There are no Shutdown Corners in the NFL Today

I’ve been arguing for a long time now that the NFL doesn’t have a shutdown corner anymore. And if there is such a thing anymore, that corner sure didn’t show up during the 2015 season. Former NFL running back and NFL Network commentator LaDainian Tomlinson agrees with me.

In March, the NFL Media analyst created a stir among some NFL cornerbacks by saying there is no shutdown corner today. That led Denver Broncos corner Chris Harris to go on the air at NFL Network to argue on behalf of the top corners, mentioning the ones that have Super Bowl rings.

Tomlinson went on to run off the completion percentage against numbers to prove himself right. Darrelle Revis is still the best in the NFL, giving up 42 percent while Josh Norman rounds out the top four corners with 49 percent of his targets resulting in completions.

Tomlinson then made reference to Revis’ prime five years ago, when he gave up only 35 percent of what went his way. Then Harris talked about the rule changes and how can’t touch receivers anymore. But that’s null and void because the rules are the same as they were five years ago.

You’re not a shutdown guy at 50 percent or near but Washington Redskins corner Josh Norman went on NFL Network and took exception to that, saying, “If you say there are no shutdown corners, well there’s no game-changing running backs today.

I was just with a guy named A.P., so I know he’s a game-changing running back, you ain’t got to tell me, man.”

Tomlinson’s point to Norman was that there are no corners in the top 10 of NFL Network’s top 100 Football Players. Norman didn’t believe that meant anything but Revis was there in 2010 and 2011 and Richard Sherman was there in 2014.

Tomlinson has a point!