2013 NFL Free Agents: Cornerbacks

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2013 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2013.
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Sam Shields (RFA), Packers. Age: 25.
Tendered by Packers (2nd round)

Sam Shields missed some time with a high ankle sprain but otherwise enjoyed a stellar 2012 campaign in which he became a legitimate shutdown cornerback. If he keeps this up, he’ll be rich come Spring 2014 – if not sooner.
Aqib Talib, CB, Patriots. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Patriots (1 year)

Aqib Talib has No. 1 cornerback potential, but happens to be a major head case. Any team that’s even thinking about bringing him in needs a strong locker room.
Keenan Lewis, CB, Steelers. Age: 27.
Signed with Saints (5 years, $26 million; $11 million guaranteed)

Keenan Lewis played very well in his first season as a starter in 2012, surrendering a solid 52.7 completion percentage and just three touchdowns.
Chris Gamble, CB, Panthers. Age: 30.
Announced retirement

Chris Gamble played in only four games this past season because of a shoulder injury, but he’s still a pretty solid cornerback. However, he’s 30 so his best days are behind him.
Sean Smith, CB, Dolphins. Age: 26.
Signed with Chiefs (3 years)

Sean Smith started off the year on a strong note, but wasn’t very good in the final couple of months. Still, he’s a solid starting corner who deserves a nice contract.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Eagles. Age: 27.
Signed with Broncos (1 year)

DRC stands for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. It can also be short for “doesn’t really care.” Rodgers-Cromartie is a very talented cornerback, but he’s not all there mentally. He’s still young, so maybe he’ll get it together, but teams pursuing him this offseason should be careful.
Chris Houston, CB, Lions. Age: 28.
Re-signed with Lions

Chris Houston was torched on national television against the Falcons, but he was very solid otherwise in 2012. He surrendered just one touchdown excluding the Atlanta game.
Leodis McKelvin, CB/KR, Bills. Age: 28.
Re-signed with Bills (4 years, $20 million)

Leodis McKelvin held his own at cornerback this season in four starts, but he was most useful on special teams where he was one of the top return specialists in the NFL.
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Redskins. Age: 29.
Re-signed with Redskins (1 year, $2.25 million)

DeAngelo Hall is a pretty overrated player. He’s viewed by many as a top corner because of his high interception totals, but his tendency to get torched frequently is overlooked. Hall is also often penalized. He does make plays though, so he’s a decent starter, but nothing more.
Antoine Winfield, CB, Vikings. Age: 36.
Signed with Seahawks (1 year)

Antoine Winfield has enjoyed a great career, but it’s quickly coming to an end. Turning 36 in June, Winfield was demoted out of full-time duties at the end of this past season even though he had been playing well. Winfield may still have one strong year left in the tank, but as we saw in the AFC divisional round with Champ Bailey, old corners could fall off without any warning.
Derek Cox, CB, Jaguars. Age: 26.
Signed with Chargers

Derek Cox would be ranked much higher if he were reliable. He’s a talented cornerback, but he’s missed 14 games in the past two seasons. The Jaguars have to be so frustrated with his inability to stay healthy.
Cary Williams, CB, Ravens. Age: 28.
Signed with Eagles

Cary Williams had some rough outings in 2012, but mostly played solidly at corner for the Ravens, holding down the fort after Lardarius Webb was lost for the year.
Brent Grimes, CB, Falcons. Age: 30.
Signed with Dolphins (1 year)

Brent Grimes would be ranked much higher if he weren’t coming off a torn Achilles’ tendon. He’ll be 30 in July, so it’ll be tough for him to bounce back.
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Eagles. Age: 32.
Signed with 49ers (1 year)

Aside from perhaps Darrelle Revis, Nnamdi Asomugha was viewed as the league’s best cornerback when he signed a 5-year, $60 million contract right after the lockout. He was just mediocre in 2011 and then downright awful this past season, so it was a no-brainer that Philadelphia cut him, given that he was owed $15 million in 2013. Ranking Asomugha is a bit of a challenge because there’s always a chance he could improve elsewhere. He won’t be in Raider form, but perhaps he can become a decent starter again. On the flip side, there have been reports that Asomugha lost his passion for the game. He’ll be 32 in July, so there’s a good chance we’ll never see the pre-Eagle Asomugha again.
E.J. Biggers, CB, Buccaneers. Age: 26.
Signed with Redskins

E.J. Biggers took over for a suspended Aqib Talib in Week 6 and played surprisingly well in coverage. He’s a liability in run support, however.
Dunta Robinson, CB, Falcons. Age: 31.
Signed with Chiefs (3 years)

Dunta Robinson was due $8 million in 2013, so there was little doubt that he would be cut. Robinson plays the run well, but has been torched in coverage the past two seasons.
Sheldon Brown, CB, Browns. Age: 34.
Sheldon Brown is coming off a great year, serving as a terrific starter across from Joe Haden. He also held his own when Haden was out of the lineup. Unfortunately, he turns 34 in March, so his best days are behind him.
Jerraud Powers, CB, Colts. Age: 26.
Signed with Cardinals

Jerraud Powers is young and has potential, but he’s inconsistent and injury-prone. He hasn’t played more than 12 games in any season.
Greg Toler, CB, Cardinals. Age: 28.
Signed with Colts

Greg Toler is a solid reserve cornerback who can start occasionally without killing a team. He played well at the end of the 2012 season.
Captain Munnerlyn, CB, Panthers. Age: 25.
Re-signed with Panthers

Captain Munnerlyn was benched early in the season, but eventually regained his starting job when Chris Gamble got hurt. He did an OK job.
Jacob Lacey, CB, Lions. Age: 26.
Jacob Lacey started slow this season, but excelled ever since he was moved into the nickel role.
Kyle Arrington, CB, Patriots. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Patriots (4 years)

Kyle Arrington is often the whipping boy for Patriot fans frustrated with their secondary, but I thought he played well this past season when acting as the nickel corner.
Pacman Jones, CB/KR, Bengals. Age: 30.
Re-signed with Bengals (3 years)

Pacman Jones played well in nickel situations, but will turn 30 at the end of September.
Terence Newman, CB, Bengals. Age: 34.
Re-signed with Bengals (2 years, $5 million)

Terence Newman was surprisingly pretty solid this past season after struggling in Dallas. Credit must be given to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who knows how to use Newman, but it was still shocking to see Newman do so well.
Quentin Jammer, CB, Chargers. Age: 34.
Signed with Broncos

Quentin Jammer had his moments early in the 2012 season, but really wore down during the stretch. His starting days could be over.
Antoine Cason, CB, Chargers. Age: 27.
Signed with Cardinals (1 year)

Antoine Cason was torched on a weekly basis this past season. The former first-round pick is still young enough to turn his career around, but time is running out.
Mike Jenkins, CB, Cowboys. Age: 28.
Signed with Raiders (1 year)

Mike Jenkins has talent, but he’s a head case who hasn’t put it together yet. Maybe some coach can salvage his career.
William Gay, CB, Cardinals. Age: 28.
Signed with Steelers

William Gay played well in 2011, but was torched consistently this past season. Gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that) is just 28, so he could turn his career around. The Cardinals had no choice but to cut him, however, given that he was due $3.2 million in 2013.
Joselio Hanson, CB, Raiders. Age: 32.
Re-signed with Raiders

Joselio Hanson was one of Philadelphia’s final cuts prior to the season. The Raiders snatched him up, and he actually played pretty well for them as their nickel corner.
Aaron Ross, CB, Jaguars. Age: 30. — Signed with Giants
William Middleton, CB, Jaguars. Age: 27.
Tracy Porter, CB, Broncos. Age: 27. — Signed with Raiders
Alan Ball, CB, Texans. Age: 28. — Signed with Jaguars
Darius Butler, CB, Colts. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Colts
Shawntae Spencer, CB, Raiders. Age: 31.
Bradley Fletcher, CB, Rams. Age: 27. — Signed with Eagles
Christopher Owens, CB, Falcons. Age: 26. — Signed with Browns
Cedric Griffin, CB, Redskins. Age: 30.
D.J. Moore, CB, Bears. Age: 26. — Signed with Panthers
Kelvin Hayden, CB, Bears. Age: 30. — Re-signed with Bears (1 year)
Marcus Trufant, CB, Seahawks. Age: 32. — Signed with Jaguars
Drayton Florence, CB, Lions. Age: 32. — Signed with Panthers (1 year)
Rashean Mathis, CB, Jaguars. Age: 33.
Terrence McGee, CB, Bills. Age: 32.
Brandon McDonald, CB, Buccaneers. Age: 28.
A.J. Jefferson (RFA), CB, Vikings. Age: 25. — Tendered by Vikings (original)
Brice McCain, CB, Texans. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Texans
Elbert Mack, CB, Saints. Age: 27.
Bryce McCann (RFA), CB, Dolphins. Age: 25.
Ryan Mouton, CB, Titans. Age: 26.
Marquice Cole, CB, Patriots. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Patriots
R.J. Stanford (RFA), CB, Dolphins. Age: 25. — Tendered by Dolphins
Cassius Vaughn (RFA), CB, Colts. Age: 25.
Michael Adams, CB, Cardinals. Age: 28.
Johnny Patrick (Waivers), CB, Saints. Age: 25. — Claimed by Chargers
Zackary Bowman, CB, Bears. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Bears
Stanford Routt, CB, Texans. Age: 30.
Chris Carr, CB, Chargers. Age: 30. — Signed with Saints
Jason Allen, CB, Bengals. Age: 30.
Will Allen, CB, Patriots. Age: 35.
Coye Francies (RFA), CB, Raiders. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Raiders
Pat Lee, CB, Lions. Age: 29.
Justin King, CB, Steelers. Age: 26.
Chris Johnson, CB, Ravens. Age: 33. — Re-signed with Ravens
Tramaine Brock (RFA), CB, 49ers. Age: 25. — Re-signed with 49ers
Nate Ness (RFA), CB, Panthers. Age: 26.
Justin Tryon, CB, Giants. Age: 29.
Michael Coe, CB, Cowboys. Age: 29.
D.J. Johnson, CB, Redskins. Age: 27.
Brian Witherspoon, CB, Giants. Age: 28.