Cornerback Rankings Heat Up as DeJean Surges Ahead of Week 8

As the 2025 NFL season approaches Week 8, cornerbacks are vying for top rankings, with Cooper DeJean emerging as a frontrunner. His impressive performance in the slot and solid tackling have helped him surpass Sauce Gardner and DJ Turner. Currently, DeJean holds the third position in the Pro Football Focus (PFF) coverage grade and ranks fourth in advanced coverage metrics when playing man coverage.

Gardner, known for his exceptional ability to lock down receivers, has demonstrated remarkable consistency. In the last two games, he has not allowed a single reception and has forced two incompletions on just two targets. His ability to prevent separation is unmatched, as evidenced by his league-leading 74.12% lockdown percentage. Gardner is also frequently tasked with man coverage, ranked third in the NFL with a rate of 49.3%.

Effective defense is crucial in the NFL, particularly when it comes to mitigating the impact of opposing quarterbacks. Teams can disrupt this effectiveness through either pressuring the passer or neutralizing receivers. Each week, after games are assessed, PFF evaluates the top cornerbacks, recognizing that early season rankings can fluctuate significantly based on a limited sample size. A single interception, missed tackle, or deep completion can considerably influence player grades.

As the season progresses and snap counts increase, the grades will become more stable, providing a clearer picture of the league’s elite cornerbacks. Last year, PFF utilized its All-Coverage charting and data to rank cornerbacks, focusing on coverage grades and the Successful Coverage Over Expected (SCOE) metric. This metric measures each defender’s performance beyond expectations during non-targeted coverage snaps.

The rankings account for the inherent challenges of matching up against different types of offensive players. For example, covering a receiver typically involves more complexity than defending against a running back, and man coverage often demands greater skill than zone coverage.

As of Week 7 of the 2025 season, here are the top cornerbacks based on PFF’s advanced coverage grades. This list reflects the evolving landscape of cornerback performance as teams strive for dominance on the field.

With these developments, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how the rankings shift in the coming weeks as players continue to establish themselves in this competitive landscape.