NFC South Rankings: Cornerback

The Panthers are led by former top-10 pick Jaycee Horn. Horn has been hampered by injuries thus far in his career, logging fewer than 1,000 snaps and 16 games in his first two seasons. But when he has been healthy, few corners can match his level of play. Horn is adept at playing in man, press and zone coverages. If he can put together a full season, he has a good chance of becoming one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL.

Donte Jackson is a consistent and capable starter who the Panthers can rely on. Jackson has failed to allow a reception of 40 yards or more while picking off seven passes in the past three years. Jackson’s 4.32 speed help him keep up with any receiver that lines up opposite of him.

Former first-round pick C.J. Henderson is the primary backup to Jackson and Horn. Henderson has never lived up to his draft status and failed to overtake Jackson for the starting role alongside Horn. He still provides enviable depth if Horn’s injury problems continue.

Safety Jeremy Chinn is currently listed as the team’s primary nickel corner according to ourlads.com. Chinn played 40% of his snaps in the slot last year. At 6’3 and 220 pounds, Chinn is a physically intimidating presence, and while he struggled to a certain degree in coverage last year, he has shown he can play at a high level in coverage prior to that.

If Chinn can regain his 2021 play in coverage and Horn can remain healthy all year. this group could challenge the Bucs for the top corner unit in the NFC South.

New Orleans Saints

Some may be surprised by the Saints’ low ranking on this list. However, that is less an indictment on the Saints corners and more a compliment to the overall talent level of the NFC South. New Orleans has the best corner in the division in Marshon Lattimore (although that baton may be passed to Dean or Horn this year).

Lattimore has long been considered a top-three corner in the NFL, but has never quite lived up to his rookie season. Still, Lattimore can lock down some of the best receivers in the game, including the Bucs’ Mike Evans. As much as Bucs fans like to say Evans outplays Lattimore, the fact is over their past five matchups, Lattimore has held Evans to five catches on ten targets for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Paulson Adebo struggled last year in his sophomore campaign. At 6’1 and 192 pounds, he has the size to be successful, but he was targeted 69 times while allowing 652 yards and five touchdowns last year. Former Bronco and Texan Bradley Roby is working on his third season with the Saints and is slotted to be the team’s nickel corner. Roby’s level of play has fallen off each of his past two seasons, and at 31 years old, it is reasonable to worry whether he can regain the strong level of play he showed from 2015-2020.