As the NFL season approaches, I?m looking at the rising stars in each position. Rather than focusing on rookies (which I?ve already done) or rehashing familiar stories about veterans and established stars, I?m turning my attention to players for whom 2013 might be their best season ever.
Here are 6 cornerbacks to watch out for this season:
Brandon Boykin (Philadelphia Eagles)
It?s hard to imagine a more versatile cornerback than Boykin. While he doesn?t rack up the tackling stats that some others do, he?s indispensable on special teams as a kickoff returner. His ability to switch back and forth between these two roles, and to contribute consistently in both, is a rare gift. Because he relies on quickness and not on bulk, he?ll improve dramatically as he masters the rhythms of the NFL. If he?s allowed to take some chances this year, in his second pro season, he?ll shine.
Ron Brooks (Buffalo Bills)
Brooks is the longest long shot on my list, and he?s here for one main reason. In a single game against Jacksonville last year ? a game in which the then-rookie didn?t start ? he recorded ten tackles and three blocked passes, many of them while enduring an mid-game injury. One amazing game doesn?t make a star, but Brooks has other things going for him, especially the fact that he played quarterback in high school, which has given him an instinct for where passes and receivers are going to travel. If the Bills give him the opportunity to develop, he could have a breakout season.
Nolan Carroll (Miami Dolphins)
Carroll is most familiar as the guy who got intentionally tripped on the sidelines by a Jets coach, but it?s time to start recognizing him as one of the quickest-thinking cornerbacks in the NFL. While he?s not as hard of a hitter as others in the position, his speed and his ability to read an offense help him take opponents by surprise. The Dolphins promoted him to a starting role last season, and he excelled so much that they?ll almost certainly keep him there.
Janoris Jenkins (St. Louis Rams)
It?s hard to believe this is only Jenkins?s second season in the NFL, because he already talks and plays like a veteran. He?s stepped up as a leader on the Rams? defense, mentoring rookies and admirably setting aside past struggles with the law. As cornerbacks go, he?s the perfect package: he?s a reliable tackler and a showstopping pass defender. This season, it?s unlikely he?ll score two touchdowns in the same game like he did against Arizona, but he?ll probably bring a more well-rounded game and contribute more to the Rams in between highlight reel appearances.
Captain Munnerlyn (Carolina Panthers)
A short, swift fireplug of a player, Munnerlyn returned from injuries to own the left cornerback position for the Panthers last season. He?s benefited hugely from the consistency of four seasons in Carolina. He might get lost on another team, but the Panthers recognize his talent for defending passes. He scored two spectacular touchdowns off of interceptions last season. It?s such a delight to see him pick off a pass and run, and we?ll likely get to watch him do it a few times this year.
Sean Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)
Smith is one of the many reasons why the Chiefs are shaping up to become one of the most formidable teams in the NFL this year. When Kansas City lured him away from Miami with a sweet contract, the wisdom looked questionable, but I think Smith is a better fit for the Chiefs than the Dolphins. He?s a big, athletic player, the kind who can knock an unsuspecting wide receiver down with his little finger. And what some people call inconsistency, I see as the potential for making huge plays, especially on a team where his body type and catching ability are unique among cornerbacks.
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You can contact Sarah Rasher on Twitter?@pas_dechat
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