- Trent McDuffie is at the forefront of a strong Chiefs secondary: McDuffie led all cornerbacks in overall advanced coverage grade this past season, largely because of his prowess in man coverage.
- Justin Reid joins the Saints after a strong 2024 campaign: The former Chief was the top safety in deep zone coverage this past season, per PFF's advanced coverage grade.
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Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Since 2019, PFF has gathered comprehensive separation data for every snap played by coverage defenders and receivers in the NFL. This dataset includes information on matchups, assignments and separation. That data led to the advanced coverage grade metric, which has advantages over traditional PFF coverage grades and other metrics.
These were the NFL's highest-ranking defenders in various facets in PFF's advanced coverage grade this past season.
Highest-graded cornerbacks in man coverage
The best cornerbacks in the game can lock it down in man coverage, and to no one's surprise, three of the best in the game come out on top here. Whether in a man coverage scheme or a zone scheme and asked to play man on an opposing receiver, cornerbacks have arguably the most difficult task on an NFL defense.
McDuffie led all cornerbacks in overall advanced coverage grade, largely because of his prowess in man coverage. Only one player in the NFL was asked to play in man coverage more than McDuffie in 2024 (rookie Terrion Arnold), and his grade per man coverage snap ranked third best.
Trent McDuffie's Career PFF Grades
Sauce Gardner, PFF’s top cornerback heading into the 2025 season, generated the second-best man coverage grade and also ranked second in grade per man coverage snap. Gardner seems to have a reputation as a zone coverage cornerback who doesn’t match up with the opposing team’s top receiver, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s been lights out since day one as a rookie and is now the highest-paid player at his position.
Humphrey had been battling injuries prior to 2024, but a healthy campaign reminded the NFL landscape of his value and his talent. He placed third in advanced coverage grade and sixth in grade per man coverage snap. If he can stay healthy once again in 2025, the Ravens' secondary is going to be a problem for the rest of the league.
Highest-graded cornerbacks in deep zone coverage
Cornerbacks need to have a varied skill set; they can’t just be asked to play man coverage every snap. From playing the deep third in a Cover 3 zone, the quarter in a Cover 4 scheme or even sometimes the deep half in an inverted Cover 2 zone, cornerbacks in zone need to read and react to multiple routes and the concept of the play.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was the best in the NFL in deep zone coverage. Surtain was also No. 1 in grade per deep zone snap as arguably the best cornerback at identifying what the opposing offense was running and defending it.
Johnson had a monstrous breakout season in 2023, and while 2024 wasn’t at the same level, he showed he still is excellent at locking opposing receivers down in zone coverage.
On the other end of the spectrum, Slay bounced back from a rough 2023 and displayed the top-end play that we’re accustomed to seeing from him in 2024. Vic Fangio’s two-high coverage schemes helped Slay deliver for the Eagles‘ defense, and he will try to replicate that success with the Steelers in 2025.
Highest-graded safeties in deep zone coverage
Safeties have a variety of roles in a coverage scheme, but they differ in deep zone coverages from cornerbacks in several ways. They have fewer opportunities for one-on-one interactions and often have to cover multiple receivers on a play. These players typically are playing the middle of the field in either a Cover 1 or Cover 3 scheme, the inside quarter of a Cover 4 scheme or the deep half in a Cover 2 scheme.
One significant reason that the Kansas City Chiefs' secondary was so good over the past three years is Reid. He ranks first in this category and third in grade per deep-zone coverage snap. He is excellent at making the rest of the defense right and was consistently tight on opposing receivers in deep zones this past season. He will feature for the Saints in 2025.
Hooker isn’t a household name, but he’s been a solid safety for several years. In 2024, he notched career highs in interceptions and pass breakups, preventing separation and reading routes and the eyes of the quarterback at a high level.
Joseph also enjoyed a career year in 2024 — and it was much more than just his league-leading nine interceptions. He prevented separation consistently and made life difficult for opposing receivers and quarterbacks.
Highest-Graded Safeties in 2024
Highest-graded defenders in underneath zones
- Daiyan Henley, Los Angeles Chargers
- Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
- Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Linebackers and safeties are asked to roam the underneath zones — the flats, curl zones, hook zones and holes. While each role is different from scheme to scheme and team to team, players in these underneath zones generally need to drop to a depth that discourages deep throws while still being able to break on shorter throws to make a quick tackle for a short gain.
Credit to Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for reviving the team's defense and turning it into one of the stingiest units in the NFL. In his first season as a starter, Henley was excellent in underneath zones and forced nine incompletions.
James’ career has been marred by injuries, but he has been one of the best safeties in the NFL when healthy and delivered in 2024 with his best PFF overall grade since 2019. James’ advanced coverage grade per snap was the second best among safeties, and his overall mark ranked first at the position.
While Smith's play has skyrocketed since he was traded from the Bears to the Ravens, the first half of 2024 featured a dip in his PFF coverage grades, as he was being asked to cover more in man with some deep responsibilities. Once Kyle Hamilton solidified the deep coverage of the Ravens' defense, Smith was back to his excellent ways in the second half of the season.
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