The top 10 cornerbacks ahead of 2025 NFL season: Who is ranked after Pat Surtain II?

With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the sixth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players moved up or fell off last year’s lists.

A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.

Each section included quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player — even the honorable mentions. The objective was to identify the best players for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today?

We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: running backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), interior offensive linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), wide receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).

Youth has cornered the market. The changing of the guard — er, cover — is a big theme in this year’s top 10 cornerbacks, which features one player older than 26 and six players 24 or younger.

Several staples from recent top 10 lists have fallen out of the elite; half of the list is still on a rookie contract. It seems that handling the rigors of matching the best receivers stride for stride requires fresh legs.

Many evaluators complained last year that the league did not feature a true shutdown corner like the ones you see in Hall of Fame induction ceremonies or NFL Films features. This year, at least two players fit that mold.

Also, there’s more pushback than ever on placing nickel corner into a separate category. The heavy usage of 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) — and the college game infiltrating the NFL — has influenced bigger defensive backs with ball skills playing inside instead of out.

“That’s why you might see a

Several young slot corners, such as Philadelphia’s Cooper DeJean and New Orleans’ Alontae Taylor, got consideration for the top 10 but play primarily inside. They might make the jump into the ranking next year, but for now, here’s the NFL’s top 10 corners based on voting from executives, coaches and scouts.

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“His only thing is health,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “When he’s been on the field the past three years, he’s been good. Can play inside and out, urgent and physical in the run game.”

That physicality shows up from the sideline on Sundays. One NFC offensive coach said it’s hard to run a “duo” play — designed to get the running back to the second level, matched up against the corner on the outside — against Carolina because of Horn.

“That’s supposed to be the worst tackler of the (defense) — not him,” the coach said. “He’ll clean that up.”

Horn gave up 5.56 passing yards per target, a solid clip among this top 10. He was rewarded this offseason with a four-year, $100 million contract.

Added an NFL coordinator: “Excellent in bump man [coverage], a very good blitzer and tackler.”

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