It’s officially rankings season, with outlets across the internet coming out with polls of the best players at each position. Ramsey was already ranked the best outside cornerback in the NFL by Touchdown Wire for the second year in a row, and ESPN’s latest poll confirmed that placement.
ESPN had NFL players, coaches, executives and scouts vote on the best cornerbacks in football and Ramsey once again earned the No. 1 spot. He came in ahead of Marshon Lattimore and Jaire Alexander, who were second and third, respectively, in the rankings.
As deserving as Ramsey is of his No. 1 ranking, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted that a few evaluators didn’t put him among the five best cornerbacks in the league. And one AFC executive even sees Ramsey as overrated.
“I think he’s falling off and a little overrated at this point,” an AFC exec said. “Super Bowl, to me, is an indication of what it’s going to look like moving forward.”
Ramsey didn’t have his best in the Super Bowl, getting beat for a long touchdown by Tee Higgins, but there was clear offensive pass interference on the play that wasn’t called. Ramsey also said he played half the season with two AC joint sprains in his shoulders, having one of them cleaned up this offseason.
And what are the chances that executive works for the Jaguars, who traded Ramsey to the Rams in 2019 for a package of picks that turned into K’Lavon Chaisson, Travis Etienne and Jordan Smith? Maybe there’s some regret about the trade.
Another NFL personnel director said Ramsey isn’t in the class of Darrelle Revis or Charles Woodson, but “he’s the best in this era” and “he does everything well.” A coach also said “he’s still the best right now,” highlighting his tackling and blitzing ability.
Put simply, there isn’t a cornerback in the NFL right now who can do everything Ramsey can, from playing man-to-man outside, matching up in the slot, blitzing off the edge and stopping the run. He’s been the best for years now and should continue to improve in Year 2 of being in Raheem Morris’ defense.
