Known as a shutdown corner, Derek Stingley is a menace to quarterbacks and receivers. His combination of developing football IQ, natural athletic ability and aggression was put to the best possible use in Houston last season. Stingley allowed a 37.9% completion percentage when targeted in zone coverage, the lowest mark by any defender since at least 2018, per NFLPro. His ball skills make him difficult to test on his worst day, and while he is still developing at only 24 years old, he's already become one of the best corners in football.

Fitting a player of Derwin James' talents who more closely resembles the Predator than a human on the football field, with Jesse Minter, was chef's kiss. His instincts, versatility, and click and close ability made it difficult for anyone to create much distance from him, and he picked off the ball three times, with zero touchdowns given up. James is one of the most disruptive players in the league with excellent physicality and a motor that always runs hot. He's a defensive coordinator's dream from the nickel position and one of the driving forces in the NFL.

Our number-one corner has been one of the best players in the NFL since his rookie season. Surtain is always under control, plays extremely physical without holding, and makes receivers earn every yard. Only allowing 50-plus yards receiving in a game twice last season, the All-Pro corner collected more pass breakups than catches allowed down the field. He battled through injury in 2025, but the former 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has made four straight Pro Bowls and deserves the top spot among NFL corners.