Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (2024)

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (1)Josh Frey |

Apr 22, 2023

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Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (2)

The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and one of, if not the single biggest position of need for the Minnesota Vikings is at the cornerback spot. Today, we are ranking the top 10 CBs in this draft class, including a few that could be on the Vikings radar with the 23rd overall pick.

1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (3)

Devon Witherspoon is about as perfect a prospect as you can find at the cornerback position. He plays every snap with high intensity, has ideal NFL size (though he could bear to fill out his frame a bit more), and he has 4.4 speed that he can utilize in coverage.

The most impressive thing about Witherspoon throughout his time at Illinois is his instincts, though. The game seemed to be played in slow motion around him as he continuously made the correct plays in the secondary. He should be the first corner off the board on Thursday evening.

2. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (4)

At 6’2, Christian Gonzalez has great NFL size and length at his disposal, and even if he gets beat off the line of scrimmage, he has the acceleration to make up the distance with his receiver. Finally, Gonzalez played a good chunk of his snaps in zone coverage at Oregon, and he proved to be a terrific open-field tackler.

3. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (5)

The son of the former Pittsburgh Steelers great heads into the NFL with outstanding potential, and his ridiculous length provides a ton of intrigue. Joey Porter Jr. has 34″ arms and can make plays on balls that most CBs wouldn’t have any business getting involved in.

He also uses his size advantage at 6’2 to rough up receivers off the snap and throw them off their routes. Porter should see his skillset translate to the NFL nicely, and it would be a surprise if he made it into the 20s.

4. Deonte Banks, Maryland

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (6)

Deonte Banks has a very sturdy build at CB, and this allows him to bully receivers on the line of scrimmage. The Maryland product is a menace in man coverage, which is a big reason why so many mock drafters have sent him to the Vikings to play in Brian Flores’ system.

After such a ridiculous combine where he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and overall put together one of the best workouts we’ve ever seen, it’s virtually a lock that he goes in the first round on Thursday.

5. Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (7)

Kelee Ringo’s footwork can be a bit sluggish in coverage, but he is arguably the most physically imposing prospect among this top five. He isn’t as long as Porter, but he weighs in well over 200 pounds, meaning he won’t get pushed around on the boundary.

For the Vikings, Ringo becomes an option if the first four CBs fly off the board. Minnesota needs a starting quality CB, and the Georgia product is a guy that should be able to compete for a CB2 role immediately.

6. Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (8)

Many folks may be turned off by Emmanuel Forbes’ 166-pound frame, and it’s certainly a valid concern. He will consistently run into receivers that weigh far more than him so being able to win matchups at the line of scrimmage may be tough. This is only compounded by the fact that he hasn’t shown the versatility to play in the slot.

That being said, the playmaking potential is off the charts with Forbes. He recorded six interceptions in 58 targets over the course of the 2022 season (per Pro Football Focus), and his opposing passer rating was a ridiculous 44.7 on those targets. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to land on the Vikings, especially if Minnesota found a way to trade down from No. 23 into the late-20s.

7. Cam Smith, South Carolina

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (9)

After a truly elite 2021 season for South Carolina in 2021, Cam Smith saw his production take a bit of a step back in 2022. He certainly has the traits of an NFL corner in terms of size and athleticism, and his opposing passer rating of 36.5 in 2021 was one of the best in the country.

That being said, penalties became a major red flag in 2022 for Smith, being flagged 10 times over the course of 13 games. Smith is very much a mixed bag as a prospect with a high upside but also a lower floor, but he shouldn’t be on the board much longer than the early second round.

8. Julius Brents, Kansas State

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (10)

Julius Brents is another prospect that tested extremely well at the combine. While his 4.53 40-yard dash may not jump off the page like some others, his 10-yard split of 1.5 and a 41.5″ vertical showcase some outstanding explosive athleticism that should translate well to the NFL.

9. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (11)

Tyrique Stevenson is another prospect that is very good in man coverage, but he is extremely scheme-dependent as the struggles in zone are very apparent at this point in time. If Stevenson finds a spot with the right team though (potentially the Vikings), he could thrive at the next level with his physical play in one-on-one.

10. D.J. Turner, Michigan

Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (12)

DJ Turner is extremely undersized for a boundary corner, and his playmaking simply isn’t the same as Forbes’, thus forcing him down the board here. However, he is one of the most athletically gifted players in this group with a 4.26 40 and a 38.5″ vertical. In his actual coverage, Turner fights to stick with the bigger receivers, but he can get a bit grabby at times.

Also Read:
Josh Frey’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft (3.0): Surprise Team Swoops in for Top QB in Two-Round Mock

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor ofPurplePTSD.com.When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account:@Freyed_Chicken.

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Ranking the Top 10 CBs in the 2023 NFL Draft (2024)

FAQs

Who is the best CB in the 2023 NFL draft? ›

CORNERBACK PROSPECT RANKINGS 2023 NFL DRAFT
  • #1 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT. Devon Witherspoon from Illinois CB 2021 Scouting Report. POSITION. RANK. ...
  • #2 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT. Christian Gonzalez from Oregon CB 2021 Scouting Report. POSITION. ...
  • #3 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT. Joey Porter Jr. from Penn State CB 2021 Scouting Report.

Who had the best NFL draft in 2023? ›

Houston won the 2023 draft for finding its QB of the future, but Green Bay came out best on a pick-to-pick basis. The rookie year of Lukas Van Ness (No. 13) was reminiscent of his Iowa career — a small number of snaps but serious, attention-grabbing production.

Who are the top rated cornerbacks in the NFL draft? ›

2024 NFL Draft cornerbacks rankings and analysis
  1. 1 - Terrion Arnold, Alabama. ...
  2. 2 - Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo. ...
  3. 3 - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama. ...
  4. 4 - Nate Wiggins, Clemson. ...
  5. 5 - Cooper DeJean, Iowa. ...
  6. 6 - T.J. Tampa, Iowa State. ...
  7. 7 - Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri. ...
  8. 8 - Kamari Lassiter, Georgia.
Apr 24, 2024

Who is the best CB in the NFL right now? ›

1: Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, New York Jets

Henry McKenna: He looked like prime Richard Sherman in the 2022 season, his rookie year.

Who is the top rookie cornerback in the NFL 2023? ›

Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: 84.1. The top rookie cornerback of 2023, Witherspoon engineered a three-game stretch at the beginning of the season that put the league on notice, during which he tallied two interceptions, three pass breakups and a 90.0 coverage grade while allowing just 33 yards into his coverage.

What is the strongest position group in the 2023 NFL draft? ›

Strongest positions in 2023 NFL Draft Class, according to Zierlein: Cornerback. Tight end. Edge defender.

Who has the worst NFL draft in 2023? ›

Chad Reuter and Eric Edholm put together a post grading all 32 draft classes from last season and the Broncos 2023 NFL Draft class ended up being a massive flop coming in 32nd overall and graded out quite poorly.

Which NFL team had the best draft in 2024? ›

Here is who experts are saying had the three worst and three best drafts of 2024.
  • NFL power rankings:Which teams are up, down after 2024 draft?
  • Chicago Bears: A+
  • NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: A+
  • Philadelphia Eagles: A.
  • Chicago Bears: A+
May 2, 2024

Who lost their 2023 NFL Draft? ›

The Miami Dolphins lost their 2023 first round pick as a result of an NFL investigation into possible tampering. That means the Dolphins are slated for only four picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Who will be best QB in draft? ›

The 2024 NFL Draft features a handful of quarterbacks with starting traits and the potential to be a franchise signal-caller. The class is led by Caleb Williams and his out-of-structure magic, Jayden Daniels' with his incredible dual-threat ability and Drake Maye and his gunslinger arm talent.

Who is the best NFL draft predictor? ›

Brendan Donahue, the #1 most accurate mock drafter over the past five NFL seasons according to The Huddle Report, gives you his 2024 NFL Mock Draft — making predictions for every team and every pick in the first round.

Who is the White CB in the 2024 draft? ›

The talking point has been a joke in the NFL sphere for a number of years now, and the topic was brought back up again ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. One of the top-rated cornerbacks in the class is Cooper DeJean, a cornerback out of Iowa who just so happens to be white.

Who is the best paid CB? ›

The Packers' Jaire Alexander leads the way earning $21 million. The Browns' Denzel Ward is the only other cornerback making $20 million.

Who is Chiefs best cornerback? ›

Here's the good news: Kansas City still has good cornerbacks. Currently, the three starters are McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. McDuffie is an emerging superstar who can play in the slot or on the outside — but I'll always prefer him in the slot, which unlocks him as a blitzer and a run defender.

Who is the best RB in the NFL? ›

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers. McCaffrey has been by far and away the most productive running back in the NFL for the past two seasons, and he dominated once again in 2023.

Who is the best defensive player in the NFL draft 2023? ›

Myles Garrett named 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Who is the white cornerback in the NFL draft 2023? ›

Riley Moss (born March 3, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection. Moss was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Who was the first CB drafted in 2023? ›

2023 First Draft: CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois.

Who has the best defense in the NFL right now 2023? ›

What teams have the best defense in the NFL? The Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys have the best defenses in the NFL based on our 2023 NFL defense rankings.

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