- New Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo was examined commonly: The former Saints defensive again options closely on this record after being focused on almost 22% of his protection snaps this previous season.
- Target Christian Gonzalez within the crimson zone at your individual danger: While the budding star was one of many NFL’s most focused cornerbacks within the crimson zone in 2024, he additionally led the league in pressured incompletions on such throws.
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Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
How typically a cornerback is focused is an efficient indication of what opposing offenses consider that participant. Generally, if a cornerback is focused steadily, it means the quarterback believes they will beat them with regularity.
Snap shares and protection schemes could be influencing components within the counting stats, however with a significant pattern dimension, a excessive goal charge could be a sign of a weak hyperlink within the secondary. After all, if an opposing offense senses a mismatch or decides a selected nook must be examined, they may go after them relentlessly till they’re satisfied that it is not productive.
These are the NFL’s most focused cornerbacks from the 2024 season in every main protection aspect.
Note: Minimum of 25% of protection snaps required for every class
All Routes
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| Dee Alford | Falcons | 55.0 | 466 | 102 | 21.89% | 76 | 74.51% |
| Paulson Adebo | Saints | 63.9 | 261 | 57 | 21.84% | 34 | 59.65% |
| Ugo Amadi | Saints | 48.9 | 308 | 67 | 21.75% | 49 | 73.13% |
| Tyrique Stevenson | Bears | 58.4 | 424 | 81 | 19.10% | 43 | 53.09% |
| Renardo Green | 49ers | 74.3 | 373 | 70 | 18.77% | 44 | 62.86% |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | Broncos | 62.1 | 593 | 111 | 18.72% | 82 | 73.87% |
| Darnay Holmes | Raiders | 49.5 | 188 | 35 | 18.62% | 27 | 77.14% |
| Deommodore Lenoir | 49ers | 71.7 | 493 | 89 | 18.05% | 58 | 65.17% |
| Alontae Taylor | Saints | 35.4 | 610 | 110 | 18.03% | 79 | 71.82% |
| Riley Moss | Broncos | 56.9 | 533 | 96 | 18.01% | 61 | 63.54% |
(min. 184 protection snaps)
Three gamers posted a protection goal charge of 21.75% or increased, with two permitting a catch not less than 73% of the time. Dee Alford and Ugo Amadi each struggled in 2024 with poor PFF protection grades, whereas Paulson Adebo, who missed a lot of the season on account of damage, had a decrease completion charge due to his skill to interrupt up passes.
Alford allowed the third-most touchdowns (eight) and the second-most first downs (42) in 2024 whereas surrendering 1.52 yards per cowl snap. Alford went undrafted in 2022 and may have competitors from two undrafted gamers this offseason in Atlanta.
Lined Up Outside
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| Paulson Adebo | Saints | 70.9 | 236 | 53 | 22.46% | 31 | 58.49% |
| Tyrique Stevenson | Bears | 59.1 | 390 | 77 | 19.74% | 42 | 54.55% |
| Renardo Green | 49ers | 80.4 | 336 | 63 | 18.75% | 39 | 61.90% |
| Clark Phillips III | Falcons | 77.8 | 214 | 40 | 18.69% | 28 | 70.00% |
| Montaric Brown | Jaguars | 69.1 | 440 | 78 | 17.73% | 54 | 69.23% |
| Marlon Humphrey | Ravens | 74.0 | 181 | 32 | 17.68% | 18 | 56.25% |
| Martin Emerson Jr. | Browns | 56.6 | 444 | 78 | 17.57% | 48 | 61.54% |
| Deonte Banks | Giants | 58.9 | 388 | 68 | 17.53% | 47 | 69.12% |
| Riley Moss | Broncos | 65.9 | 486 | 85 | 17.49% | 55 | 64.71% |
| Benjamin St-Juste | Commanders | 59.2 | 412 | 72 | 17.48% | 45 | 62.50% |
(min. 171 protection snaps)
Paulson Adebo seems once more right here, as greater than 90% of his 2024 snaps have been at exterior cornerback. His PFF grade on the surface is best than when he traces up within the slot.
Adebo signed with the Giants this offseason on a three-year, $54 million contract on account of being one of many NFL’s higher cornerbacks at getting his fingers on the ball. He has pressured 32 incompletions throughout the previous two seasons when lined up exterior. Opposing groups seemingly see the boom-or-bust play fashion and acknowledge that he has allowed greater than 1.35 yards per protection snap in every of the previous three seasons.
Lined Up within the Slot
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| Ugo Amadi | Saints | 42.6 | 266 | 63 | 23.68% | 47 | 74.60% |
| Michael Carter II | Jets | 43.1 | 161 | 38 | 23.60% | 26 | 68.42% |
| Byron Murphy Jr. | Vikings | 60.0 | 267 | 60 | 22.47% | 43 | 71.67% |
| Dee Alford | Falcons | 54.6 | 416 | 92 | 22.12% | 69 | 75.00% |
| Amik Robertson | Lions | 58.6 | 287 | 62 | 21.60% | 38 | 61.29% |
| Marcus Jones | Patriots | 76.5 | 186 | 40 | 21.51% | 24 | 60.00% |
| Darnay Holmes | Raiders | 54.6 | 162 | 34 | 20.99% | 26 | 76.47% |
| Alontae Taylor | Saints | 43.5 | 221 | 46 | 20.81% | 35 | 76.09% |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | Broncos | 70.4 | 522 | 102 | 19.54% | 77 | 75.49% |
| Taron Johnson | Bills | 59.9 | 352 | 67 | 19.03% | 49 | 73.13% |
(min. 135 protection snaps)
Two of the Saints‘ cornerbacks cracked the highest 10 when lined up within the slot, highlighting a few of the protection’s holes. A fourth-round choice in 2019, Ugo Amadi posted a 42.6 PFF protection grade out of the slot — the second-worst mark within the NFL — whereas his 1.86 yards allowed per protection snap was the very best common.
Michael Carter II was the second-most-targeted slot cornerback within the NFL, and his 43.1 PFF protection grade is proof of his struggles. It comes on the heels of a 2023 season by which his 86.6 PFF protection grade was top-of-the-line within the NFL.
Early Downs
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| Paulson Adebo | Saints | 73.7 | 192 | 41 | 21.35% | 29 | 70.73% |
| Ugo Amadi | Saints | 43.4 | 198 | 41 | 20.71% | 32 | 78.05% |
| Deonte Banks | Giants | 55.2 | 301 | 61 | 20.27% | 44 | 72.13% |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | Broncos | 72.6 | 392 | 75 | 19.13% | 55 | 73.33% |
| Alontae Taylor | Saints | 41.2 | 424 | 81 | 19.10% | 59 | 72.84% |
| Roger McCreary | Titans | 59.4 | 248 | 47 | 18.95% | 40 | 85.11% |
| Renardo Green | 49ers | 82.1 | 239 | 45 | 18.83% | 30 | 66.67% |
| Jarvis Brownlee Jr. | Titans | 59.9 | 346 | 65 | 18.79% | 45 | 69.23% |
| Benjamin St-Juste | Commanders | 60.4 | 315 | 58 | 18.41% | 37 | 63.79% |
| DaRon Bland | Cowboys | 69.3 | 201 | 37 | 18.41% | 26 | 70.27% |
(min. 130 protection snaps)
Again, the Saints’ secondary was closely focused on early downs (first and second) in 2024. The Giants’ Deonte Banks is highlighted for the second time on the most-targeted lists, as he struggled on all routes in 2024 with a 50.3 PFF protection grade. A 2023 first-round decide, Banks has but to stay as much as his draft standing. His 46.4 PFF protection grade throughout his first two seasons ranks within the backside 10 amongst cornerbacks. His 1.49 yards per protection snap allowed over that span ranks sixth worst within the NFL.
Late Downs
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| Dee Alford | Falcons | 50.5 | 145 | 44 | 30.34% | 33 | 75.00% |
| Michael Carter II | Jets | 51.8 | 79 | 21 | 26.58% | 14 | 66.67% |
| Ugo Amadi | Saints | 60.6 | 110 | 26 | 23.64% | 17 | 65.38% |
| Paulson Adebo | Saints | 77.0 | 69 | 16 | 23.19% | 5 | 31.25% |
| Amik Robertson | Lions | 57.2 | 153 | 34 | 22.22% | 19 | 55.88% |
| Byron Murphy Jr. | Vikings | 62.6 | 207 | 44 | 21.26% | 27 | 61.36% |
| Tyrique Stevenson | Bears | 67.4 | 139 | 29 | 20.86% | 15 | 51.72% |
| Kenny Moore II | Colts | 49.7 | 160 | 33 | 20.63% | 20 | 60.61% |
| Cameron Mitchell | Browns | 62.1 | 83 | 17 | 20.48% | 10 | 58.82% |
| Mike Sainristil | Commanders | 59.0 | 200 | 40 | 20.00% | 24 | 60.00% |
(min. 56 protection snaps)
Familiar names seem on the high of the record, as we’ve highlighted Deee Alford, Michael Carter II, Ugo Amadi and Paulson Adebo already.
Amik Robertson spent the primary 4 seasons of his profession in Las Vegas earlier than signing with Detroit in 2024. Primarily an outdoor cornerback in 2023, Robertson made the transfer to the slot in 2024 for the Lions. While constant together with his play, his PFF grades have ranged across the mid-to-low 60.0s throughout the previous three seasons. He doesn’t essentially battle on cash downs, however he doesn’t excel, both, as proven by his 60.9 PFF protection grade over the previous two seasons.
Red Zone
| Player | Team | Cov. Grade | Cov. Snaps | Targets | Target Rate | Rec. Allowed | Comp. % |
| DaRon Bland | Cowboys | 62.4 | 30 | 9 | 30.00% | 4 | 44.44% |
| Dee Alford | Falcons | 38.8 | 74 | 21 | 28.38% | 16 | 76.19% |
| Cam Hart | Chargers | 73.0 | 39 | 11 | 28.21% | 8 | 72.73% |
| Beanie Bishop Jr. | Steelers | 40.9 | 40 | 10 | 25.00% | 4 | 40.00% |
| Martin Emerson Jr. | Browns | 36.5 | 50 | 12 | 24.00% | 7 | 58.33% |
| Kristian Fulton | Chargers | 64.0 | 46 | 11 | 23.91% | 4 | 36.36% |
| Tyrique Stevenson | Bears | 78.2 | 59 | 13 | 22.03% | 5 | 38.46% |
| Christian Gonzalez | Patriots | 86.9 | 69 | 15 | 21.74% | 8 | 53.33% |
| Renardo Green | 49ers | 90.5 | 52 | 11 | 21.15% | 6 | 54.55% |
| Paulson Adebo | Saints | 88.2 | 34 | 7 | 20.59% | 1 | 14.29% |
(min. 29 protection snaps)
After a stellar 2023 marketing campaign throughout which he set the NFL report for pick-sixes in a season, DaRon Bland missed greater than half of the 2024 season on account of damage and noticed a heavy goal charge within the crimson zone. While the numbers look good, 4 of his allowed receptions have been touchdowns, which is the secret in terms of the crimson zone.
Another identify of word right here is Christian Gonzalez, who is taken into account a high cornerback within the NFL (ranked thirteenth forward of the 2025 season). He was one of the crucial focused gamers within the crimson zone in 2024, however his 5 pressured incompletions on these throws have been essentially the most within the NFL.