NFL free agents 2021: Top 10 cornerbacks
Cornerback is one of the positions that the New England Patriots have long been strong at. As such, it's no surprise to see that they have one current player and another former player among the top free agents at the position this year.Here's a look at the top 10 free-agent cornerbacks NFL teams will be pursuing this offseason.
Age: 25
2020 stats: 63 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass defenses
Griffin was a third-round pick by the Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft and he has turned into one of the better corners in the NFL. Griffin has a strong frame and is sticky and physical in coverage. He is a true No. 1 corner and will be paid as such on the open market if the cap-strapped Seahawks can't bring him back.
Age: 25
2020 stats: 40 tackles, nine interceptions, 14 pass defenses
Jackson went undrafted in 2018 but he has turned into a great starting cornerback for the Patriots. He was a ballhawk last year, amassing nine interceptions, and he has all the tools needed to be a No. 1 cornerback. The Patriots should prioritize extending him and they will almost certainly retain him since he is a restricted free agent.
Age: 27
2020 stats: 44 tackles, four interceptions, 14 pass defenses
Much like Jackson, Williams went undrafted in 2018 but slowly and surely has developed into a strong starter on the outside at cornerback. He complemented Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill very well and was great at getting his hands on the ball. Odds are that he'll be back with the Rams since he's a restricted free agent, but given how he's played, perhaps another team could offer him a big contract if they envision him as a true No. 1 corner since the Rams don't have a lot of cap space.
Age: 30
2020 stats: 61 tackles, three interceptions eight pass defenses
Peterson has long been a No. 1 corner at the NFL level. Last year, he was still a solid outside starter for the Cardinals but did show some slight signs of slowing down. Peterson is still a reliable starter though, and he will draw interest as a potential low-end No. 1 corner or a very high-end No. 2 corner on the open market.
Age: 28
2020 stats: 45 tackles, one interception, 11 pass defenses
Jackson was a strong starter for the Bengals last year despite having little help in other areas on defense. Jackson allowed just 36 receptions on 69 targets, just over two receptions per game. He may not be a big name, but he has been a good starter on a bad defense.
Age: 30
2020 stats: 42 tackles, two interceptions, 12 pass defenses
After a down 2019 campaign, Rhodes bounced back in a big way. In his first year with the Colts, Rhodes showed flashes of what once made him one of the better starting cornerbacks in the NFL, and he was a key part of a strong Colts defense. Like Patrick Peterson, he should draw interest as a potential No. 1 cornerback or a high-end No. 2 option on the market, though teams may be worried that Rhodes could regress to his '19 form -- when he was torched frequently -- at any time.
Age: 29
2020 stats: 77 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass defenses
Hill was the other Rams corner that stepped up last season. He was great in the slot and made the most of his opportunities to make plays. He tied for the NFL lead in pick-sixes with two and had a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. If the Rams give Darious Williams a lucrative extension, Hill may have to look elsewhere for a deal.
Age: 31
2020 stats: 100 tackles, four interceptions, 14 pass defenses
Butler had an up-and-down 2020 campaign. He set a career-high in tackles, but he was burned on a number of occasions as part of a leaky Titans defense. Butler is still a playmaker, as Patriots fans lovingly remember from Super Bowl 49, but he's probably more of a No. 2 corner right now. It will be interesting to see which teams pursue him during the free-agent period.
Age: 26
2020 stats: 55 tackles, two pass defenses, two sacks
King is a multi-faceted weapon and he should draw a lot of interest on the free-agent market. He can play cornerback. He can play in the slot. He can play safety. He returns kicks and punts. King carries a lot of value, and while he hasn't logged an interception since 2018, he doesn't need to in order to be a playmaker. He was an All-Pro as a special teamer in 2018, so that could be of interest to Bill Belichick.
Age: 32
2020 stats: 18 tackles, one interception, one pass defense
Sherman only played in five games last year as he dealt with a nagging calf injury for most of the season. He didn't play all that well as a result, but he still has the skills needed to be a starter. He will probably sign somewhere on a short-term deal, but given that he was a Pro Bowler in 2019, it's clear that he still has something left in the tank.
