14 | CB Richard Sherman
PFF notes that Sherman would be higher on this list if he hadn’t turned 32 this offseason. Even as a 31-year-old, his play in 2019 was some of the best of his career:
He allowed a passer rating of just 45.3 when targeted including the playoffs, and that was the first season of his career since 2014 where that figure dropped below 50.0. Sherman has always been criticized for being just a zone corner, but he has been so much more than that — and even if he wasn’t, he has been so good at it that it’s not a valid criticism.
Unlike Bosa, Sherman’s best years are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still a capable shutdown corner. He’s still one of the smartest players in the league, which should allow him to continue being effective even as he progresses into his 30s. The Packers and Chiefs both connected on throws against Sherman over the top in the postseason, so seeing how he adjusts if more teams start trying to beat him deep will be interesting to watch this season.