2011 Top Ten Cornerbacks: Revis Edges Asomugha While Woodson and Bailey Defy Age

1. Darrelle Revis - Jets

An elite cover corner who has yet to reach his peak. He combines quickness, strength and speed with incredible awareness. He studies tendencies to the point where he knows which route is coming, and can play a wideout all over the field. He can shut out a side of the field or a star wideout. He needs no help, allowing the Jets defense to do things other can't. He is a solid run defender. It's also worth noting how clutch he is, being the key to taking down great QBs in the playoffs the last two years. He masks the flaws of his defense by making very few mistakes.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha - Raiders

A tall, fast, disciplined cornerback who may be the most feared person in football. No one has really thrown at him in years, but to his credit, all signs indicate it wouldn't go well if they did throw his way. Asomugha is an elite shutdown corner, but he needs to play both sides of the field in order to be as versatile and useful as Revis. It's still like splitting hairs though. Another cornerback who virtually makes no mistakes.

3. Champ Bailey - Broncos

People say he's aging, but from what I've seen, he can still shut down wideouts. He put up great games against the likes of Dwayne Bowe and others. He has lost a step, but he used to be one of the fastest in football and still has decent speed and quickness. People seem to be waiting for him to fall from the elite, but I wouldn't bet on it just yet.

4. Asante Samuel - Eagles

One of the top ball-hawks of the decade, Samuel is a bit of a feast-or-famine type player. He'll pick off close to ten balls a year, but he is prone to let up a big play here and there. However, he has improved in coverage in recent years, and has rare natural awareness for the passing game. He is a valuable asset for Reid's defensive scheme, with above average athleticism. Not outstanding in run support.

5. Charles Woodson - Packers

The cornerstone of Dom Caper's elite pass defense, Woodson is a versatile player who is most effective as a nickel corner or an extra safety. He is an excellent playmaker even at his age, forcing fumbles, intercepting passes and getting sacks. His run support is great as well. However, he has gotten older, and his diminishing speed is starting to limit his coverage abilities.

6. Tramon Williams - Packers

He had a breakout season and shows promise to become an elite shutdown corner in this league. The Packers pass defense was outstanding this year with Williams as the primary outside cover man and Woodson often used in a variety of spots. Good all-around game with made relatively few errors in coverage. A very good ball-hawk. He is striving in a great scheme.

7. Devin McCourty - Patriots

Had an outstanding rookie season, being one of the best players on a very young defense that helped a team go to 14-2 this season. His improvement down the stretch suggests that next year he could be even better, although he still made the Pro Bowl last year, over Champ Bailey. He's a quick defender who fits his scheme. He likely was better as a rookie than Revis or Asomugha were as rookies. 

8. Antoine Winfield - Vikings

Winfield is getting older, but he didn't let up a touchdown or a 100-yard receiver this season. He is undersized and losing speed gradually, but he has great awareness and may be the best cornerback overall in run support. He kind of flew under the radar this season, but I've heard great things about the season he put in. The only reason he is this low is because of the young talent emerging in front of him.

9. Antonio Cromartie - Jets

He's one of the fastest and biggest cornerbacks in the league, and he seemed to revitalize his career a bit in New York. He was learning a new system in press coverage and did well. He's a bit of a liability against quicker wideouts, but he is as good as anyone at covering the tall, fast and strong wideouts. His coverage against Wallace, Marshall, Moss, etc. was very good. Not great in run support, though. If he stays with the Jets, expect him to improve next season.

10. Brandon Flowers - Chiefs

An underrated player who took big steps this year. He is a shutdown cornerback with great athleticism, helping the Chiefs emerge from bad to good in a short amount of time. He doesn't get a ton of picks, but he shows awareness and doesn't make too many mistakes. I expect that  Flowers will get to the Pro Bowl a few times in the coming years.

Also Considered...

Jonathan Joseph - Bengals: just misses the list, great overall corner, some injuries this season

Leon Hall - Bengals: just misses the list, good zone defender who is good in run support

Aqib Talib - Buccaneers: top-10 corner, but not if he ends up in jail in 2011

Cortland Finnegan - Titans: usually easily in the top 10, but surprisingly struggled a bit this year.

Quentin Jammer - Chargers: good underrated corner on great pass defense

DeAngelo Hall - Redskins: athletic and a ball hawk, but liable in coverage

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Cardinals: young talented corner who underperformed this year

Dunta Robinson - Falcons: solid cornerback who Houston probably regrets losing now

Jabari Greer - Saints: underrated corner who seldom gets burned in coverage

Stanford Routt - Raiders: great burn rate, but corners with elite teammates (Nnamdi) often do

Charles Tillman - Bears: really helped a resurgent defense in Chicago

Brent Grimes - Falcons: rising star at corner as a big part of improving pass defense