The Los Angeles Rams had some big-name cornerbacks suit up for them in 2019, beginning with Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Both players were traded midseason, with Peters going on to become a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro.
The Rams replaced Peters with Jalen Ramsey, whom they acquired in a trade with the Jaguars. He also made the Pro Bowl, but his numbers weren’t eye-popping in Los Angeles.
Two players who got overlooked in all the shuffling were Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill. They each had strong 2019 seasons despite not making the Pro Bowl or receiving any post-season recognition. Yet, they finished the year as not only the Rams’ two best cornerbacks, but two of the 20 best in the NFL.
Robey-Coleman ended the season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 19-ranked cornerback in the league, with Hill close behind at No. 20. Robey-Coleman allowed a passer rating of just 80.1 when targeted (13th in NFL) and ranked sixth in yards per slot coverage snap (0.63), putting together one of his best seasons.
Nickell Robey-Coleman continues to solidify himself as one of the league’s best slot cornerbacks. He accelerates with quick closing speed after showing patience in press man-to-man coverage, and he is good enough to stick with receivers at the top of their routes.
As for Hill, he took over for Talib after the veteran landed on injured reserve, starting every game from Week 6 to Week 15; he missed the final two games due to injury. PFF recognized his play opposite Ramsey, seeing a healthy share of targets each week, but still holding up well and answering the bell.
As an undrafted player in 2015, Troy Hill landed in Wade Phillips’ defense and become one of the top-performing corners in the league. Hill has allowed the fewest receptions (23) of any cornerback with a minimum of 300 coverage snaps, and he is one of only three qualifying corners to surrender a completion percentage under 50.0% after he allowed only 45.1% of his targets to be caught during the regular season. Hill was moved into a starting role after the Rams moved on from Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, but he has rewarded the move by developing into a primetime presence in the Rams’ promising secondary.
Hill and Ramsey figure to be back as the starters at cornerback in 2020, while Robey-Coleman’s future has yet to be determined. The Rams can pick up his option for $4.5 million in 2020, which would seem like an obvious decision – especially after seeing how well he played this season.
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