NFL free agent rankings: Cornerbacks

Miami Dolphins v New York Jets — Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Take a look at the free agents at the cornerback position.

As many as seven cornerbacks could come off the board in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and this important position also has some very worthy starters available in free agency this offseason.

We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the available players.

We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.

Pending free agent cornerbacks heading into 2025

Receiving votes

Isaac Yiadom
Brandon Stephens
Mike Hilton
Jonathan Jones
Donte Jackson
Stephon Gilmore

7. Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions

Davis spent one season in Detroit following six in Tampa. He defended 11 passes and recorded two interceptions along with two fumble recoveries in 2024. He started 13 games and that might be the biggest ding on him; he’s never played a full season in his NFL career.

6. Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings

He was listed all the way up at three on one of our ballots, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. He is coming off a two-year, $17.5 million contract with Minnesota after four seasons with the Cardinals. He had six interceptions alongside 14 passes defended and 81 tackles this past season. At 27, the dude is going to get paid.

5. Rasul Douglas, Buffalo Bills

Douglas turns 30 right before the 2025 season and has spent 1.5 years on the Bills after being traded by Green Bay. He’s also spent time on the Panthers and Eagles, who drafted him in the third round in 2017. An aggressive player, he gets called for a lot of flags, but he also averages three interceptions per year. He’s a solid veteran option coming off a three-year, $21 million deal.

4. Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

A former second-round pick, Samuel hurt his shoulder in practice leading up to Week 1 and played through it for a month. Then he missed the rest of the season with the injury. When healthy, he’s had two interceptions, at least 11 passes defended, and 43+ tackles in each of his NFL seasons.

3. Paulson Adebo, New Orleans Saints

There was a huge jump between the top three and the rest of the pack. No one had Adebo outside their top three. He turns 26 this offseason, but only played seven games in 2024 after breaking his femur. The former third-round pick was having a nice season with three picks, 10 passes defended, and 52 tackles in those seven starts. With the injury, it could complicate his free agency interest, but he should be fully healthy.

2. D.J. Reed, New York Jets

Reed only received votes at the one or two spot from our folks as he looks for the potential fourth team of his career. He turned 28 during the 2024 season, so this is his chance to really cash in one more time following his three-year, $33 million contract he signed with the Jets. He started 14 games with 11 passes defended, one sack, and 52 tackles in 2024.

1. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

Ward squeaked into the top spot after receiving the most first-place votes just barely ahead of Reed. He turns 29 in May and made the Pro Bowl in 2023 after defending 23 passes. He only played 12 game in 2024, defending seven passes with 54 tackles. He’s coming off a massive three-year, $40 million contract.

Recently released cornerbacks

These cornerbacks were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.

Kendall Fuller

Fuller started 11 games for Miami in 2024 after signing a two-year deal with the Dolphins in 2024. In 2020, he signed a big deal with Washington. The Dolphins didn’t want to pay him $7 million in 2025, but he’s going to be a solid cornerback for someone if he can stay healthy.

Dane Jackson

Jackson was a spot starter for the Buffalo Bills for four seasons before signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2024. He was hampered by a hamstring injury and didn’t live up to the two years, $8.5 million he received a year ago.

Darius Slay

The six-time Pro Bowler has said he wants to play one more year at 34. He’s not as good as he was earlier in his career, but especially if you have a solid backup plan to account for injuries, he still has some gas left in the tank. The Eagles needed the cap space to extend their younger free agents.

Tre Tomlinson

Tomlinson is a former Jim Thorpe Award winner for the top defensive back in college football, but since being drafted by the Rams he’s dealt with some rough injury luck. He played 45 snaps in 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season. He’s auditioning for a roster spot in a camp.

Ronald Darby

Due $3.5 million in 2025, the Jaguars’ new regime didn’t want to keep him. He’s been the primary starter for six different teams over 10 seasons, but has only started 16 games once in his NFL career after dealing with a litany of injuries. He started 12 for the Jags in 2024. He is 31 and with his injury history, he fits the mold for a team looking for stability while a younger player gets acclimated to the pros.

Other free agent cornerbacks

Jeff Okudah
Shaquill Griffin
Tre’Davious White
Mike Hughes
Michael Davis
Kristian Fulton
Eric Stokes
Emmanuel Moseley
Jourdan Lewis
Marco Wilson
Tremon Smith
Isaiah Oliver
Corey Ballentine
Avonte Maddox
Adoree’ Jackson
Kris Boyd
Tavierre Thomas
Khalil Dorsey
~~C.J. Goodwin~~
Antonio Hamilton
Noah Igbinoghene
Kindle Vildor
Levi Wallace
Rock Ya-Sin
Benjamin St-Juste
Michael Jackson
Cameron Sutton
Fabian Moreau
Anthony Brown
~~Elijah Molden~~
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Ambry Thomas
Trayvon Mullen
Bryce Hall
Elijah Riley
Darnay Holmes
Michael Ford
Isaiah Rodgers
Harrison Hand
Tre Brown
Nate Hobbs
Brandin Echols
Israel Mukuamu
Theo Jackson (RFA)
Christian Matthew (RFA)
Darren Hall (RFA)
Josh Blackwell (RFA)
Kader Kohou (RFA)
Darrell Baker Jr. (RFA)

Free agent cornerbacks who were signed to new deals

Elijah Molden re-signed with the Los Angeles Chargers
C.J. Goodwin re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal

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