Top 40 CBs of all time

[Zuma]

Ironic Ty Law at 24.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

What was so special about Deion is he goes to the Cowboys they win a ring, the very next year he plays for the 49ers and they beat Dallas and win a ring. Very few guys with such a huge impact like Deion Sanders.

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[TheRainMaker]

Not to take the thread off track, but I believe Bill sees huge value in a shutdown cornerback, more than most teams.

He unfortunately didn’t value it in 2005, 2008-2011.

 

[VectorPrime]

He unfortunately didn’t value it in 2005, 2008-2011.

Well in 2010 they thought they had a future perennial pro bowl corner in Devin but then in 2011 he had the worst sophomore slump I’ve ever seen.

 

[scott99]

Mike Haynes was a hall of famer the second he stepped on the field, what a player. Early in his career, he was a great punt returner as well. But man, he was the epitome of shut down corner. He doesn’t get as much recognition because he wasn’t a flashy me-me-look at me type of player like Sanders, he just did his job, maybe better than anyone, ever.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Well in 2010 they thought they had a future perennial pro bowl corner in Devin but then in 2011 he had the worst sophomore slump I’ve ever seen.

Forgot about that. He showed promise at CB in 2010, but had a bad game against the Jets in the playoff loss and fell off a cliff in 2011 until the switch to FS in 2012.

 

[RobertWeathers]

What was so special about Deion is he goes to the Cowboys they win a ring, the very next year he plays for the 49ers and they beat Dallas and win a ring. Very few guys with such a huge impact like Deion Sanders.

.

Actually it was the inverse of what you wrote but your point is noted. Deion was special.

 

[Steve102]

Actually it was the inverse of what you wrote but your point is noted. Deion was special.

Didn't tackle. I initially thought he was ranked too low, but he's about right. Great in every other aspect. Didn't put the ball away when he had it. That bugged the chit out of me.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Didn't tackle. I initially thought he was ranked too low, but he's about right. Great in every other aspect. Didn't put the ball away when he had it. That bugged the chit out of me.

Yea he was not known for his fierceness around ballcarriers.

Thats why I have unnatural fandom for Lester Hayes. He was the modern day Night Train Lane.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Ronnie Lott played his first five seasons solely at cornerback and was a great player there too. Later, as a FS, he would often lineup with CB responsibilities.

I kind of like the idea of just combining defensive backs together.

 

[DarrylS]

In any of these all time lists never understood how **** “Night train” Lane & possibly Haynes, Sanders or Green can be compared to Gilmore or Revis.. the NFL of today is completely different than it was during the time of Lane, Haynes and Green.

Haynes, Green and Sanders may still be right up there with the best, but no idea how anyone can tell.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

In any of these all time lists never understood how **** “Night train” Lane & possibly Haynes, Sanders or Green can be compared to Gilmore or Revis.. the NFL of today is completely different than it was during the time of Lane, Haynes and Green.

Haynes, Green and Sanders may still be right up there with the best, but no idea how anyone can tell.

The creme de la creme would be great in any era. There's more great players in recent years due to the popularity of the sport and the year round training, but Haynes and Sanders are arguably the best athletes ever to play CB in the NFL. Haynes was my favorite, but I have to say that in terms of INT's, Sanders was the most dangerous db to ever step on a field. QB's would literally keep it 20-30 yards from him due to his range, ball skills, and return skills. If you threw it anywhere near him, it was not only gonna get picked but also returned.

 

[XLIX]

Very tough position to evaluate historically. Stats can't show how good a CB is or isn't so we have to go on little but reputation for the old-timers. Regardless, a very thorough, well-researched list.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Didn't tackle. I initially thought he was ranked too low, but he's about right. Great in every other aspect. Didn't put the ball away when he had it. That bugged the chit out of me.

Yea he was not known for his fierceness around ballcarriers.

Thats why I have unnatural fandom for Lester Hayes. He was the modern day Night Train Lane.

Bailey deserves some GOAT talk imo. Don't think he was ever appreciated enough. Textbook tackler, maybe the best ever? Extremely solid in the open field. Aggressive.

52 INT / 42 TFL / 203 PD

Enjoy some late 90's - 2013 highlights. I love watching football from the 90's. Love that Fox intro/music.

Oh jeez it won't show but I promise Bailey has some unbelievable highlights. He must have picked off the Cardinals 10 times. Got Brady. His ball skills are up there with Sanders I believe.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Bailey deserves some GOAT talk imo. Don't think he was ever appreciated enough. Textbook tackler, maybe the best ever? Extremely solid in the open field. Aggressive.

52 INT / 42 TFL / 203 PD

Enjoy some late 90's - 2013 highlights. I love watching football from the 90's. Love that Fox intro/music.

Oh jeez it won't show but I promise Bailey has some unbelievable highlights. He must have picked off the Cardinals 10 times. Got Brady. His ball skills are up there with Sanders I believe.

I'm with you on Champ. He's in the GOAT discussion

 

[Steve102]

Bailey deserves some GOAT talk imo. Don't think he was ever appreciated enough. Textbook tackler, maybe the best ever? Extremely solid in the open field. Aggressive.

52 INT / 42 TFL / 203 PD

Enjoy some late 90's - 2013 highlights. I love watching football from the 90's. Love that Fox intro/music.

Oh jeez it won't show but I promise Bailey has some unbelievable highlights. He must have picked off the Cardinals 10 times. Got Brady. His ball skills are up there with Sanders I believe.

I'm not familiar with Emlen Tunnell at #10, but the top 9 are certainly the best in the business and I believe you can make arguments for each at #1. I think Law is low at #24, but that may be homerism. His pick 6 in SB36 and his 3 picks of Manning in the AFCCG are as good as any other HoFer in the game.

 

[Water Boy]

In any of these all time lists never understood how **** “Night train” Lane & possibly Haynes, Sanders or Green can be compared to Gilmore or Revis.. the NFL of today is completely different than it was during the time of Lane, Haynes and Green.

Haynes, Green and Sanders may still be right up there with the best, but no idea how anyone can tell.

I agree with this. Some great old time players but hard to compare the past to today's NFL.

Where would Raymond Clayborn be ranked?

 

[DarrylS]

I agree with this. Some great old time players but hard to compare the past to today's NFL.

Where would Raymond Clayborn be ranked?

The older players on this list used to be allowed to maul receivers coming over the middle, now they can't impede a player after they are 5 yards over the line of scrimmage.. the game is quite a bit different.

Not doubting the skills of any of the players in question, just questioning how the "older" players vs. the current/newer players can be compared, there has been a significant change in the way the game is played.

 

[bogey888]

Seeing as it’s the deadest two weeks of the entire year I want to see people’s opinions about the top 40 players at each position. @BaconGrundleCandy has a proposed 10 team all time draft set up that got me thinking who would I be drafting at each position? I started to do a little research and CB is a really interesting place to start. Unlike LB where the real LT is pretty much the consensus best of the best there is a ton of variation, on the top 5 even, depending on who you ask. There is also the point of view do you go for best career or highest peak? So many different ways to answer the same question and that’s what makes this interesting. I’m not going to do QB as @Ice_Ice_Brady did a far superior job already.

I went with www.Thegruelingtruth.com/football/top-30-cornerbacks-nfl-history just as a starting point as it does not include active players then added 10 more modern CBs who will filter in somewhere, some higher then others. So not in any order these are the 40 best CBs I found to start the discussion. See someone not on it that should be? Make your case. Someone too high, too low? Have at it! I was shocked at how many of these names I had never heard of, it’s been quite the nfl history lesson.

1. **** “Night train” Lane
2. Darrell Green
3. Mike Hayes
4. Rod Woodson
5. Mel Blunt
6. Deion Sanders
7. Willie Brown
8. Champ Bailey
9. Charles Woodson
10. Emlen Tunnell
11. Herb Adderley
12. Mel Renfro
13. Lem Barney
14. Lemar Parrish
15. Roger Wehrli
16. Ken Riley
17. **** Lebeau
18. Aeneas Williams
19. Albert Lewis
20. Lester Hayes
21. Eddie Meador
22. Emmitt Thomas
23. Jimmie Johnson (not that one)
24. Ty Law
25. Frank Minnifield-Hanford Dixon
26. Bob Jeter
27. Bobby Boyd
28. Louis Wright
29. Pat Fischer
30. Bobby Dillon
31. Darrelle Revis
32. Richard Sherman
33. Aqib Talib
34. Charles Tilman
35. Patrick Peterson
36. Stephon Gilmore
37. Chris Harris Jr
38. Darius Slay
39. Josh Norman
40. Nnamdi Asomugha

Edit: just thought of another way to ask this. Prime Jerry Rice is the assignment, who are you putting on him 1 on 1?

It’s Mike Haynes.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Regardless, a very thorough, well-researched list.

Agreed. A great list that is well done.

I'm with you on Champ. He's in the GOAT discussion

Agreed.

I think Law is low at #24, but that may be homerism. His pick 6 in SB36 and his 3 picks of Manning in the AFCCG are as good as any other HoFer in the game.

Agreed. Should rings be part of the thought process in making the list? Guys that play great in the biggest moments? If yes, Law seems a bit low, but he is not Bailey or Sanders by any stretch.