Jaylon Johnson vs. The NFL’s Elite: Top 10 Cornerbacks Heading Into 2025
Jaylon Johnson has been one of the NFL’s best shutdown corners over the last two seasons — period. With a 98th percentile coverage grade and back-to-back Pro Bowls under his belt, he’s gone from underrated to undeniable. In a league stacked with elite talent like Sauce Gardner and Pat Surtain II, Johnson has not only held his ground but outperformed many. Here’s how he stacks up against the best heading into 2025.
The Top 10 Cornerbacks in the NFL
1. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
Still elite. Gardner leads all corners since 2022 with a 91.9 PFF coverage grade, 46 forced incompletions, and just 0.60 yards per cover snap (PFF). The ball basically disappears when it’s thrown his way. What sets Sauce apart isn’t just the numbers — it’s how offenses actively avoid throwing in his direction. He’s long, physical, and technically sound, making him the prototype modern cornerback. Whether he’s lined up in man or zone, Gardner is the kind of guy who changes game plans.
2. Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Surtain’s a DPOY and shutdown nightmare. Over the last 3 years: 89.5 PFF coverage grade, only 0.77 yards per cover snap (PFF), and he shadows top WRs. He’s a blanket with legs. What makes Surtain special is his ability to play physical at the line while staying disciplined through the route. Denver may be in transition, but Surtain is the stable force in their secondary who regularly shuts down WR1s without safety help. He’s that good.
3. Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
McDuffie’s versatility in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme is scary. Back-to-back All-Pro seasons, locks up the slot or outside, and he can blitz. Straight Swiss Army Knife. He’s not just a coverage guy — McDuffie racks up TFLs, pressures QBs off the edge, and rarely misses tackles. He’s the perfect fit for a creative, aggressive Chiefs defense that leans on him to do everything short of play safety.
4. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
He’s HIM. Two Pro Bowls, a 98th percentile coverage grade, and 53 tackles in a full 17-game season. After signing a $76M extension in 2024, per Spotrac. Johnson is the Bears’ defensive anchor — and he’s earned it. He consistently locks down top-tier wideouts without relying on scheme help. Johnson’s technique, anticipation, and ability to mirror receivers are elite. And unlike some flashy corners, he’s consistent week in and week out. Quiet, efficient, and ruthless.
5. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
Ballhawk mode: On. NFL-best 39.6 passer rating allowed, 7 picks in 2024, and 13 over the past two seasons (PFF). Just got paid like the best ($90M, $89M guaranteed, per Spotrac). High risk, massive reward. Stingley gambles more than most, but when he hits, it’s game-changing. He’s flashy, aggressive, and thrives on instincts. He may give up the occasional big play, but the turnovers and tight windows he forces make up for it tenfold.
6. DJ Reed, Detroit Lions
Six straight seasons of 70+ PFF grades. Reed had 64 tackles, 11 PDs, and a 51.28% lockdown rate in 2024 (PFF). Detroit landed a consistent coverage beast at great value. He may not get the hype of flashier corners, but Reed plays with grit and discipline. He’s a technician with great footwork and positioning, and he rarely blows assignments. For a Lions team aiming to make a playoff leap, he’s exactly what they need.
7. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
Back from the dead. 6 INTs, 81.0 coverage grade, and a move to slot that saved the Ravens’ defense (PFF). From injury hell to defensive backbone. Humphrey thrives in physical matchups and has adjusted to his body’s limits by playing smarter. The switch inside let him bully receivers and read the field better, reigniting a career that looked cooked in 2023. Now? He’s a vital part of a surging Ravens D.
8. DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys
Injury limited him to 7 games in 2024, but he had 14 picks and 5 pick-sixes across 2022–23 (PFF). Bland still has elite instincts and ball skills — a bounce-back candidate to watch. He’s a playmaker, plain and simple. Bland’s ability to jump routes and flip momentum is special. If he can stay healthy, he’s a top-tier threat who makes quarterbacks second-guess every throw to his side of the field.
9. Jaire Alexander, Free Agent
Elite when upright, but the guy’s made of glass lately. Still, no sub-73.0 PFF coverage seasons in his career. Someone’s rolling the dice in free agency, and they might hit big. When healthy, Alexander is a technician — sticky in man, fluid in zone, and capable of shadowing the league’s best. His issue is durability and recent off-field noise, but if the right team bets on him, the upside is still All-Pro caliber.
10. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Quiet killer. 4th Pro Bowl in 2024, elite 93.4 single-coverage grade, and held QBs to just a 47.4% comp rate (PFF). Concussions are a concern, but the tape doesn’t lie. Ward’s athleticism and anticipation allow him to smother receivers at the break point. He’s been reliable for the Browns even through injury concerns, and he continues to show up in big moments against elite talent.
Final Verdict
Jaylon Johnson belongs in the top 5 — and no, that’s not a homer take. He’s locked down every challenge thrown at him, earned the bag, and delivered a healthy season when it mattered most.
The cornerback hierarchy is evolving fast, but Johnson’s name is carved near the top.