in terms of depth. The Ravens secondary also deserves credit for being effective against the run.
Overall, however, Baltimore's secondary is really an average unit whose deficiencies are often masked by a healthy pass rush and a potent offense.
16. Tennessee Titans
17 of 32
| Cornerback | Perrish Cox | Jemea Thomas | Blidi Wreh-Wilson |
| Strong Safety | Da'Norris Searcy | Daimion Stafford | |
| Free Safety | Michael Griffin | Marqueston Huff | |
| Cornerback | Jason McCourty | Coty Sensabaugh | Ri'Shard Anderson |
Analysis
The Tennessee Titans had a respectable pass defense (ranked 15th, allowing 235.8 yards per game) last season, and it could be even better this year.
The team brought in cornerback Perrish Cox and safety Da'Norris Searcy during the offseason, and both should be in line to start in 2015. Cox was rated 35th overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus, and Searcy came in 18th overall among safeties.
The Titans also brought in veteran coordinator Dick LeBeau to oversee the defense. He should help raise the efficiency of this unit.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the Tennessee secondary last season was its inability to excel in run support. This was a big part of the reason the Titans allowed an average of 137.2 yards rushing per game. The addition of Searcy at strong safety should help, but this issue will need to be addressed between now and the regular season.
Expect the Titans secondary to be a middle-of-the-pack unit in 2015.
15. Miami Dolphins
18 of 32
| Cornerback | Brent Grimes | Jamar Taylor | Bobby McCain |
| Strong Safety | Reshad Jones | Walt Aikens | |
| Free Safety | Louis Delmas | Cedric Thompson | |
| Cornerback | Will Davis | Brice McCain | Zack Bowman |
Analysis
The Miami Dolphins had one of the league's better pass defenses in 2014, but the reality is that the pass rush hid more than a few coverage deficiencies.
The Dolphins only surrendered an average of 222.3 yards per game (sixth fewest in the NFL), but the secondary was only ranked 18th by Pro Football Focus in terms of pure coverage. The defense was ranked second overall in terms of pass rush.
Of course, there isn't anything wrong with the entire defense working together to get the desired result.
The Dolphins secondary also deserves credit for being a relatively physical unit. Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes often sets the tone for this group with his scrappy play and willingness to offer run support.
Overall, this is an above-average secondary with plenty of room for improvement. If the Dolphins can improve in run defense (121.1 yards allowed per game on the ground), they could potentially be one of the top defenses in the AFC.
14. San Francisco 49ers
19 of 32
| Cornerback | Tramaine Brock | Chris Cook | Dontae Johnson |
| Strong Safety | Antoine Bethea | Craig Dahl | Jaquiski Tartt |
| Free Safety | Eric Reid | Jimmie Ward | |
| Cornerback | Shareece Wright | Leon McFadden | Marcus Cromartie |
Analysis
The San Francisco 49ers had a solid pass defense a year ago. The team allowed just 220.7 yards per game passing (fifth fewest in the NFL) and was ranked ninth overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers also came away with 23 interceptions, most in the NFL last season.
This is why it made little sense for San Francisco to allow both cornerback Perrish Cox and cornerback Chris Culliver to walk in free agency. The two combined for 28 starts and nine interceptions last season. Keeping one would have seemed sensible.
Instead, the team will put its faith in Tramaine Brock and San Diego Chargers castoff Shareece Wright.
The selection of safety Jaquiski Tartt in the second round of this year's draft will help address depth behind Antoine Bethea, who was very good last season. It still would have been nice to see San Francisco target a cornerback in the draft to help replace one of the departed starters.
The 49ers will still probably have an above-average secondary in 2015, but we can expect to see a noticeable decline.
13. Cincinnati Bengals
20 of 32
| Cornerback | Dre Kirkpatrick | Adam Jones | Darqueze Dennard |
| Strong Safety | George Iloka | Shawn Williams | |
| Free Safety | Reggie Nelson | Shiloh Keo | |
| Cornerback | Leon Hall | Chris Lewis-Harris | Josh Shaw |
Analysis
The Cincinnati Bengals allowed an average of 243.0 passing yards per game (20th in the NFL), but the secondary was an opportunistic group.
In all, the Bengals allowed just 18 touchdown passes while snatching 20 interceptions. The only other team that forced more interceptions than the number of touchdown passes it allowed was the Buffalo Bills.
Cincinnati will have to see how former first-round draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick fits in as a starter now that Terence Newman is gone. However, the team still has one of the more underrated safety tandems in the league and a savvy veteran corner in Leon Hall.
If the Bengals can manage to generate a better pass rush this season (Cincinnati had a league-low 20 sacks in 2014), they could get close to being a top-five defense in terms of passing yardage, as the team was in 2013.
At the very least, consider the Cincinnati secondary an above-average group with high upside.
12. Indianapolis Colts
21 of 32
| Cornerback | Greg Toler | D'Joun Smith | Jalil Brown |
| Strong Safety | Mike Adams | Colt Anderson | |
| Free Safety | Dwight Lowery | Clayton Geathers | |
| Cornerback | Vontae Davis | Darius Butler | Donald Celiscar |
Analysis
The Indianapolis Colts secondary was a much better unit than most people gave it credit for being in 2014. As a team, the Colts only allowed 229.3 yards per game (12th in the league) through the air. Pro Football Focus ranked the Indy fifth overall in pass coverage.
However, the team did only force 12 interceptions during the regular season.
This year is likely to see more of the same for Indianapolis. There was some turnover here as Sergio Brown is out and Dwight Lowery was brought over from the Atlanta Falcons. The team also drafted rookie corner D'Joun Smith and safety Clayton Geathers in the third and fourth round, respectively.
Overall, though, this is likely to again be a sneaky competitive group that gets vastly overshadowed by Andrew Luck and the rest of the offense. Perhaps if the team hadn't given up 45 points in the AFC title game, these guys would get a little more respect.
11. Green Bay Packers
22 of 32
| Cornerback | Casey Hayward | Demetri Goodson | Quinten Rollins |
| Strong Safety | Morgan Burnett | Sean Richardson | Chris Banjo |
| Free Safety | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | Damarious Randall | |
| Cornerback | Sam Shields | Micah Hyde | Kyle Sebetic |
Analysis
It wasn't until the end of the NFC title game that the pass defense of the Green Bay Packers really began to fall apart. For most of the 2014 season, this was a solid secondary.
The Packers ranked 10th overall in passing yards allowed (226.4 per game), and the defense came away with 18 interceptions, tied for seventh-most in the league.
The disclaimer here is that we're talking about last season. Two regular contributors, cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House (20 combined starts), are no longer with the team. This means there is some room for a letdown this coming season.
It's going to be interesting to how Casey Hayward can adjust to a starting role and how, exactly, the Packers plan to use rookie first-round pick Damarious Randall.
Hayward was fantastic in coverage last season, but he only saw 435 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Randall has the coverage skills to play either safety or corner and could see time at both positions in 2015. If these two can excel, the loss of Williams and House isn't going to sting as much.
Overall, expect Green Bay to have an above-average secondary in 2015, though it might not be a top-10 unit once again.
10. Houston Texans
23 of 32
| Cornerback | Kareem Jackson | Kevin Johnson | A.J. Bouye |
| Strong Safety | Eddie Pleasant | Stevie Brown | |
| Free Safety | Rahim Moore | Kurtis Drummond | |
| Cornerback | Johnathan Joseph | Andre Hal | Charles James |
Analysis
The Houston Texans may have allowed an average of 243.1 yards per game (21st in the NFL) in 2014, but the secondary was much better than that number might indicate.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Texans were actually the sixth-best team in terms of pass coverage. The team also came away with 20 interceptions on the season, tied for third-most in the league.
This season, the group should be even better.
Houston scooped up free-agent safety Rahim Moore to help solidify the back end of the defense. The team also used a first-round pick on Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson. He could start as a nickel corner and should provide immediate depth behind starters Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph.
As long as star pass-rusher J.J. Watt is up front and doing his thing, this secondary is likely to look even better than it actually is—and it isn't bad.
If the Texans can get some additional pass-rushing help out of second-year man Jadeveon Clowney, this could quickly become a top-10 squad.
9. San Diego Chargers
24 of 32
| Cornerback | Brandon Flowers | Craig Mager | Steve Williams |
| Strong Safety | Jahleel Addae | Jimmy Wilson | |
| Free Safety | Eric Weddle | Darrell Stuckey | John Lowdermilk |
| Cornerback | Patrick Robinson | Jason Verrett | Kenny Wiggins |
Analysis
The San Diego Chargers may have had a few issues on defense last season, but defending the pass wasn't really one of them.
Cornerback Brandon Flowers experienced a resurgence with his new team, Eric Weddle continued to prove he is one of the top safeties in the league, and Jason Verrett made some strides before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in his inaugural NFL campaign.
Overall, the Chargers allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (214.2) and a respectable 24 touchdown passes (17 teams allowed more).
However, the defense does not have a reputation as an overly physical unit, and the team only managed to come away with seven interceptions for the year. There is definitely room for improvement in both areas.
Still, this is an above-average secondary. Free-agent additions Patrick Robinson and Jimmy Wilson will add depth to the group, as will rookie third-round pick Craig Mager. If Verrett can come back and continue to develop, this could be a dangerous squad in 2015.
8. Detroit Lions
25 of 32
| Cornerback | Darius Slay | Nevin Lawson | Chris Owens |
| Strong Safety | James Ihedigbo | Isa Abdul-Quddus | |
| Free Safety | Glover Quin | Don Carey | |
| Cornerback | Rashean Mathis | Alex Carter | Quandre Diggs |
Analysis
The secondary of the Detroit Lions was good last season, but at times it looked fantastic thanks to the pressure created up front. Overall, Detroit ranked 13th in passing yards allowed (231.6 per game) and came away with an impressive 20 interceptions.
Now that star defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are gone, the secondary may have to work a little bit harder to force mistakes in the passing game.
Most of the pieces from last year's unit return, and the team added depth in the form of rookie cornerbacks Alex Carter and Quandre Diggs.
The challenge for Detroit will be to replicate the success it had last season when the defensive line was so dominant (the Lions ranked first in run defense and third in points allowed). At the very least, this should still be a top-10 or top-15 group.
7. Denver Broncos
26 of 32
| Cornerback | Aqib Talib | Tony Carter | Lorenzo Doss |
| Strong Safety | T.J. Ward | Josh Bush | Josh Furman |
| Free Safety | Darian Stewart | David Bruton | |
| Cornerback | Chris Harris | Bradley Roby | Kayvon Webster |
Analysis
The Denver Broncos received most of their attention last season because of the presence (and playoff collapse) of quarterback Peyton Manning. However you might have noticed that the pass defense was very good for most of the year.
Overall, Denver allowed just 225.4 passing yards per game and was rated second overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. The Broncos also forced 18 interceptions.
The Denver secondary might see a little decline in 2015, as starting free safety Rahim Moore is no longer with the team. However, the Broncos still have one of the better cornerback tandems in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, as well as one of the league's best in-the-box safeties in T.J. Ward.
This should still be one of the better secondaries in the NFL this season, and it should work well with the balanced and more methodical offense that new head coach Gary Kubiak is bringing to Denver. The trick will be keeping the opposition out of the end zone.
Denver gave up 29 passing touchdowns a season ago.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
27 of 32
| Cornerback | Phillip Gaines | Marcus Peters | Jamell Fleming |
| Strong Safety | Ron Parker | Tyvon Branch | |
| Free Safety | Husain Abdullah | Kelcie McCray | |
| Cornerback | Sean Smith | Steven Nelson | Sanders Commings |
Analysis
Having a dominant pass rush and an above-average secondary allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to hold opponents to just 203.2 yards per game passing, second-best in the NFL.
In terms of pure coverage, the Chiefs were rated eighth overall by Pro Football Focus.
The problem is that the Chiefs secondary was not particularly efficient in run support and failed to force turnovers. Kansas City tied for a league low with six interceptions.
This is why the Chiefs jumped on Washington cornerback Marcus Peters in the first round of this year's draft. He is a tough, rangy corner who can help bring attitude and playmaking ability to the secondary. The team also spent a third-round pick on cornerback Steven Nelson.
Expect to see more than six interceptions from the Chiefs in 2015. This secondary should be a playoff-caliber unit in 2015.
5. Minnesota Vikings
28 of 32
| Cornerback | Terence Newman | Trae Waynes | Captain Munnerlyn |
| Strong Safety | Robert Blanton | Antone Exum | Andre Sendejo |
| Free Safety | Harrison Smith | ||
| Cornerback | Xavier Rhodes | Josh Robinson | Jabari Price |
Analysis
The Minnesota Vikings have quietly assembled one of the better young secondaries under head coach Mike Zimmer. Last season, the unit was ranked seventh in passing yards allowed (223.2 yards per game) and was rated 10th overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.
Zimmer has also brought with him the physical and aggressive attitude that once embodied his defenses with the Bengals.
Harrison Smith (ranked second overall among safeties by Pro Football Focus last season) is probably one of the most underrated defenders in the NFL today, and cornerback Xavier Rhodes is quickly making a name for himself as well.
This group should be even deeper in 2015 as the team spent a first-round draft pick on cornerback Trae Waynes and brought along former Zimmer disciple Terence Newman in free agency.
Don't be too surprised if Minnesota ends up with one of the best overall pass defenses this season.
4. New York Jets
29 of 32
| Cornerback | Darrelle Revis | Buster Skrine | Dexter McDougle |
| Strong Safety | Marcus Gilchrist | Jaiquawn Jarrett | |
| Free Safety | Calvin Pryor | Antonio Allen | Rontez Miles |
| Cornerback | Antonio Cromartie | Dee Milliner | Keith Lewis |
Analysis
We can pretty much throw out the 2014 statistics when it comes to the New York Jets secondary because we're looking at a completely different unit this year.
The Jets reunited with former starting cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie in free agency and added slot corner Buster Skrine and safety Marcus Gilchrist as well.
On paper, this makes the Jets secondary look like one of the best in the NFL. Revis was rated fourth overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus last season, and Cromartie was rated 45th. The last time these two started together, in 2012, the Jets were ranked second in pass defense (189.8 passing yards per game allowed).
However, it is worth noting that Pro Football Focus only rated the Jets 17th in pass coverage that year.
The good news is that the Jets have an effective defensive front that should cover for any deficiencies the secondary might have. There shouldn't be many, though, and this should be one of the better units on the field as well as on paper.
3. Buffalo Bills
30 of 32
| Cornerback | Leodis McKelvin | Ronald Darby | Ross Cockrell |
| Strong Safety | Corey Graham | Duke Williams | Kenny Ladler |
| Free Safety | Aaron Williams | Bacarri Rambo | |
| Cornerback | Stephon Gilmore | Nickell Robey | Ron Brooks |
Analysis
The Buffalo Bills had one of the league's most impressive overall defenses last season, and solid secondary play was a big part of that. Buffalo ranked third overall in passing yards allowed (205.8 per game) and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league.
In terms of physical play and run support, the Bills defense was right up there with the best of them.
Now that defense-minded head coach Rex Ryan has joined the team, things could really get interesting.
Most of the secondary standouts return, though safety Da'Norris Searcy is no longer with the team. Even with Searcy gone, Buffalo's backup plan means the secondary should be just fine.
According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW Buffalo, veteran cornerback Corey Graham has officially made the switch to safety. Graham, for the record, was rated eighth overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus in 2014.
Buffalo also used a second-round draft pick on Ronald Darby, which should help solidify the depth at cornerback now that Graham has jumped positions.
Expect Buffalo to again be one of the most dangerous secondaries in the league in 2015.
2. Cleveland Browns
31 of 32
| Cornerback | Joe Haden | K'Waun Williams | Pierre Desir |
| Strong Safety | Donte Whitner | Johnson Bademosi | Ibraheim Campbell |
| Free Safety | Tashaun Gipson | Jordan Poyer | |
| Cornerback | Tramon Williams | Justin Gilbert | Charles Gaines |
Analysis
Fans of the Cleveland Browns haven't had a lot to celebrate in recent years, but their team nearly came in at No. 1 here in terms of overall secondary talent and depth.
Cleveland ranked eighth overall in passing yards allowed last season (224.5 per game) but was rated first overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. The Browns also ranked second in the NFL with 21 interceptions.
Cornerback Joe Haden, safety Tashaun Gipson and safety Donte Whitner were all named to the Pro Bowl last season (Whitner as an alternate), and all return for 2015. The Browns also added veteran corner Tramon Williams (ranked 34th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus last season) to replace the departed Buster Skrine.
There is a good deal of depth in Cleveland behind the starters, as well. If this group can figure out how to stop the run (Cleveland was dead-last in this category last season), the Browns could easily have a top-five defense in 2015.
1. Seattle Seahawks
32 of 32
| Cornerback | Richard Sherman | Jeremy Lane | Marcus Burley |
| Strong Safety | Kam Chancellor | Dion Bailey | |
| Free Safety | Earl Thomas | DeShawn Shead | |
| Cornerback | Cary Williams | Will Blackmon | Tharold Simon |
Analysis
Sure, the Seattle Seahawks lost starting cornerback Byron Maxwell in free agency. However, this isn't enough to downgrade the secondary that has appeared in each of the past two Super Bowls.
No team allowed fewer yards through the air than the 185.6 per game allowed last season by Seattle. Only one team (Buffalo) allowed fewer than the 17 touchdown passes that the Seahawks allowed.
There may not have been a secondary as physical and as eager to stuff the run than the one in Seattle, either.
Oh, and the Seahawks still have that Richard Sherman guy.
When you add in the fact that they have one of the league's better safety duos in Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, it's hard to argue that this secondary is likely to again be the best in the NFL this season.
So, we'll go out on a limb here and assume the Seahawks will manage to get along with free-agent additions Cary Williams and Will Blackmon in place of Maxwell. Until someone comes up and bumps off the Legion of Boom, we're going to go ahead and leave Seattle at No. 1.
.jpg?w=480 "Cardinals Draft Love Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Chiefs Rookies Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Browns Declined Cowboys Trade")
.jpg?w=600 "Draft Value Picks Who Could be Fantasy Football Sleepers 🧐")
.png?w=600 "NFL Free-Agent Tracker ✍️"){kind=tracking}
.jpg?w=600 "Breaking News")