NFL training camps are fast approaching, which means it is again time for the league's true insiders to have their say. As part of ESPN's 2023 NFL season preview, we surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fourth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year's lists.
By way of refresher, here's how our process works: Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on number of top-10 votes and composite average, along with dozens of interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed.
Each section includes quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2023. This is not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position on ESPN+.
We will roll out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: off-ball linebackers (July 8), defensive tackles (July 9), edge rushers (July 10), cornerbacks (July 11), safeties (July 12), tight ends (July 13), running backs (July 14), offensive tackles (July 15), guards and centers (July 16), quarterbacks (July 17) and wide receivers (July 18).
The NFL cornerback pantheon will be entertaining for years to come.
The past two NFL drafts have produced elite cover men who could jockey for the top spot over the next decade. Pat Surtain II (2021) and Sauce Gardner (2022) are that promising. The hype is indeed real and warranted for both.
Several veterans who have been fixtures in our top-10 lists since 2020 aren't going away and in some cases are elevating their elite play well into their late 20s or early 30s. And two young players in the honorable mention category have major ability that could elevate them into the top five by next year.
Let's look at some of the game's top corners as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: 7
One NFL executive recalls talking with draft-eligible cornerbacks about which current player they try to emulate.
"The player they say is Surtain," the exec said. "It's like a changing of the guard."
Surtain's No. 7 ranking last year might have sold him short. He has been ascending since he first stepped foot on an NFL field as a Broncos rookie in 2021.
He is already one of four NFL players to pick off quarterback Patrick Mahomes multiple times.
His 14.5% ball-hawk rate on 10.6 yards allowed per completion is modest, but teams also stay away from him now. His 12.5% target rate was the lowest among cornerbacks with more than 201 coverage snaps (Surtain played 533 coverage snaps).
"Complete corner: physical, technical, versatile," a high-ranking NFL official said. "He's a true matchup guy vs. the best players. Premium ability on press or off coverage. Outstanding open-field tackler. Solid ball skills. Plays with confidence. Really, really smart. And plays disciplined so he doesn't give anything away."
Surtain can play on an island, a skill set Denver utilized plenty in 2022. All corners get beat on occasion, and in Surtain's case, DJ Moore got the best of him in the Broncos' loss to the Panthers on Nov. 27. Davante Adams had two 100-yard games vs. Denver last year. But the Broncos' porous offense compromised the defense on plenty of occasions. And many evaluators consider a receiver getting the best of Surtain a rarity.
"He's separated himself, and I don't think it's close," an AFC scout said. "If you're picking a team, you're taking him first."
2. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 22 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
Gardner put together one of the best rookie seasons for a cornerback in recent memory, becoming the most hyped cover man in Jets folklore since Darrelle Revis.
He tied for the league lead in pass breakups (20) and posted a 24.7% ball-hawk rate, the best among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps. As a result, he pushed Surtain for the top spot, earning just one fewer top-three vote than the Broncos corner.
"Combination of ball skills and ability to consistently stay in phase and disrupt timing," an NFC exec said. "I thought he was excellent [last] year."
On 81 targets as the nearest defender, he held quarterbacks to a 62.9 rating and 48.1% completions.
Gardner, the Jets' first Defensive Rookie of the Year since Sheldon Richardson in 2013, plays one side of the field and typically doesn't travel. But the Jets will sometimes deploy him to cover the opponent's best player situationally (such as Ravens tight end Mark Andrews in the red zone).
"He's going to be great, but No. 1 is a bit rich," a veteran NFL scout said. "He probably gets more hype because he plays in New York."
3. Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 1
Ramsey's success story is thoroughly written: He has earned eight straight Pro Bowl citations, three first-team All-Pros, a Super Bowl ring and back-to-back No. 1 rankings in our polls.
Best corner of the decade? Might be a compelling case for Ramsey.
But evaluators started to see slippage in his play last year, and this year, two young players surpassed him.
"For me, it's more an effort issue than ability," a veteran AFC scout said. "I don't think he's declined physically. He can still do all the things that make him great. I'm just not sure he always plays hard."
Ramsey was still highly productive in his last year with the Rams, tying Gardner with a league-high 20 pass deflections along with four interceptions. His 20.2% ball-hawk rate was impressive.
Since he entered the league in 2016, his 95 pass breakups rank fourth among all players.
Ramsey's trade to Miami, where he plays under the watchful eye of coordinator Vic Fangio, should help him.
"He'll be locked in in Miami -- that defense is corner friendly," the scout said. "[Fangio] has made corners who can't play have good seasons, so imagine what he can do with a star player like Jalen?"
4. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 3
A favorite with the voters for his toughness and activity despite a 5-foot-10 frame, Alexander goes back-to-back years in the top five.
His five interceptions last season tied his career total through his first four years. They were also tied for the most by a Packers player over the past 10 seasons.
"Ultra-competitor with great ball skills so good things usually happen when he's on the field," a veteran NFL scout said. "Has ideal man-to-man matchup traits."
Alexander held quarterbacks to a 66.4 rating on 79 targets as the nearest defender, allowing 7.1 yards per attempt with 14 pass deflections.
"Smart, competitive, tough, can play inside or outside, run support and ball awareness," a senior NFL personnel executive said.
5. Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Slay returns to the top five for the first time since 2020 after a banner year for Philadelphia.
He embodied the Eagles' tough attitude on defense with three interceptions and an 18.7% ball-hawk rate.
"I think he was better because he was allowed to match wide receivers on both sides of the field and truly fulfilled those No. 1 corner duties," an NFL pro scouting lieutenant said.
Slay has broken up 133 passes over the past 10 seasons, more than any player in that span.
"He's always the forgotten guy in that top group of corners, but he's been a benchmark, honestly," an AFC personnel evaluator said. "His game has held up really well. Can still really run, physical, wants the big matchup, always consistent."
6. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 7
Humphrey pushed for the top five this year after a Pro Bowl campaign in 2022 and a stronger performance than -- for his standards -- the previous year.
He ranked No. 2 in our 2021 list and is still considered elite.
"If you've been involved in the AFC North, you have a deep appreciation for [Humphrey's] game," an NFL personnel executive said. "Ultimate competitor and can do a little bit of everything."
Humphrey's three interceptions last year tied for the most in a season for his career. He made his third Pro Bowl in four years and added five pressures and two fumble recoveries. He can flip the field with his ability to pop the ball out, with 13 forced fumbles since 2017.
"He holds a lot, but he's a really good player," an AFC scout said.
7. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 2
Among those who prefer a true man-to-man corner who wants to challenge the top receivers at the line of scrimmage, Lattimore is highly regarded.
A lacerated kidney cost him more than half of the 2022 season, but when he's out there, he remains among the best.
"Complete package," said a high-ranking NFL official who ranked Lattimore No. 1. "Man-to-man cover ability, has speed and size, physical in run support and very competitive."
Lattimore's 78 pass breakups since entering the league in 2017 ranks fourth in the NFL during that span.
He has a penchant for penalties -- committing four in 415 snaps last year -- but evaluators can live with that because he's so physical and will win more than he loses.
8. Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 10
The classic risk-reward corner, Diggs can tilt the game with a splashy interception or engender queasiness with his chance-taking.
As one NFL personnel evaluator pointed out, all offensive coordinators should run plenty of double moves on Diggs to make him bite.
But it's hard to argue with 49 pass breakups and 17 interceptions since 2020. Teams value ball production, and Diggs has it. That's why several voters put him in their top three.
"I think he's gotten better at gambling overall. It's still a hindrance to his game, in my opinion," an NFC personnel man said. "I think if he can be more calculated with his ways he can be viewed more like an Asante Samuel Sr."
An explosive corner, Diggs has reached 20-plus mph on 36 different plays since 2020, which tops the league, per Next Gen Stats.
9. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 6
One of the NFL's smoothest corners, with elite footwork and balance, Ward has been a top-10 fixture the past three years.
"Some of the best cover movement skills in the league," an NFL scouting director said.
But he never has made the jump into the top tier.
"Nice cover guy, I just don't like the lack of size," an NFC exec said.
Ward's durability and frame (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) have been issues for some evaluators. He hasn't played a full season in any of his first five years, missing a total of 16 games. But he also just posted a fifth straight season with multiple interceptions, the longest streak by a Browns player since Frank Minnifield and Felix Wright in 1990.
His 23.1% ball-hawk rate last year was impressive. He's electric with the ball in his hands, with a 99-yard interception return in 2021 and two touchdowns off fumble recoveries in 2022.
The Browns' secondary was a bit of a mess overall last year, which partly explains Ward's 90.8 passer rating allowed when the nearest defender.
"He'll miss a game or two, but when he can go he's a plus, and he goes," an AFC scout said. "He doesn't play tentatively despite his smaller frame. He'll mix it up. He's really gifted."
10. A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 9
Many evaluators agree Terrell is a major talent who will one day be in the top five. That didn't happen in this year's survey, with a small dip in the rankings despite his posting 32 pass breakups since entering the league in 2020.
"Very well-rounded," an NFL personnel man said. "Just a really good player who checks all the boxes. Can play press-man or zone, good feet, smooth."
Terrell's coverage stats were not good last year. On 72 targets as the nearest defender, he allowed 41 receptions for 521 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. But the lack of a steady Falcons pass rush last year left corners in tough spots. And Terrell improved as the year progressed as he was asked to cover in man or zone.
Honorable mentions
Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins: Howard is a proven commodity with 28 interceptions since 2017. "He's still got great ball skills, physical," a national NFL scout said. "I wonder how he's going to age because some of those bigger corners don't always age well and you have to be able to run." Howard turned 30 earlier this month. "He is on his way down but will have a good year due to scheme and is finally healthy," an AFC scout said
Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers: Injuries over his first two years affected his voting, but he's a top-10 talent. "Athletic, long, ball skills, can run, competitive -- more upside than almost anyone," a lead personnel man for an AFC team said.
Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks: His six interceptions in Year 1 were the most by a Seahawks rookie and marked the first time since 2015 that a rookie led or tied for the league lead. "I had him ranked so high in the draft that when he slipped [to the fifth round] I thought I was wrong," an AFC scout said. "I love him. He can't do everything, ceiling not as high as how he played [in 2022], but he's really the only corner that can run vertically with the Tyreek Hills of the world."
Tre'Davious White, Buffalo Bills: "I feel for him because he's been so good for so long but he hasn't looked right coming off that knee injury," an AFC scout said of White. "He was never the most explosive athlete so any loss of burst hurts. But he's one of the most technically sound corners in the league, and hopefully this year he's more comfortable on the knee."
L'Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs: "Solid starter. Was surprised he could play inside for [the Chiefs] as well as he did," a veteran NFC scout said. "Long, can run and smart enough to play inside and out. Has the skill set to disrupt on the outside and maximize what the Chiefs want to do schematically. Not sure he's the most fluid, man-oriented type to be a top-tier CB."
Also receiving votes: Stephon Gilmore (Dallas Cowboys), James Bradberry (Philadelphia Eagles), J.C. Jackson (Los Angeles Chargers), Carlton Davis III (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs), Charvarius Ward (San Francisco 49ers), D.J. Reed (New York Jets), Tyson Campbell (Jacksonville Jaguars)