• Devon Witherspoon comes out on top: The draft class leader in PFF coverage grade, Witherspoon allowed just 35.5% of the 62 passes thrown into his coverage to be caught, with none of the 22 receptions he allowed resulting in a touchdown.
• Keep an eye on Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson: Despite being targeted 81 times in coverage — the second-most of any cornerback in this class — Hodges-Tomlinson allowed a reception on just 34.6% of those targets.
• Download the PFF draft guide today: Be sure to download the latest edition of the PFF draft guide, which is loaded with more than 300 pages of PFF-exclusive advanced stats, grades and analysis on some of the top prospects expected to enter the draft.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
With the 2023 NFL Draft just over two weeks away, we look at which cornerbacks allowed the lowest passer ratings on throws into their coverage last season.
For players to qualify, they must have been on the field for at least 200 coverage snaps last season. For a more detailed look at all the top cornerbacks in the class, download the 2023 PFF draft guide.
10. Christian Braswell, Rutgers
Passer rating allowed: 50.7
PFF coverage grade: 87.1
Targeted 41 times over the season, Braswell allowed just 24 receptions for 218 yards and came away with three interceptions and eight pass breakups.
9. Jakorian Bennett, Maryland
Passer rating allowed: 47.5
PFF coverage grade: 70.3
Bennett played 407 coverage snaps for Maryland last year and was targeted 54 times. Of the 24 receptions he allowed, none resulted in a touchdown.
8. Steven Gilmore, Marshall
Passer rating allowed: 47.2
PFF coverage grade: 86.7
Despite allowing 15.5 yards per reception, Gilmore ranks highly here simply because he didn't allow many catches. He snagged three interceptions and seven pass breakups, and just one of the 23 receptions he allowed resulted in a touchdown.
7. Mekhi Blackmon, USC
Passer rating allowed: 46.1
PFF coverage grade: 91.1
Blackmon was targeted 63 times but allowed just 47.6% of those to be caught. He registered three interceptions and eight pass breakups, allowing only one touchdown.
6. Myles Brooks, Louisiana Tech
Passer rating allowed: 46.0
PFF coverage grade: 77.1
On the field for 366 coverage snaps, Brooks allowed just 20 receptions. He did allow three touchdowns in coverage, but he also recorded three interceptions and broke up nine passes.
5. Eli Ricks, Alabama
Passer rating allowed: 45.3
PFF coverage grade: 72.8
Ricks played 223 snaps in coverage but was targeted just 19 times. He allowed a mere six receptions for 77 yards in coverage — both the best in this draft class — and registered five pass breakups.
4. Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Passer rating allowed: 44.7
PFF coverage grade: 89.3
Forbes showcased his ability to get his hands on passes, recording six interceptions and seven pass breakups from 58 targets. He allowed 31 of those targets to be caught, with three resulting in a touchdown.
3. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Passer rating allowed: 42.5
PFF coverage grade: 78.4
Despite being targeted 81 times in coverage — the second-most of any cornerback in this class — Hodges-Tomlinson allowed a reception on just 34.6% of those targets. That was the second-best mark in the class, and he was also tied for fourth with four pass breakups.
2. Kordell Rodgers, Texas State
Passer rating allowed: 40.6
PFF coverage grade: 90.3
Rodgers was on the field for 299 coverage snaps and allowed just 21 receptions over the season. None of those catches resulted in a touchdown, and he finished the year with four interceptions.
1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Passer rating allowed: 25.3
PFF coverage grade: 92.5
The draft class leader in PFF coverage grade, Witherspoon allowed just 35.5% of the 62 passes thrown into his coverage to be caught, with none of the 22 receptions he allowed resulting in a touchdown.
His three interceptions were tied for 10th-most in the class, while his 14 pass breakups led draft-eligible players at the position.
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