Jalen Ramsey, Jaire Alexander Drop Out of NFL Top 10 CB Rankings by Execs, Coaches

After making the list last year, three players dropped from the rankings of the top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL in 2025, as voted on by league executives, coaches and scouts.

According to ESPN, L'Jarius Sneed of the Tennessee Titans, Jalen Ramsey of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jaire Alexander of the Baltimore Ravens all fell outside the top 10.

On last year's list, Sneed was No. 4, Ramsey was No. 5 and Alexander was No. 7.

The current top 10, as determined by a poll conducted by ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, is as follows:

1. Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
2. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
3. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
4. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
6. Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots
7. Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers
8. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
9. Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks

Ramsey, 30, is a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro and one-time Super Bowl champion from his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins.

He started all 17 games for the Dolphins last season, but after finishing with two interceptions and 11 passes defended, he was not named to the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie year in 2016.

Last month, the Steelers acquired Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in a blockbuster trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami.

Ramsey was the first player listed under honorable mentions for the 2025 list of the NFL's top 10 corners, with an anonymous NFL personnel director saying:

"He had a down year last year, but he still had flashes of being the gold standard at corner. His mix of athletic ability/fluidity, speed and movement skills at that size is rare. He can play man or zone coverage, can play inside as a nickel and has the ability to move to free safety if he wanted to."

Another exec said Ramsey "is in physical decline," while a third expressed their belief that Ramsey would be "better in the nickel or with specialty roles at this stage."

Like Ramsey, the 28-year-old Alexander is starting over with a new team this season as well.

A first-round draft pick in 2018, Alexander spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Alexander was named a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022, but injuries limited to just seven games played in each of the past two seasons.

After getting released by the Packers last month, Alexander signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in hopes of recapturing some of his past magic.

In the same vein as Alexander, Sneed's fall from the list has plenty to do with missing time last season as well.

After starring for four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and winning two Super Bowls, Sneed was traded to the Titans last offseason, and he signed a new, four-year contract as part of the deal.

Sneed played in only five games during his first year with the Titans due primarily to a quad injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Listed as an honorable mention on this year's cornerback list, one NFL personnel evaluator had this to say about Sneed: "I know he had a rough year with injuries and some off-the-field stuff, but he was really good for three years [in Kansas City]. The Chiefs must have known it was a good time to walk away."

Sneed is no longer in the spotlight in Tennessee like he was during his time in Kansas City, but he may have a chip on his shoulder in 2025 to prove that he is still the same player who started and thrived on two championship-winning teams.