Martin Emerson was on a special trajectory before fighting through injuries in 2024 and then tearing his Achilles tendon before the 2025 season. The ball production took a massive hit in 2024, which was a result of his slower transition speed and inability to decelerate as quickly. Whatever lower-body issues he was playing through impacted his play. A year without football and coming off a serious question raises tons of questions about the player he could be, but he'll have the opportunity to earn a role for the Saints this season.

After four seasons, two different teams, three starts, and limited ball production, Nahshon Wright started 16 games for the Bears in 2025 and had a breakout season. He came out of nowhere with five interceptions and 11 passes defensed, and helped Chicago's defense to one of the best turnover differentials in the NFL. While the turnovers are a huge help, coverage wasn't as clean for him. Wright is a taller corner with natural tightness in his movements and downhill trigger. He tries to compensate with physicality, but is inconsistent and has been flagged a healthy number of times. The ball skills are there, and he's a willing run defender; hopefully, he can continue being the turnover machine in New York.

One of the bigger surprises for the Ravens' defense last season was how stable Chidobe Awuzie was for the secondary. Signed before the season as a depth piece, he was forced into heavy rotational usage with Jaire Alexander's retirement. While only starting five games, he played in 15 and saw his second-highest snap count in the last four years. Awuzie is a solid zone corner who drives down on throws and routes well, is a solid run defender, and broke up seven passes last season while allowing just 385 yards on 58 targets. A stabilizing factor even while dealing with some of his own injuries, Awuzie now slots in as a starter in Baltimore for the 2026 season.

The rise of Josh Jobe allowed the reigning champion Seahawks to not only feel comfortable letting Tariq Woolen walk in free agency but also to sign Jobe to a three-year deal. His improved play throughout the season earned him more playing time and trust to be a key cog in a championship defense. A tough press-man corner, he is a tough customer for all the receivers he lines up against. Jobe allowed a 46.1% completion percentage in the 2025 regular season and playoffs, the fifth-lowest by any defender to face at least 50 targets. While his ball skills and tackling need work, Jobe made himself a good chunk of change in coverage this past season.

The Cardinals needed key contributions from both rookie members of their cornerback room, and Denzel Burke was a nice surprise in 2025. He took three interceptions and 11 pass breakups to the bank as a rookie who started eight games and played 651 snaps in the desert. While he was a surprise from the ball production aspect, he maintained his play in zone coverage and emerged as a legitimate option to start opposite Will Johnson going forward. The Cards could have a steal on their hands in the former Day Three draft pick.

Playing a physical brand of press-man coverage, Renardo Green has been a consistent force for the 49ers' defense. He rarely missed tackles last season, was sticky in man coverage (outside of some double moves), and made it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to complete passes downfield. He had some coverage busts and confusion in zone reps, but identified routes unfolding well and broke up 10 passes last season. He'll need to clean up his holding in man coverage going forward, but Green is on the path to becoming a good starting player in the NFL.

Brown was asked to play more than the Jaguars expected last season due to several factors, and he answered the bell. Starting 12 games for the Jags, he broke out as a playmaker and earned a nice payday after being a seventh-round pick in 2022. While he's a bit stiff as a man coverage defender with a lighter frame to play against the run, he's a physical defender with length to impact the catch point. He set a career high with 12 passes defensed and sees routes well in zone coverage. He'll start opposite Travis Hunter in 2026.

One of the best agitators in the NFL, CJ Gardner-Johnson, brings nothing if not a tough presence to the secondary that won't be intimidated. After starting his 2025 season with the Houston Texans, he was released after Week 3 and signed with the Bears before Week 9, where he became their nickel and rotational starter. Gardner-Johnson's physicality in man coverage helps him stay connected, but without it, he's often broken off by receivers and needs to be moving downhill in zone; he loses track of receivers and routes behind him. His talents are best suited to play safety, where he can flow downhill and use his aggression in the run game, filling lanes. After Gardner-Johnson signed with the Bills in free agency, he'll be competing for a starting role alongside Cole Bishop.

The Chiefs let Jaylen Watson walk in free agency and traded Trent McDuffie to the Rams, in part to get cheaper, but because they believe they have something in Nohl Williams. Getting a hold of Spags' defense is a tough ask for rookies, and Williams had his share of struggles, but there's a lot to like about the former third-round pick. He's tenacious, physical in every aspect, flashes high-level ball skills and instincts, and is a good and willing run defender. If he can clean up some of his penalties and be more comfortable in year two of the system, the Chiefs' bet could pay off.

Finally looking healthy last season, Tre'Davious White turned the clock back for the Bills. He compiled more pass breakups in 2025 (10) than in any season since 2020 and helped the Bills' secondary hold it together while Maxwell Hairston dealt with injuries throughout his rookie season. White needed to be more physical in man coverage to limit separation to more athletic receivers, and penalties were a big part of that. He reminded everyone of his All-Pro seasons when he helped the Bills defeat the Jags on Wild Card weekend.

After a very successful playoff run with the Rams in 2025, Durant is looking to take that momentum with him to Dallas. His zone ability and technique are where he makes his money, tied with his instincts and ability as a smaller corner to high-point the football and make plays at the catch point. Durant tackles well for his size and plays with a chip on his shoulder at all times; that mentality has served him well and keeps him in physical encounters with bigger receivers. He'll be competing for a starting role in the Dallas defense, but brings a great floor as a rotational starter in nickel packages.

A hard-nosed, high-effort player in the slot, Parrish came into Tampa Bay and was a playmaker from day one. He played all over the defense, but his willingness against the run, natural play recognition, and developing route recognition in zone helped him earn early and often playing time for the Bucs' defense. He missed a number of tackles, and his change of direction skills were taken advantage of by better route-runners, but the play speed and havoc creation are easy to see on the field.

After giving up six touchdowns over the first nine weeks of the season, Kool-Aid McKinstry surrendered only two over the back half of the 2025 season. The Saints' defense turned things around down the stretch, and part of that improvement was McKinstry playing and improving as a zone defender. He saw routes better, broke on throws quicker, and had 10 of his 17 passes defensed over the latter half of the season. He needs to clean up his tackling and his ability to locate the football downfield in man coverage, but there's a foundation to build on going forward.

One of the best offseason moves of 2024, Isaiah Rodgers helped solidify the Vikings' secondary across from Byron Murphy. He is a calculated, technically sound player who does a nice job of feeling route formations and where he needs to be in space. A willing downhill tackler, which is needed in this defense, Rodgers triggers from depth and limits yards after catch. He only allowed two touchdowns last season, but was susceptible to double moves in space due to the natural ask of Flores' defense. He's a talented player and is in a great situation to showcase his abilities.

With the constant injuries to the Commanders' secondary, Mike Sainristil had to play on the boundary for the majority of his snaps once again in 2025. He plays an aggressive style of man coverage and takes chances on releases, letting quicker receivers create instant separation he can't recover from. As a zone corner, he calls out routes, passes them off, and can drop underneath to impact plays with turnovers or broken-up passes, but his eye discipline can be hit or miss. Sainristil's motor runs hot, and while he isn't the most impactful run defender, he gives his all in every facet of the game. Hopefully, the defense around him stays healthy, and he can have a better 2026.

After a rough start to his 2025 season with the Jaguars, Campbell was traded to the Browns and found his footing. He tied for the league lead in passes defensed with 18 last year, while challenging receivers in man coverage, clicking and closing downhill, and playing fast. A big corner on the boundary with great length, Campbell is active in run support and quick to diagnose plays underneath. While there will be a new defensive coordinator in 2026, Campbell earned a starting role with excellent play from Weeks 13-18, allowing only 10 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns with five passes defended over 22 targets.

Marlon Humphrey surrendered the most yards receiving of his career last season, with 734 yards given up across 89 targets and 55 receptions allowed. While his football IQ and instincts still took him to the football for four interceptions and seven passes defensed, he looked behind in coverage too often. Better athletes were running away from him, and his man coverage/mirroring ability took a hit. He was asked to play more on the outside in 2025, which helped him get against more vertical routes, and his experience on the boundary helped the Ravens navigate a pile of injuries. Humphrey still has the football IQ to contribute as a nickel on both pass and run, but athletically, there are concerns about whether he can keep up.

The draft-day fall of Will Johnson was injury-related, and those injury issues carried over into his rookie season, where he missed five games due to injury—but the play on the field was another story entirely. He had his ups and downs across both man and zone coverages, but showcased impressive catch-point prowess and instinctive play. He got outworked by bigger receivers for touchdowns throughout the season, but they were learning moments for the young man. Johnson, entering his second season, has a solid foundation to work from.

While adjusting to a new defense in New York last season, Paulson Adebo also suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for five games. His ball production dipped as a result, but he still attacks the catch point with good timing and drives on underneath routes with quickness. Adebo is a physical player who wants to impose his will on receivers downfield, but struggles to decelerate at the top of routes. It wasn't the smoothest transition to New York, but he started to show more comfort and movement during the last three games of 2025, and has a new head coach and defensive coordinator to work with in 2026.

Switching from the Steelers' man-coverage-heavy defense to a zone-based scheme in Los Angeles paid dividends for Jackson and the Chargers. Always looking to jump routes, to a fault at times, he broke up 12 passes and recorded four interceptions on the season with a true bounce-back performance. He struggled to sift traffic in bunches, mirror in man coverage, and tackle, but his presence was felt in defensive coordinator Jessie Minter's scheme. The film study and instincts were rewarded last season, and he'll be looking to continue that trend in 2026.

Javon Bullard is still getting comfortable with the speed of the game in coverage, but when he's triggering downhill, he goes with everything he's got. With the mentality of a honey badger, he splits doubles in the screen game, shoots gaps against the run, and fits properly whether from depth or the second level. Physical receivers and tight ends create space in man coverage at the top of the route and at the catch point, but he's developing his zone feel and football IQ as well as a zone nickel. The Packers will use him all over the field, but Bullard has the mindset needed to succeed as an NFL nickel.

Upton Stout plays nickel at 100 mph and shows you that you don't have to be a big guy to succeed in the NFL. Even though he's 5'9", he sorts through the trash in the run game, mixes it up at the line of scrimmage, and takes down tight ends well. He missed some tackles and had eight penalties last season (but wasn't flagged once in the last five weeks of the season, including the playoffs), but offers a good menu of coverage skills with excellent depth and closing speed. Rookies make mistakes, but as long as they play fast, they usually come out in the wash. Stout is very talented and is right at home in San Francisco's defense.

Length is a great asset for corners, and Carlton Davis has used his to frustrate receivers for eight seasons. He's a physical and aggressive player on the outside, loves to hit people, and leaves an impression on the guys he faces off against. While he isn't known for having the best hands, he picked off a pair of passes in the playoffs to go with four passes defensed and 10 defensed during the regular season. He helped solidify the Patriots' secondary across from Gonzalez and slid into a more natural CB2 spot to help them make their run to the Super Bowl.

Flott plays from a consistent power stance, which makes him ready to trigger downhill or turn and run at a moment's notice. He uses the catch technique very well and quickly reads the receiver's body language to determine where the play is headed and how to get there. When he's stacked vertically, he struggles to locate the football and impact the catch point, but typically stays on top of deep routes well. He won't be an overly active player against the run, but he's a consistent boundary corner who knows how to use his skill set, which will be on display in Tennessee instead of New York in 2026.

While he flirted with retirement after sustaining multiple concussions last season, Charvarius Ward continued to be a stabilizing player in the secondary when on the field. A sure-tackling corner, his experience, man coverage acumen, and length allow him to impact the catch point with consistency. The Colts played a ton of man coverage last year with Ward and Gardner on the field with their size and length, and that's how you're going to get the best out of Ward.

Watson put together stretches of fantastic play in Kansas City and helped solidify a corner room with questions outside of Trent McDuffie in recent years. His ball skills and inability to get his head around in coverage have held Watson back in turnover creation. Still, he's developed into a solid, physical man-coverage player on the outside. Watson brings a sure-tackling, run-defense mentality without being an overly dynamic playmaker. He'll pair up with McDuffie yet again, but in the uniform of the Los Angeles Rams instead of the Chiefs.