As many as seven cornerbacks could come off the board in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and this important position also has some very worthy starters available in free agency this offseason.
We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the available players.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
Others receiving votes: Isaac Yiadom, Brandon Stephens, Mike Hilton, Jonathan Jones, Donte Jackson, Stephon Gilmore
7. Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions
Davis spent one season in Detroit following six in Tampa. He defended 11 passes and recorded two interceptions along with two fumble recoveries in 2024. He started 13 games and that might be the biggest ding on him; he’s never played a full season in his NFL career.
6. Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings
He was listed all the way up at three on one of our ballots, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. He is coming off a two-year, $17.5 million contract with Minnesota after four seasons with the Cardinals. He had six interceptions alongside 14 passes defended and 81 tackles this past season. At 27, the dude is going to get paid.
5. Rasul Douglas, Buffalo Bills
Douglas turns 30 right before the 2025 season and has spent 1.5 years on the Bills after being traded by Green Bay. He’s also spent time on the Panthers and Eagles, who drafted him in the third round in 2017. An aggressive player, he gets called for a lot of flags, but he also averages three interceptions per year. He’s a solid veteran option coming off a three-year, $21 million deal.
4. Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
A former second-round pick, Samuel hurt his shoulder in practice leading up to Week 1 and played through it for a month. Then he missed the rest of the season with the injury. When healthy, he’s had two interceptions, at least 11 passes defended, and 43+ tackles in each of his NFL seasons.
3. Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints
There was a huge jump between the top three and the rest of the pack. No one had Adebo outside their top three. He turns 26 this offseason, but only played seven games in 2024 after breaking his femur. The former third-round pick was having a nice season with three picks, 10 passes defended, and 52 tackles in those seven starts. With the injury, it could complicate his free agency interest, but he should be fully healthy.
2. D.J. Reed, New York Jets
Reed only received votes at the one or two spot from our folks as he looks for the potential fourth team of his career. He turned 28 during the 2024 season, so this is his chance to really cash in one more time following his three-year, $33 million contract he signed with the Jets. He started 14 games with 11 passes defended, one sack, and 52 tackles in 2024.
1. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers
Ward squeaked into the top spot after receiving the most first-place votes just barely ahead of Reed. He turns 29 in May and made the Pro Bowl in 2023 after defending 23 passes. He only played 12 game in 2024, defending seven passes with 54 tackles. He’s coming off a massive three-year, $40 million contract.
Other free agent cornerbacks
- Jeff Okudah
- Shaquill Griffin
- Tre’Davious White
- Mike Hughes
- Michael Davis
- Kristian Fulton
- Eric Stokes
- Emmanuel Moseley
- Jourdan Lewis
- Marco Wilson
- Tremon Smith
- Isaiah Oliver
- Corey Ballentine
- Avonte Maddox
- Adoree’ Jackson
- Kris Boyd
- Tavierre Thomas
- Khalil Dorsey
- C.J. Goodwin
- Antonio Hamilton
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Kindle Vildor
- Levi Wallace
- Rock Ya-Sin
- Benjamin St-Juste
- Michael Jackson
- Cameron Sutton
- Fabian Moreau
- Anthony Brown
- Elijah Molden
- Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Ambry Thomas
- Trayvon Mullen
- Bryce Hall
- Elijah Riley
- Darnay Holmes
- Michael Ford
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Harrison Hand
- Tre Brown
- Nate Hobbs
- Brandin Echols
- Israel Mukuamu
- Theo Jackson (RFA)
- Christian Matthew (RFA)
- Darren Hall (RFA)
- Josh Blackwell (RFA)
- Kader Kohou (RFA)
- Darrell Baker Jr. (RFA)
