Best Slot Cornerbacks Of All Time

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Since then, Harris has become one of the elite cover cornerbacks in the entire NFL, having being named to two Pro Bowl teams (2014, 2015) and two All-Pro second teams (2014, 2015). Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, is only two seasons removed from having been ranked as the third-best player in the entire NFL by PFF, and has since been named to the PFF 2010s.

The Chicago Bears secondary received a lot of praise for its growth in 2018, with Kyle Fuller, Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson grabbing most of the headlines.

Over the last three seasons, though, Bryce Callahan has flown under the radar as a consistent performer in the slot when he’s been healthy.

Avoiding injuries has been the difficult part for him, but when he’s on the field, he’s one of the league’s best.

Notable Accomplishments: Six-time Pro Bowler, 1989 First-Team All-Pro. Allen sets the bar for cornerbacks that have worn an Eagles uniform, with 54 interceptions, eight of which returned for. New England Patriots star Stephon Gilmore, a three-time Pro Bowler and back-to-back First Team All-Pro in 2018 and 2019, joined Madden’s elite 99 club, and is the highest-rated CB in the game.

Pro Football Focus listed him as one of the Top 8 slot cornerbacks in the NFL for 2018, pointing out his on-field reliability in spite of the injuries.

While Callahan missed some time in 2017 with an injury, he performed well when healthy, generating the third-most slot coverage snaps per reception allowed. While he hasn’t offered much in terms of run defense or as a blitzer (only four career pressures), he’s allowed less than an 80.0 passer rating from the slot in each of his three pro seasons, showing a consistency that is a very valuable piece on an up-and-coming Chicago defense.

According to PFF, Callahan allowed a 76.3 passer rating when targeted in the slot last season, the sixth-best mark in the NFL. His 82.9 overall grade ranked 31st among all cornerbacks.

Callahan’s playing on only a one-year deal after signing his restricted free agent tender this past offseason.

The big key for him will be trying to play all 16 games for the first time in his career. If he stays healthy and continues his level of production, he could be in line for a nice pay day next offseason.

Broncos Wire’s series of greatest Denver Broncos of all-time continues in this edition as we look into the cornerback position.

Here, we will count down the top five cornerbacks who have ever played for the Broncos.

You’ll see Broncos from just about every era on this list, all of whom were disruptive players who had their fair share of tipped passes and moments in the spotlight.

5. Tyrone Braxton

Tyrone “Chicken” Braxton was drafted by the Broncos in the 12th round (334th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He was considered an underdog throughout his entire professional career because of his small frame. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Braxton was characterized with average speed, being too short, too light and too slow. In fact, his teammates used to make fun of him because he had chicken legs, hence the name “Chicken”.

Despite all that, when Braxton stepped on the field, all the doubt went away. Over his 12-year tenure as a Bronco, he totaled 746 tackles, eight forced-fumbles, and 34 interceptions, which is tied with Champ Bailey for fourth on the Broncos all-time list.

Braxton would be higher on this list but he did play the majority of his snaps as a Bronco at the safety position.

4. Ray Crockett

Donald “Ray” Crockett was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round (86th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft. Crockett spent five seasons as a Lion before signing with the Broncos as a free agent in 1994.

Crockett spent seven seasons in Denver while racking up 380 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 17 interceptions; some very impressive numbers which ultimately landed him a spot on the Broncos 50th Anniversary second team.

Although Crockett was never a Pro-Bowler or an All-Pro selection, his timely manner and on-field consistency helped the Broncos to their back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

3. Chris Harris jr.

Although Chris Harris Jr. received numerous accolades and produced numbers that set him apart as one of the most successful defensive players in the history of Kansas football, he went undrafted (because of his size/speed, much like Tyrone Braxton) and signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free-agent (UDFA) in 2011.

Best Slot Cornerbacks Of All Time Nfl

Since then, Harris has become one of the elite cover cornerbacks in the entire NFL, having being named to two Pro Bowl teams (2014, 2015) and two All-Pro second teams (2014, 2015).

“He can play left corner, right corner, slot corner, in man coverage, zone coverage, or against the run, and do it all to an extremely high level, consistently, without giving anything big away,” says Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson.

Harris will continue to be a premier cornerback for the Broncos, as he was signed to a five-year contract extension in 2015.

2. Louis Wright

Best Slot Cornerbacks Of All Time Now

Louis “Lou-dini” Wright could do it all.

Wright was drafted by the Broncos in the first round (17th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 12-year career as a member of the Orange Crush, while appearing on five Pro Bowl teams (1977–1979, 1983, 1985) and two All-Pro teams (1978, 1979).

“They use a term today of shutdown cornerback,” former Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Collier told the Denver Post. “We didn’t have that term back then, but Louie Wright was a shutdown cornerback. He was a great run defender. He played the left side and in those days most teams were right-handed and their running plays usually went to our left side.”

Wright’s biggest accolade was obtaining a spot on the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team. One of the best cornerbacks of his day, Louis Wright deserves Hall of Fame consideration. He has never even landed among the 15 Hall of Fame finalists, which seems ridiculous when you consider his career accomplishments.

1. Champ Bailey

Did you really expect anyone other than the Champ?

One could go on forever and ever about the career of Champ Bailey so I am going to keep this somewhat brief.

Roland “Champ” Bailey was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round (7th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons in Washington before being traded to the Broncos in exchange for running back Clinton Portis in 2004. The trade proved to be one of the best in the history of the Broncos as he is widely regarded as the best defender in their history.

“The one guy who’s always jumped out at me was Champ Bailey. I remember going against Champ in 2003, and I ran a route … I think it was the first or second play … and I beat him. I beat him pretty good. He was pressed up. And then the next three or four plays, he just bench-pressed me. They lined me up at running back, and he lined up at linebacker. I just loved that there was no part of the field that he wasn’t willing to go. And I think that’s kinda been lost a little bit in this day and age,’’ said Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.

There have been many cornerbacks throughout the years that had the ability to “lock-up” a receiver for the majority of the game, but not Champ. He completely shut them down – so much so that quarterbacks would go entire games without looking in the direction of Bailey.

Champ Bailey currently holds the record for the most Pro Bowl appearances by any cornerback in NFL history (12). He has been recognized on five All-Pro first teams (2003–2007, 2010) and two All-Pro second teams (2000, 2012). He was also selected to the 2000s NFL All-Decade team and the Broncos 50th Anniversary team.

Best Slot Cornerbacks Of All Time List

Bailey was released by Denver in 2014 following Super Bowl XLVIII, but later signed a one-day contract with the team in 2015 to officially retire as a Bronco. Champ is fully expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2020.