AFC North 2024 roster rankings: Cornerbacks

With training camp approaching and most rosters around the league set, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate all four teams in the AFC North — the only division where everyone finished with a winning record above .500 in 2023.

Up next in this multi-part article series ranking each individual position group are the cornerbacks.

1.) Baltimore Ravens

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Depth chart: Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Arthur Maulet, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion Williams, Trayvon Mullen, Christian Matthew, Tre Swilling and Ka’dar Hollman

The reigning AFC North champions boast the deepest cornerback group not just in the division but arguably the entire league. They added gifted rookies Nate Wiggins and T.J. Tampa in the 2024 NFL Draft to an already strong group. Their tandem of three-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey and 2023 breakout stud Brandon Stephens was already in contention for one of the best in the NFL. Now, they are four deep on the outside with multiple players in the defensive backfield capable of starting in the slot.

Humphrey is coming off an injury-riddled season but is poised to bounce back and prove he’s still one of the best corners in the league. Fellow veteran Arthur Maulet had a career year in his first season with the team and earned a two-year extension. He recorded 37 total tackles including five for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and an interception.

Stephens found his home at the NFL level by establishing himself as one of the better up-and-coming perimeter corners in the league last season. He previously played free safety as a third-round rookie in 2021 and multiple other spots as needed in 2022, before primarily playing corner down the stretch. In 2023, he recorded 74 total tackles including two for a loss, his first two career interceptions and a career-high 11 pass breakups.

Behind them will be a tight competition for the final one or two spots on the depth chart between a pair of 2022 fourth-rounders, two veterans and a handful of undrafted free agents. Williams and Armour-Davis have struggled with injuries during their first two seasons in the league. Mullen is the most experienced of the bunch with 31 career starts in 46 games and Hollman has primarily been a special teams player during his career thus far.

2.) Cleveland Browns

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Depth chart: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson Jr., Cameron Mitchell, Justin Hardee Sr., Vincent Gray, DyShawn Gales, Kahlef Hailassie, Tony Brown II and Myles Harden

The Browns have the second-best collection of corners in the division highlighted by the duo of Ward, who is a three-time Pro Bowler and Newsome II, who is one of the best slot corners in the league when healthy.

Emerson rounds out their starting trio and has played well during his first two years in the league after being a third-round pick in 2022. Last season, he started 12 of 16 games and recorded a career-high four interceptions with 14 pass breakups. His opposing passer rating allowed in single coverage of 30.8 was the fourth-best mark in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

Mitchell saw action in 13 games as a rookie last year, made his first three career starts and recorded 18 total tackles including one for loss, two pass breakups and a sack. After him is a collection of veterans, former undrafted free agents and a pair of rookies in Harden, who was taken in the seventh round, and Gales who went undrafted.

Hardee Sr. is a converted wide receiver who made a career for himself as a special teams ace before making the switch full-time last season with the Jets. Both Hailassie and Brown II have been primary special teams players in their respective careers as well and will be competing to fill similar roles with the Browns in 2024.

3.) Pittsburgh Steelers

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Depth chart: Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Anthony Averett, Cameron Sutton, Cory Trice Jr., Kalon Barnes, Darius Rush, Thomas Graham Jr., Josiah Scott, Grayland Arnold and Beanie Bishop Jr.

The Steelers don’t have a Pro Bowl cornerback on their roster but they just might have one in the making with Porter. The second-year pro and franchise legacy had a very strong rookie season. He went toe-to-toe and at times more than held his own against some of the best receivers in the league. He appeared in all 17 games, made 11 starts and finished with 43 total tackles including one for a loss, 10 pass breakups and one interception. He earned five votes for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

In the trade that sent Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, they netted veteran corner Donte Jackson — who is projected to start opposite Porter. He has 14 career interceptions and recorded at least two picks in his first five seasons in the league prior to last year.

Averett and Sutton are making their returns to the division after short stints away and will provide quality depth when healthy and available. The two of them were briefly teammates last season when Averett spent just over a month on the practice squad of the Detroit Lions. Sutton began his career in the Steel City but his return to regular season action will be delayed by eight games. He was given a suspension stemming from a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy this offseason.

Trice Jr. missed his entire rookie season with injury and Rush only appeared in three games as a rookie. The remaining cornerbacks on the depth chart are vying for roles as primary special teams contributors or for spots on the practice squad.

4.) Cincinnati Bengals

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Depth chart: Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, DJ Ivey, Lance Robinson, Josh Newton, Allan George and Jalen Davis

The Bengals have no former or prospective Pro Bowlers, barring a surprise breakout from one of their young corners who have otherwise disappointed to date. Their top cornerback is former Steeler Mike Hilton, who is still viewed as one of the better nickels in the league. Next is Taylor-Britt, who is their top outside cornerback when healthy.

Despite missing five games due to injury, Taylor-Britt still managed to put up career-highs nearly across the board in his second season. In 12 games, he logged 50 total tackles including one for a loss, a forced fumble, 11 pass breakups and four interceptions — one of which he returned for his first career touchdown.

The jury is still out on Turner II after a rough rookie season. Hill has still yet to find a home and is moving back to corner where he will backup Hilton in the slot. He played free safety last year but Cincinnati poached Geno Stone from the Ravens in free agency to take over that spot.

Ivey appeared in eight games as a rookie after being a seventh-round pick last year and recorded three tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. George was an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent all last season on the practice squad. Davis was a core special teams contributor last year, Newton is a rookie who was drafted in the fifth round, and Robinson is an undrafted rookie this year.