In the current NFL, a team can live or die based on the talent of their secondary. You must be able to keep opposing WRs and TEs out of the end zone. The best way to do that is through solid coverage and QB disruption. The pass rush is irrelevant, though, if you can’t cover in the secondary long enough to disrupt the QB. This simple fact is what makes the secondary so important in this league. Some of these teams will rise and fall, based on their mindset this off-season. Did they go out and improve their secondary, stand pat and “Run It Back,” or sell their pieces and try to rebuild? So, without further ado, let’s jump into it. Here are the power rankings of all 32 teams’ secondary situations heading into the draft.
- Baltimore Ravens
CB Marlon Humphrey
CB Marcus Peters
CB Jimmy Smith
S Earl Thomas
S Chuck Clark
This secondary is filled with top end talent that has experience playing together. The continuity with these guys combined with the talent puts them at the number one spot. I look for this group to put the Ravens in Super Bowl contention in 2020. We saw last year that the mid-season addition of Marcus Peters changed how most look at the group as a whole. The Peters addition last year has launched the Baltimore Ravens to the best group in this league.
- Los Angeles Chargers
CB Casey Hayward
CB Chris Harris Jr.
CB Desmond King II
S Derwin James
S Nasir Adderley
The Chargers need a spark to sell tickets and excite fans. The addition of Chris Harris Jr, and a new stadium should do that for the Chargers. The combination of returners, new signings, and young potential takes this group to an even higher level. They are now in the NFL elite.
- New Orleans Saints
CB Marshon Lattimore
CB Janoris Jenkins
CB Patrick Robinson
S Malcolm Jenkins
S Marcus Williams
They have built something special in New Orleans over the last three years. This group has a great mix of talented veterans and young, up-and-coming stars with the addition of Janoris Jenkins late last season and Malcolm Jenkins in 2020 FA. The group has balance and elite level talent that will allow them to lock down a team’s offensive weapons consistently.
- Seattle Seahawks
CB Shaquill Griffin
CB Tre Flowers
CB Quinton Dunbar
S Quandre Diggs
S Bradley McDougal
This is the most improved group since this time last year, thanks to some key additions. The trade for Quandre Diggs last year elevated this group and gave them a great leader and solid player. Then, they go out this off-season and trade for Quinton Dunbar from Washington. This was a huge move. He was the best slot corner in the game last year, in my opinion. These two moves, combined with the development and experience of the other three players, makes this group solid from top to bottom.
- New England Patriots
CB Stephon Gilmore
CB Jason McCourtey
CB J.C. Jackson
S Devin McCourtey
S Patrick Chung
New England’s group is chalked full of veterans with elite talent. Combine the talent with their scheme in New England, and this is a group that strikes fear in opposing offenses week in and week out. They are all returning this year, and we saw last year that this is a dominant unit. They went very deep into the season without allowing a touchdown.
- Green Bay Packers
CB Jaire Alexander
CB Kevin King
CB Josh Jackson
S Adrian Amos
S Darnell Savage
I really like what Green Bay has done over the last couple years in an effort to build their secondary. All of the pieces have been added in the last couple of seasons. This entire group was together last season, and I feel like experience and continuity heading into this season will be huge. With a potentially limited off-season not having to add new players and teach them the schemes will be a big advantage. I like this group, and their youth is going to make them very interesting moving forward.
- Chicago Bears
CB Kyle Fuller
CB Artie Burns
CB Buster Skrine
S Eddie Jackson
S Deon Bush
In Chicago there are two big pieces that uphold this group in my eyes. The talent of Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson lift this group up high on the list but most of these players are underrated. I expect them to be interested in acquiring a safety in the draft, but Bush, Skrine, and Burns all have potential to improve at their respective positions. This group could be special with the leadership of Fuller and Jackson. I would be shocked if this team takes a step back in 2020, I fully expect them to improve.
- Miami Dolphins
CB Xavien Howard
CB Byron Jones
CB Bobby McCain
S Eric Rowe
S Adrian Colbert
The Miami Dolphins were able to add the biggest prize in this year’s Free Agency in the form of CB Byron Jones. I am looking forward to seeing the potential of this group in the 2020 season. This is another group that is carried by two elite talents, and has been filled with talented guys. They have a real chance of improving and being great in the New England style system run by head coach Brian Flores.
- Arizona Cardinals
CB Patrick Peterson
CB Byron Jones
CB Robert Alford
S Budda Baker
S Jalen Thompson
The impact of talented youth is visible in this group, and played a big part in them being eighth on the list. They may not have the most production on the list, but I do think the ceiling for Arizona is very high. Star level pieces such as Peterson and Baker combined with potentially great players is the name of the game in this league. The group has solid continuity, and are building on what they accomplished last season. All five guys are returning, with Thompson getting his first opportunity to make an impact in Arizona. .
- Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Joe Haden
CB Steven Nelson
CB Mike Hilton
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
S Terrell Edmunds
Last off-season Pittsburgh went out and added both Joe Haden and Steven Nelson to their secondary. Combine those moves with the mid-season trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick, and they are on their way to having one of the most productive and reliable groups in the league. We saw at the end of last season that the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick took this group to an entire new level. With a year of experience together, this group projects to be even better. These reasons bring them in at number ten.
- Tennessee Titans
- Denver Broncos
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Minnesota Vikings
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Buffalo Bills
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Redskins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Jets
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Detroit Lions
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Carolina Panthers
These rankings were decided by some teams staying content with what they already have, like the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these organizations made the effort to bring back the players they had starting at certain times last season. I think the experience in these front offices and their understanding of how Covid-19 will affect the off-season. This is what I think more than likely caused them to adopt the “Run It Back” mentality. Other teams elected to sell off their pieces and start a secondary rebuild. The best example of this was the Jacksonville Jaguars. The decisions to trade Bouye and Ramsey have taken them from top 5 last year, to 31st leading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Lastly, some teams that have climbed up the rankings have done what it takes to build an elite secondary. The main example of this is the Seattle Seahawks. They added Quandre Diggs and Quinton Dunbar. Such moves have moved them from the back of the league all the way to the the top 5. I’m excited to see what some of these personnel groups look like after this year’s draft. That being said, these are the current Power Rankings for all 32 team’s secondary situations heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
