Even a decade ago, your average slot defender was just that — average. A smaller guy without the speed to take outside receivers up the post routes and down the sideline. But as NFL offenses have defaulted to three- and four-receiver sets, the nickel and dime defender has not only become a de facto starter, but also as important as any other defensive back on the field.

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft

Jul 25, 2020 For slot receivers, it was 11.63. So, over time and based on the play design and the makeup of the receivers, teams could find just that many more yards by throwing to their slot targets. The best slot receivers in the game bring unique and highly valuable traits to the game, and here are the best among them.

Jul 28, 2020 The PFF unit-ranking series moves to the secondary as we look forward to the 2020 season. Depth is key when projecting the secondary in today's NFL, as the best teams are rolling three or four deep at cornerback now that the nickel is a starting position. Safeties are also taking on a more prominent role in many schemes, doubling as linebacke. 2020 NFL Cornerback Rankings 1. Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots Not satisfied with becoming the best man coverage cornerback in the NFL in 2019, Gilmore was also one of the best slot.

Imagine you’re a slot cornerback in today’s NFL. One week, you have to deal with Minnesota’s Adam Thielen and his array of precise routes — not to mention his ability to streak downfield for a huge play if you make any hint of a mistake. The next week, you’re up against the Eagles’ Zach Ertz, getting bodied out by a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end in devilish route combinations. The next week, you may have to face Antonio Brown in a week when his coaches decide to make him a primary slot receiver. Good luck with that.

But hey, at least Rob Gronkowski retired, so that’s one slot nightmare out of the way.

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Nfl

The point is, slot defenders are tested in new and vicious ways in the modern league, and their skill sets to defend speed, option routes and increased uses of receiver space are unique. Most great outside cornerbacks want to stay outside for those exact reasons. As Richard Sherman once told me, the boundary is your friend, and if you have open space on both sides of your coverage, it isn’t a lot of fun.

Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Nfl

So, here are the best slot defenders in the business coming into the 2019 season, and what makes each one of them special.

Losing Bryce Callahan to the Broncos in free agency was a blow for Chicago’s defense, but it would have been far worse had McManis not established himself as an estimable slot cornerback in his own right. The 31-year-old veteran doesn’t have top-end speed, but he understands defensive spacing and placement — he’s one of those guys who always seems to be around the ball. In 2018, McManis allowed just 12 receptions on 22 slot targets for 80 yards, 42 yards after the catch, no touchdowns and an opponent passer rating of 62.7. You want to see a larger sample size of targets before moving him up this list, but 2018 was a step in the right direction.