- Trent McDuffie is on the forefront of a robust Chiefs secondary: McDuffie led all cornerbacks in total superior protection grade this previous season, largely due to his prowess in man protection.
- Justin Reid joins the Saints after a robust 2024 marketing campaign: The former Chief was the highest security in deep zone protection this previous season, per PFF’s superior protection grade.
- Subscribe to PFF+: Get entry to participant grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy soccer rankings, all the PFF fantasy draft analysis instruments and extra!
Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Since 2019, PFF has gathered complete separation knowledge for each snap performed by protection defenders and receivers within the NFL. This dataset contains data on matchups, assignments and separation. That knowledge led to the superior protection grade metric, which has benefits over conventional PFF protection grades and different metrics.
These had been the NFL’s highest-ranking defenders in varied aspects in PFF’s superior protection grade this previous season.
Highest-graded cornerbacks in man protection
The greatest cornerbacks within the sport can lock it down in man protection, and to nobody’s shock, three of the very best within the sport come out on high right here. Whether in a person protection scheme or a zone scheme and requested to play man on an opposing receiver, cornerbacks have arguably probably the most troublesome job on an NFL protection.
McDuffie led all cornerbacks in total superior protection grade, largely due to his prowess in man protection. Only one participant within the NFL was requested to play in man protection greater than McDuffie in 2024 (rookie Terrion Arnold), and his grade per man protection snap ranked third greatest.
Trent McDuffie’s Career PFF Grades
Sauce Gardner, PFF’s high cornerback heading into the 2025 season, generated the second-best man protection grade and in addition ranked second in grade per man protection snap. Gardner appears to have a popularity as a zone protection cornerback who doesn’t match up with the opposing staff’s high receiver, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality. He’s been lights out since day one as a rookie and is now the highest-paid participant at his place.
Humphrey had been battling accidents previous to 2024, however a wholesome marketing campaign reminded the NFL panorama of his worth and his expertise. He positioned third in superior protection grade and sixth in grade per man protection snap. If he can keep wholesome as soon as once more in 2025, the Ravens’ secondary goes to be an issue for the remainder of the league.
Highest-graded cornerbacks in deep zone protection
Cornerbacks must have a assorted talent set; they’ll’t simply be requested to play man protection each snap. From enjoying the deep third in a Cover 3 zone, the quarter in a Cover 4 scheme and even generally the deep half in an inverted Cover 2 zone, cornerbacks in zone must learn and react to a number of routes and the idea of the play.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was the very best within the NFL in deep zone protection. Surtain was additionally No. 1 in grade per deep zone snap as arguably the very best cornerback at figuring out what the opposing offense was operating and defending it.
Johnson had a monstrous breakout season in 2023, and whereas 2024 wasn’t on the similar degree, he confirmed he nonetheless is superb at locking opposing receivers down in zone protection.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, Slay bounced again from a tough 2023 and displayed the top-end play that we’re accustomed to seeing from him in 2024. Vic Fangio’s two-high protection schemes helped Slay ship for the Eagles‘ protection, and he’ll attempt to replicate that success with the Steelers in 2025.
Highest-graded safeties in deep zone protection
Safeties have a wide range of roles in a protection scheme, however they differ in deep zone coverages from cornerbacks in a number of methods. They have fewer alternatives for one-on-one interactions and infrequently must cowl a number of receivers on a play. These gamers sometimes are enjoying the center of the sector in both a Cover 1 or Cover 3 scheme, the within quarter of a Cover 4 scheme or the deep half in a Cover 2 scheme.
One vital motive that the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary was so good over the previous three years is Reid. He ranks first on this class and third in grade per deep-zone protection snap. He is superb at making the remainder of the protection proper and was constantly tight on opposing receivers in deep zones this previous season. He will function for the Saints in 2025.
Hooker isn’t a family title, however he’s been a strong security for a number of years. In 2024, he notched profession highs in interceptions and go breakups, stopping separation and studying routes and the eyes of the quarterback at a excessive degree.
Joseph additionally loved a profession yr in 2024 — and it was far more than simply his league-leading 9 interceptions. He prevented separation constantly and made life troublesome for opposing receivers and quarterbacks.
Highest-Graded Safeties in 2024
Highest-graded defenders in beneath zones
Linebackers and safeties are requested to roam the beneath zones — the flats, curl zones, hook zones and holes. While every function is completely different from scheme to scheme and staff to staff, gamers in these beneath zones usually must drop to a depth that daunts deep throws whereas nonetheless having the ability to break on shorter throws to make a fast deal with for a brief acquire.
Credit to Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for reviving the staff’s protection and turning it into one of many stingiest items within the NFL. In his first season as a starter, Henley was wonderful in beneath zones and compelled 9 incompletions.
James’ profession has been marred by accidents, however he has been probably the greatest safeties within the NFL when wholesome and delivered in 2024 together with his greatest PFF total grade since 2019. James’ superior protection grade per snap was the second greatest amongst safeties, and his total mark ranked first on the place.
While Smith’s play has skyrocketed since he was traded from the Bears to the Ravens, the primary half of 2024 featured a dip in his PFF protection grades, as he was being requested to cowl extra in man with some deep duties. Once Kyle Hamilton solidified the deep protection of the Ravens’ protection, Smith was again to his wonderful methods within the second half of the season.