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Ranking the top five cornerback duos in the NFL today

By Sayre Bedinger

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) celebrates a play with cornerback Aqib Talib (21) against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-18 to advance to the Super Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (25) celebrates a play with cornerback Aqib Talib (21) against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-18 to advance to the Super Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) reacts after a play in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) reacts after a play in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Malcolm Butler & Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots

There’s going to be some debate about this, because Butler didn’t play his ‘best’ season in 2016, but he’s still a phenomenal player.

Butler will be overpowered at times and give up some significant yardage, but he’s capable at times of shutting down one side of the field and he is almost always getting his hands on the football. He obviously is known for making that big play in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, but Butler has developed into a steady stud for the Patriots at cornerback.

Now, they are joining him with Stephon Gilmore. As of this past season, I don’t know if the Patriots could upgrade from what Logan Ryan brought to the table in the second half of the season, but Gilmore is another ball-hawk at cornerback who plays aggressively.

Gilmore had a bit of a ‘down’ 2016 in terms of his efficiency grades from Pro Football Focus, but his career to this point seems to indicate the Patriots are going to have a phenomenal pair at cornerback in 2017.

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