Charles Krupa/Associated Press
CB1: Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots (2 votes)
In today’s pass-happy NFL, good cornerbacks are worth their weight in gold. They are also very well compensated for those efforts.
However, as Sobleski pointed out, the $13 million annually the New England Patriots invested in Stephon Gilmore before the 2017 season looks like a relative bargain after the 28-year-old put up an All-Pro-caliber effort in 2018.
“The Patriots certainly got what they paid for when the organization gave Gilmore a five-year, $65 million contract before last season,” Sobleski said. “Offenses learned to avoid his coverage. When targeted, the Patriots’ top corner defended 20 passes, which trailed the Chicago Bears’ Kyle Fuller by one for the league lead.”
And Gilmore’s not lacking for confidence. As Henry McKenna reported for Patriots Wire, Gilmore didn’t say he was the best at his position in the NFL.
But he didn’t say he wasn’t, either.
“I don’t like to talk about myself. You know that. So film don’t lie. I’ll let other people say that,” Gilmore said.
Others receiving votes: Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys (1 vote)
CB2: Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears (2 votes)
Last offseason, the Bears matched the four-year, $56 million offer sheet that Kyle Fuller signed with the Green Bay Packers—a deal that sent a few eyebrows up around the NFL.
Just as with Gilmore, it appears to have been money well spent.
All Fuller did in his fourth active NFL season (after spending the 2016 campaign on injured reserve) was lead the NFL in both passes defensed (21) and interceptions (seven), fortifying the secondary for one of the league’s top defenses.
“The interceptions are great,” Davenport said, “but that can be a fluky stat that varies wildly from one season to the next. However, 2018 was the second season in a row that Fuller topped 20 passes defensed, which speaks to his propensity for making timely plays on the ball in coverage.
Per JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago, Fuller’s play hasn’t gone unnoticed around the NFL.
“A great player, he’s got great situational understanding, great ball skills to be able to finish and somebody that has certainly made a lot of plays,” Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I got a lot of respect for him.”
It wasn’t unnoticed here, either.
Others receiving votes: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)
SCB: Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers (3 votes)
The slot cornerback position is more important than ever in today’s NFL. And in 2018, no one played that spot better than Desmond King of the Los Angeles Chargers.
As Michael Renner reported for PFF, King shined in coverage all season long. His 22 coverage stops were tops among all corners, and only 22 of his 78 targets resulted in first downs.
King wasn’t shy about getting dirty in run support, topping 60 total tackles. With three interceptions and a forced fumble, he showed a good nose for the football. He was also one of the better return men in the game, although here that’s more happy bonus than qualification.
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