It’s easy to overlook players when their team isn’t being headlined nationally. The Chargers, who are 4-7, have a handful of players on the roster who deserve more recognition at their perspective position. Among the crop is cornerback Casey Hayward.
A second-round selection of the Packers in 2012, Hayward didn’t receive a second contract offer in 2016. General manager Tom Telesco quickly noticed he was on the market and brought him to Southern California, where he’s become not only the team’s best corner, but tops in the entire league in a three-year span.
Lining up across the league’s top wide receivers, “Showcase” has stymied nearly every single one. As a result, he has made two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro second teams while producing the fifth-most interceptions (13) and second-most pass breakups (57) among NFL players since 2016.
Why isn’t he getting the attention he deserves?
For one, his statistical production has dropped the past two seasons. Hayward hasn’t popped on the stat sheet, because quarterbacks don’t throw in his direction due to the fear of a negative play.
When quarterbacks dare to pass in his direction, he’s making plays on the ball. Using his high football intelligence and instincts, he reads the eyes of the quarterback and goes off route concepts. Hayward reads formations better than any other player at his position.
Hayward has allowed only one catch over the last four games and has given up a reception on just 47.2% of his targets this season.
Hayward has proved that he deserves to be talked about as the current greatest cornerback, over the likes of the 49ers’ Richard Sherman, the Rams’ Jalen Ramsey, Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore and the Broncos’ Chris Harris Jr.
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