"The last time Washington had dependable cornerback play was 2020, in Ron Rivera's first season as head coach. The club had two steady veterans on the perimeter and a tough, undersized, second-year player in the slot. Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller were second and third-round draft picks, respectively. The slot, Jimmy Moreland, arrived in the final round of the 2019 draft."
"Darby left via free agency after the 2020 season, and Moreland was released in the final cuts of 2021. Rivera replaced them with free agents William Jackson III and Bobby McCain. On paper, this should have been an upgrade. But it was the beginning of a catastrophe. It is not as if Rivera and Dan Quinn have ignored the position. Since 2021, Washington has rostered four former first-round picks - Jackson, Marshon Lattimore, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and Noah Igbinoghene. Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos were second-rounders. Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste both heard their names called in the third. These were all primary options at different stages. Yet, despite a modest, and ultimately fleeting, uptick in 2024, the cornerback play has continued to plummet."
"Why was he so much more effective? For that matter, why was St-Juste thriving, albeit in a reserve role, for the Los Angeles Chargers? The answer goes by the name of Jared Verse. Or Tuli Tuipulotu. Or Odafe Oweh. Or Byron Young. You get the picture. The Rams and Chargers have both invested in pass-rushing edge players. The Rams have made it a significant priority, spending four picks in the first three rounds on edge rushers since 2023."
Washington produced reliable cornerback play in 2020 with veteran perimeter coverage and a productive slot defender. Departures, releases, and replacement signings coincided with a rapid decline in cornerback performance. Since 2021 the team accumulated several high-picked cornerbacks and mid-round prospects, yet those additions failed to restore consistent coverage. The core problem appears to be a lack of sustained investment in pass-rushing edge talent, which reduces pressure on opposing quarterbacks and exposes cornerbacks. Teams that prioritized edge rushers created better conditions for their cornerbacks to play effectively, improving overall defensive outcomes.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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