4. J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots
If you’re a cynic when reading Jackson’s preposterous charting stats for the 2019 season, you might insist that Jackson is a man-dominant quarterback, he’s not challenged by No. 1 receivers because he’s got Stephon Gilmore in his secondary, and when a safety like Devin McCourty in his back third, he’s got the cushion to take chances that most cornerbacks don’t. Then, you turn on the tape and you realize that most teams have more than one “No. 1 receiver,” and that Jackson wouldn’t be on the field as much as he is in Bill Belichick’s defense if he wasn’t legit. Which he certainly is.
In this Week 14 interception of a Patrick Mahomes pass, watch how Jackson (at the bottom of the screen) delays his drop on the crossing route, giving the NFL’s best quarterback a false sense of security before dropping the hammer.
So, how preposterous were those charting stats? Last season, Jackson allowed 31 receptions on 65 targets for 328 yards, 146 yards after the catch, one touchdown, five interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 35.9 — by far the best among cornerbacks with at least 50 targets (Richard Sherman finished second at 45.3). Jackson is No. 4 on our list only because he’s not his team’s top cornerback, but he’d be CB1 on most teams. The tape and the stats make that abundantly clear.