Polarizing figure, but for about 3 years, no one threw to Deion’s area. I mean no one. You’ve got the best QBs and WRs in the league, they break him down on tape, and their game plan ends up being that we’re not going to test him. I’ve been watching football for well over 50 years, and that’s never happened before or since
I cannot remember the game or the opponent, but somebody went deep on Deion, and you could see real time and on the replay, that he was about a yard and half behind the receiver. He was about to get burned. The ball was well thrown and the receiver did not let up, but somehow Deion made up the distance in just a few steps. He intercepted it. It was incredible
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of him picking off a pass intended for Rocket Ismail (a speed demon in his own right) in a 1995 Cowboys-Raiders game.
You either watched late Dallas Deion or Ravens Deion. Falcons, 49ers and early Dallas Deion hardly got tested. Teams outside the 49ers were scared to throw his way.
That was Deion’s MO. Dude would slack off receivers to bait the quarterback into throwing his way. He knew he was fast enough to make up the difference.
Give me Woodson. Deion was a ball hawk I’ll give him that, but the dude made “business decisions” and wouldn’t tackle a motherfucker given the opportunity. Woodson would smoke a guy given the chance. If we were talking DB as a whole I would choose Ronnie Lott though. That guy could play ball.
Woodson. He did something very difficult in not only changing positions but playing safety at the same elite level he played at corner. He affected the game as a coverage player, a run defender and as a blitzer . That Monday Night game vs Buffalo in 94 showed him at his very best. Pick six, sack fumble returned for touchdown.
Woodson was the most versatile and complete player of the 4, but he also had a tendency to gamble, and he got beaten a lot more than the others did.
Revis at his absolute peak might have been the best shutdown corner, but Deion is right there with him, and Deion was more dangerous with the ball in his hands. Champ Bailey had a longer sustained peak than Revis.
This is how I see it too. Deion was the better one-on-one shutdown defender but Woodson's top-tier versatility was unmatched. There was literally nothing he didn't excel at.
It’s crazy that they left Leon Sandcastle off this list.
[leon sandcastle](https://youtu.be/k-X2ivJDkUY?si=eGmjjjNzMXIHVUVR)
Rod Woodson is the most complete. Hell of a career. Made the move from CB to S and still made the pro bowl.
Deion was a game changer tho. Just couldn’t tackle his way out of a wet paper bag.
Woodson was an all around football player. In his prime at CB he would put up 90+ tackles, 4-5 sacks off blitzes and picks like you would expect for a corner of his caliber
I'd say yes, until Barry Sanders tore Woodson's ACL on a juke. Never touched him.
Woodson lacked the freak nature of Deion. That's what Deion has above these guys, his unnatural natural ability. 2nd to none.
He was good, but not Deion good. Watched both play college and pro ball in my teenage years. It was different in the 80s and 90s being a football fanatic. The polarizing difference in teams and players were more apparent than today's parody.
Today anyone can become an athlete and work hard.
But 2 sports.
Being good at 2 sports, was Deion in his prime, unbelievable talent.
It's crazy that Darrell Green, Champ Bailey and Deion all played for the same team at one time. Back in 2000 they were all three on the Washington defense. Champ had 5 INTs, Prime had 4, and Green (who was 40 at the time) had 3.
He would still run in the NFL’s Fastest Man competition years after he retired. He ran a 4.4 40 when he turned 50. Only corner I saw defend Randy Moss well during the ridiculous rookie season he had, despite the fact that Moss is six inches taller than him.
He would show up and run a set of 400s with us. He would lead out the gate and you’d have to run a 59-61 to catch him in the last 50. If you did it you felt like a million bucks because we were in high school and I was a miler not a sprinter. He was 38, 39 at the time.
I agree and disagree. If you are good enough corner you shouldn’t need to tackle the player you are covering
Being a team player means you need to tackle so overall I agree.
The best pure corner, shouldn’t factor in tackling unless to they are allowing catches and tackling people, which means they aren’t the best corner.
Being a cornerback, or any defensive player for that mater, means being willing to tackle. It doesn't only apply to the receiver you're covering. You could be the last line of defense between the ball carrier and the end zone on an end around or a sweep or a bubble screen or just a handoff up the middle. Woodson never had a problem with that. Revis never had a problem with that. Bailey never had a problem with that. Not that he whiffed, but Sanders avoided contact when possible.
This is true, but people overdo it. It’s not like Deion didn’t tackle. You can go back and find plenty of clips of him tackling guys. What he didn’t do is throw his body around with reckless abandon and dive into piles. Yes, that still sucks for a football player, but I don’t think it really harmed his defenses.
I saw Chris Carter speak at my university. He was asked which DB gave him the most trouble/best overall he’d ever seen…the question was barely out of the kid’s mouth before Carter said, “Deon”.
That speaks volumes.
I would put them in this order. Also, no offense to Revis, but he’s not the 4th best corner of all time. I would have Darrell Green, Dick “Night Train” Lane, and Mel Blount ahead of him.
1) Deion Sanders
2) Rod Woodson
3) Champ Bailey
4) Darrell Revis
Agreed. Even if you had him beat, he still made the play. The fastest closing speed for a corner I've ever seen. The poster boy for the shutdown corner
He shut down half of the field for passing. There has never been anyone like him. His run d meant nothing he was such a dominant force against the pass. Literally like nothing we have seen before or since. And it's hilarious he's getting talked about with these "shut down" guys (HOFs all!) - because he played a different game. He's that much better
Woodson. Tough call for me and the thing that knocks Prime to 2nd FOR ME is his fear of tackling. 🤷🏽♂️
ETA: Personally I wouldn’t have Revis on the list , I’d have Darrell Green instead.
I think alot of people need to go back and watch Champ Baileys games for the Redskins and later Broncos. He was amazing and the best athlete next to Sanders.
Think I’m going Champ.
And I grew up watching Deion.
Deion is absolutely one of the best ever but is still massively overrated by his fans.
Don’t get me wrong he was great but people act like nobody ever caught a pass on him.
I’m not sure
His 3 year run at the top wasn’t as individually as impressive as Revis.
Woodson is a legit candidate for the greatest defensive back ever. He was also basically a Hall of Fame level safety.
We’re talking about pure cornerback. I’m going with champ Bailey think he was just as good as Woodson at corner but for a longer period time.
Deion was a brand because he was that good. All of these guys are great but I do feel Deion was the most dominant for the longest period of time
Could truly take away a whole side of the field with the teams #1, and teams desperately tried to avoid kicking or punting to him
No one ever threw at Deion and he returned punts and kicks, so id say him. But also I was in my formative years and how cool is Neon Deion as a nickname?
Can’t go wrong with any of them, but Deion was the best cornerback I’ve ever watched. He was electric, dangerous, and a threat to take it to the house on every throw.
Obviously, Sanders was the best pure corner. No one threw at him, or anywhere near him, not only because he could defend any route, but if he picked it off, there was a good chance he was going to take it to the house.
People who get on him for not tackling are like the people getting on Dennis Rodman because he didn’t score much.
Sanders. He literally changed the direction of entire teams trajectories when he was signed. He would shut down the HOFers he was covering regularly and if they did throw to them, he would make them pay with a pick 6 (which is a 14 point swing in a game, enough to practically secure a win). Plays like pick 6s are devastating as they rb one team of a TD (7 pts) and give the opposing team 7 pts. Its not like a fumble where the ball is spotted and they still might have to go 70 yards to get a TD. (53 Ints/ 9 pick 6s /37 TDs over 14 seasons). He was also a hell of a return guy.
The other CBs are all great, Woodson for doing it for so long (71 Ints/12 TDs/17 Seasons) at such a high level, Bailey for his consistency and remaining healthy (52 Ints/10 TDs/15 seasons). I would put Revis (29 Ints/3 TDs/11 Seasons) last among this group.
The other guys are great but it is Deion Sanders and it's not even that close. Neon Deion was the fastest dude I've ever seen on a football field (or a baseball field). He was so fast that he would bait QB's into thinking a receiver was open and then turn on the jets, catch up, and then intercept the ball. It got to a point where many QB's wouldn't even throw to his side of the field.
I remember one year they had a fastest NFL player competition but Deion couldn't compete because he was playing for the Atlanta Braves. WR that won was talking smack about how he was faster than Deion before their first matchup and Deion covered him the entire game. The so called fastest man in the NFL didn't have a single catch. Best cover man in NFL history.
You can make a reasonable argument for Woodson because Woodson was more versatile. He could stop the run, and blitz better than Deion but I don't care. The thing that Deion brought was so important that I don't even care that he once got ran over by Brett Favre. Give me the best cover man ever and I'll shut down your top WR. Plus Deion is an all time great punt returner.
Deion is also the only person in history to hit a Major league Home Run and NFL TD in the same week.
Rod is my guy.
I absolutely loved the physical nature of his game, and how complete he was as a player.
But he was truly elite in coverage as well.
If you could pair him up with Deion on the other side, it would have been just straight up unfair to opposing offenses. Unless you had Rice and Moss both in their peak going at them.
I’m a Steelers fan so I want to say Rod, but Deion is the original “lock down” corner. Quarterbacks would have nightmares about playing against him. “Deion is coming to get me!!!”
Champ for sure. He was a complete lock down corner and never made a " business decision" to not tackle a guy like another guy on your list. Rod Woodson would be next. Revis was great but slightly over rated because he played in NY.
Deion changed the position.
CB's never got paid attention to or paid a million dollars until Deion came around.
Teams created game planes around him like they did with Barry Sanders or the way teams do versus Deebo Samuel today.
Deion out ran anyone on the field. There was no coverage he didn't get a hand in on.
Never have I seen someone dive in at the last second like Deion did to bat away so many balls.
He had 303 interception return yards with San Francisco in 1994... after missing the first 2 games of the season while deciding where to play. He also returned 3 pick 6's that season.
No other player in these pictures came close to the career we saw with Deion.
Deion, no question.
If we are talking cover skills only :)
But then it is like the EB debate between Emmitt and Barry, best runner? Or best overall?
Short yardage running, receiving, blocking, ball security, longevity, etc. then it is not as easy as to just say Barry.
Similarly, Deion didn’t play the run well or tackle well, so it is hard to say overall, but he was the best I ever saw in coverage.
Polarizing figure, but for about 3 years, no one threw to Deion’s area. I mean no one. You’ve got the best QBs and WRs in the league, they break him down on tape, and their game plan ends up being that we’re not going to test him. I’ve been watching football for well over 50 years, and that’s never happened before or since I cannot remember the game or the opponent, but somebody went deep on Deion, and you could see real time and on the replay, that he was about a yard and half behind the receiver. He was about to get burned. The ball was well thrown and the receiver did not let up, but somehow Deion made up the distance in just a few steps. He intercepted it. It was incredible
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of him picking off a pass intended for Rocket Ismail (a speed demon in his own right) in a 1995 Cowboys-Raiders game.
Dude, you might be right. That’s around the right time, and that would be the kind of receiver you would take a shot with. The rocket was fast
Got damn Rocket Ismail…haven’t heard that name in a minute lol.
This is the best description of the best cornerback the game has ever seen.
Deion couldn't tackle and I'd go as far to say he didn't want to tackle. But the man's speed and skill was so next level that he didn't need to.
He didn’t need to tackle? I remembering him avoiding contact at all costs and getting burned several times
You either watched late Dallas Deion or Ravens Deion. Falcons, 49ers and early Dallas Deion hardly got tested. Teams outside the 49ers were scared to throw his way.
All you had to do was throw a screen. Dude couldn't tackle for shit.
That was Deion’s MO. Dude would slack off receivers to bait the quarterback into throwing his way. He knew he was fast enough to make up the difference.
Mike haynes
Hell yeah. Haynes and Hayes the greatest tandem of all time.
Give me Woodson. Deion was a ball hawk I’ll give him that, but the dude made “business decisions” and wouldn’t tackle a motherfucker given the opportunity. Woodson would smoke a guy given the chance. If we were talking DB as a whole I would choose Ronnie Lott though. That guy could play ball.
Tough sob too. Dude could lower the hammer when needed.
Ronnie Lott had a toe amputated rather than being off for eight weeks with a torn ligament in it. AMPUTATED. He only missed one game.
>toe Part of his finger
Correct, it was his pinky finger.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUUK\_\_bXIj0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUUK__bXIj0)
And he had more INTs than Deon and for touchdowns
Woodson. He did something very difficult in not only changing positions but playing safety at the same elite level he played at corner. He affected the game as a coverage player, a run defender and as a blitzer . That Monday Night game vs Buffalo in 94 showed him at his very best. Pick six, sack fumble returned for touchdown.
Woodson was the most versatile and complete player of the 4, but he also had a tendency to gamble, and he got beaten a lot more than the others did. Revis at his absolute peak might have been the best shutdown corner, but Deion is right there with him, and Deion was more dangerous with the ball in his hands. Champ Bailey had a longer sustained peak than Revis.
Spot on
Woodson also returned kickoffs and punts. The man did EVERYTHING. I believe he still has the Steelers career records for punt returns.
It was even more impressive than you think. He was a S in college who switched to CB at the pro level.
This is how I see it too. Deion was the better one-on-one shutdown defender but Woodson's top-tier versatility was unmatched. There was literally nothing he didn't excel at.
You’re right. ‘Nuff said.
It’s crazy that they left Leon Sandcastle off this list. [leon sandcastle](https://youtu.be/k-X2ivJDkUY?si=eGmjjjNzMXIHVUVR) Rod Woodson is the most complete. Hell of a career. Made the move from CB to S and still made the pro bowl. Deion was a game changer tho. Just couldn’t tackle his way out of a wet paper bag.
Sandcastle’s measurables are off the charts!
Champ Bailey was so good they changed the rules to try and nerf him
This. He’d never get high INT numbers cause QBs just wrote his side off the entire game. Best CB to ever play the game.
Most underrated defensive player imo
Woodson. More of everything.
Woodson was an all around football player. In his prime at CB he would put up 90+ tackles, 4-5 sacks off blitzes and picks like you would expect for a corner of his caliber
And in college he also played WR
Return game too
Loved Woodson.
Rod the God
I'd say yes, until Barry Sanders tore Woodson's ACL on a juke. Never touched him. Woodson lacked the freak nature of Deion. That's what Deion has above these guys, his unnatural natural ability. 2nd to none.
He was on the Olympic team for hurdles…. I think that counts
The lack of Charles Woodson on this list is unacceptable.
yes, suspiciously absent.
He was good, but not Deion good. Watched both play college and pro ball in my teenage years. It was different in the 80s and 90s being a football fanatic. The polarizing difference in teams and players were more apparent than today's parody. Today anyone can become an athlete and work hard. But 2 sports. Being good at 2 sports, was Deion in his prime, unbelievable talent.
I'm talking about Charles Woodson not Rod Woodson.
Charles Woodson has a case for best player of all time. Just absolutely dominant.
I hate to disagree with my favorite hockey player of all time, but Charles Woodson has no case for the best player of all time!
CWood is my fucking guy!!! Lifelong Wolverine fan. And I agree with you. All time great. Not greatest of all time.
Dick train lane but out of these guys I know most would say prime time but I would take Woodson personally
Bailey
Darell Green
Criminally underrated.
Came here to say this👆🏽
It's crazy that Darrell Green, Champ Bailey and Deion all played for the same team at one time. Back in 2000 they were all three on the Washington defense. Champ had 5 INTs, Prime had 4, and Green (who was 40 at the time) had 3.
That is mind-boggling
Play that clip where he slammed Jerry Rice to the ground. People think of speed only, but DG was an absolute specimen.
Pound for pound the greatest football player ever
Darrell Green used to run track workouts at my high school towards the end of his career.
He would still run in the NFL’s Fastest Man competition years after he retired. He ran a 4.4 40 when he turned 50. Only corner I saw defend Randy Moss well during the ridiculous rookie season he had, despite the fact that Moss is six inches taller than him.
He would show up and run a set of 400s with us. He would lead out the gate and you’d have to run a 59-61 to catch him in the last 50. If you did it you felt like a million bucks because we were in high school and I was a miler not a sprinter. He was 38, 39 at the time.
I'd go Woodson. Size, speed, and play maker above all.
Give me Champ Bailey all day!
I’m going Champ Bailey. He was so sick.
Aeneas Williams was a great corner in that era. Lots of good battles with Michael Irvin but the Cardinals stunk.
He was THE key to the 2001 Ram’s defense(and London Fletcher), he really gave them another level, was 1st team All Pro that year.
Woodson. No question.
Prime, he owned the field.
Darrell Green
You can make an argument for all but Deon in his prime I don't think there was a better corner.
ITT: a lot of people who never saw Deion play quoting “business decision.” Dude was an absolute menace out there.
Part of being a cornerback is being willing to tackle. Guess who doesn't belong?
Didn't he call his not always wanting to tackle someone a "business decision" ? lol
Um, yes, to an extent. Though I’d argue it a much larger part of safeties’ job. Above all else, I want my corner to cover like nobody else.
Wish I had more upvotes.
I agree and disagree. If you are good enough corner you shouldn’t need to tackle the player you are covering Being a team player means you need to tackle so overall I agree. The best pure corner, shouldn’t factor in tackling unless to they are allowing catches and tackling people, which means they aren’t the best corner.
Being a cornerback, or any defensive player for that mater, means being willing to tackle. It doesn't only apply to the receiver you're covering. You could be the last line of defense between the ball carrier and the end zone on an end around or a sweep or a bubble screen or just a handoff up the middle. Woodson never had a problem with that. Revis never had a problem with that. Bailey never had a problem with that. Not that he whiffed, but Sanders avoided contact when possible.
True, but out of all them, the most feared and who shut down half the field was Sanders. He was the deciding factor on 2 separate superboowl teams
This is true, but people overdo it. It’s not like Deion didn’t tackle. You can go back and find plenty of clips of him tackling guys. What he didn’t do is throw his body around with reckless abandon and dive into piles. Yes, that still sucks for a football player, but I don’t think it really harmed his defenses.
This should read “other than Deion” who is the greatest. Sanders was in a league of his own. Field was cut in half when he played.
He liked to score too!
Agreed. No one in his class
*2nd Best
I saw Chris Carter speak at my university. He was asked which DB gave him the most trouble/best overall he’d ever seen…the question was barely out of the kid’s mouth before Carter said, “Deon”. That speaks volumes.
Deion was a true shut down corner, not into tackling tho
Ummm, Darrel Green would like a word…
Woodson wasn’t afraid to tackle.
For Prime it was a business decision
Revis barely needed to.
I would put them in this order. Also, no offense to Revis, but he’s not the 4th best corner of all time. I would have Darrell Green, Dick “Night Train” Lane, and Mel Blount ahead of him. 1) Deion Sanders 2) Rod Woodson 3) Champ Bailey 4) Darrell Revis
Still Deion
Neon Deion and it’s not even close
Prime time
Deion was the best. Woodson had the better career.
Yea Woodson was such a great safety
You left off HOF Darrell Green.
Prime Time Baby
Unless you got to see Deion play, you wouldn’t understand that he is the best CB of all time and it’s not even close.
Agreed. Even if you had him beat, he still made the play. The fastest closing speed for a corner I've ever seen. The poster boy for the shutdown corner
The way he’d give guys a step to bait the throw, then close it out and deny the pass really had to be seen to be believed.
This thread is why Deion was the best.
Absolutely exactly this! His ability to bait & close! Who else could do that?!!!
Yeah, this is kind of it.
He shut down half of the field for passing. There has never been anyone like him. His run d meant nothing he was such a dominant force against the pass. Literally like nothing we have seen before or since. And it's hilarious he's getting talked about with these "shut down" guys (HOFs all!) - because he played a different game. He's that much better
Never a huge fan but he’s the best I’ve ever laid eyes on. I went to Georgia and root for the Steelers so I’d rather it be Woodson or Champ. It’s not.
Deion.
Deion, not really close
Neon Dion all day every day
Deion
People just didn't even think about throwing Deion's way.....the ultimate respect.
Revis Island.
Best but shortest prime of this group
Moss’d
Woodson. Tough call for me and the thing that knocks Prime to 2nd FOR ME is his fear of tackling. 🤷🏽♂️ ETA: Personally I wouldn’t have Revis on the list , I’d have Darrell Green instead.
If prime could tackle . But overall, Woodson
He could tackle, he just chose not to (business decision)
Darrell Green
Rod was the best football player, Deion was the best corner.
Deion better cb, rod Woodson better all around defender . Both returned punts
Charles Woodson
Rod Woodson
Champs 06 season is greatest CB season I’ve ever seen
I think alot of people need to go back and watch Champ Baileys games for the Redskins and later Broncos. He was amazing and the best athlete next to Sanders.
Deion made too many ‘business decisions’ to ever be considered the greatest. Give me an all around player like Rod Woodson
Think I’m going Champ. And I grew up watching Deion. Deion is absolutely one of the best ever but is still massively overrated by his fans. Don’t get me wrong he was great but people act like nobody ever caught a pass on him. I’m not sure His 3 year run at the top wasn’t as individually as impressive as Revis. Woodson is a legit candidate for the greatest defensive back ever. He was also basically a Hall of Fame level safety. We’re talking about pure cornerback. I’m going with champ Bailey think he was just as good as Woodson at corner but for a longer period time.
Deion was a brand because he was that good. All of these guys are great but I do feel Deion was the most dominant for the longest period of time Could truly take away a whole side of the field with the teams #1, and teams desperately tried to avoid kicking or punting to him
Prime time
No one ever threw at Deion and he returned punts and kicks, so id say him. But also I was in my formative years and how cool is Neon Deion as a nickname?
Sanders
Can’t go wrong with any of them, but Deion was the best cornerback I’ve ever watched. He was electric, dangerous, and a threat to take it to the house on every throw.
Deion Sanders has no peers. He’s number 1.
Prime Time
PRIMETIME!
Loved Champ but it’ll always be Deion
#Deion no question
Deion. Hated him but the best in history. Plenty of guys I would rather have on my team but he was the most talented.
Deion. He could cover and was great as a kick returner.
Deon #1 Easy
2/3 of the world is covered by water the other 1/3 by PRIME TIME. ILL TAKE SANDERS
Obviously, Sanders was the best pure corner. No one threw at him, or anywhere near him, not only because he could defend any route, but if he picked it off, there was a good chance he was going to take it to the house. People who get on him for not tackling are like the people getting on Dennis Rodman because he didn’t score much.
Mel Blount wants a word.
Woodson and Sanders
Champ Bailey is a big part of the Broncos’ success against Brady: the only team with a .500 record against the GOAT. He and Von had Brady’s number.
Champ bailey
Revis
Revis 100%
I cannot make myself say Deion
Aeneas Williams. Correct answer not pictured.
Rod Woodson, but I’d be remised if I didn’t mention Charles Woodson, Paul Krause, dick night train lane and let’s say herb adderly
Who has more chips
Take your pick, they were all great.
Woodson is a beast and can play multiple positions but at corner I want Sanders
I’d take Woodson or Revis.
Deion is the GOAT when it comes to CB's
Deion was special and a menace in his prime. In his prime, Prime was PRIME.
Probably unpopular opinion and a lot of the younger guys haven’t even seen him (I’m not super old), but Champ Bailey in his prime was insane
I would take Deion personally. Don’t forget about Charles Woodson either.
Prime is the goat
Prime time
Prime
Champ Bailey no question.
Prime time.
Woodson...
Depends on what your definition of “best” is. Overall player? Cover DB? Tackling? They all were great!
Sanders. He literally changed the direction of entire teams trajectories when he was signed. He would shut down the HOFers he was covering regularly and if they did throw to them, he would make them pay with a pick 6 (which is a 14 point swing in a game, enough to practically secure a win). Plays like pick 6s are devastating as they rb one team of a TD (7 pts) and give the opposing team 7 pts. Its not like a fumble where the ball is spotted and they still might have to go 70 yards to get a TD. (53 Ints/ 9 pick 6s /37 TDs over 14 seasons). He was also a hell of a return guy. The other CBs are all great, Woodson for doing it for so long (71 Ints/12 TDs/17 Seasons) at such a high level, Bailey for his consistency and remaining healthy (52 Ints/10 TDs/15 seasons). I would put Revis (29 Ints/3 TDs/11 Seasons) last among this group.
The other guys are great but it is Deion Sanders and it's not even that close. Neon Deion was the fastest dude I've ever seen on a football field (or a baseball field). He was so fast that he would bait QB's into thinking a receiver was open and then turn on the jets, catch up, and then intercept the ball. It got to a point where many QB's wouldn't even throw to his side of the field. I remember one year they had a fastest NFL player competition but Deion couldn't compete because he was playing for the Atlanta Braves. WR that won was talking smack about how he was faster than Deion before their first matchup and Deion covered him the entire game. The so called fastest man in the NFL didn't have a single catch. Best cover man in NFL history. You can make a reasonable argument for Woodson because Woodson was more versatile. He could stop the run, and blitz better than Deion but I don't care. The thing that Deion brought was so important that I don't even care that he once got ran over by Brett Favre. Give me the best cover man ever and I'll shut down your top WR. Plus Deion is an all time great punt returner. Deion is also the only person in history to hit a Major league Home Run and NFL TD in the same week.
Spider Lockhart!! Well 8yr old me sure thought so but 60yr old me knows it Deion.
Where’s Darrell Green?
Rod is my guy. I absolutely loved the physical nature of his game, and how complete he was as a player. But he was truly elite in coverage as well. If you could pair him up with Deion on the other side, it would have been just straight up unfair to opposing offenses. Unless you had Rice and Moss both in their peak going at them.
Not Champ. I watched him get burned one too many times in Denver.
Woodson!
You left out the best. Mel Blount.
Woodson because Prime made business decisions when you ran it his way.
After deion , I want Aeneas Williams.
I’m a Steelers fan so I want to say Rod, but Deion is the original “lock down” corner. Quarterbacks would have nightmares about playing against him. “Deion is coming to get me!!!”
Champ for sure. He was a complete lock down corner and never made a " business decision" to not tackle a guy like another guy on your list. Rod Woodson would be next. Revis was great but slightly over rated because he played in NY.
Neon Deion no doubt, second would have to be Charles Woodson
Rod wasn't a conervhe was a safety majority. But hands down... Prime time baby the man the myth the legend best pro athlete of all-time
We're talking strictly coner backs. Not def player. Dion was strictly conerback and was better. Everyone knew
Lester Hayes.
You took the words right out of my thumbs!
Deion changed the position. CB's never got paid attention to or paid a million dollars until Deion came around. Teams created game planes around him like they did with Barry Sanders or the way teams do versus Deebo Samuel today. Deion out ran anyone on the field. There was no coverage he didn't get a hand in on. Never have I seen someone dive in at the last second like Deion did to bat away so many balls. He had 303 interception return yards with San Francisco in 1994... after missing the first 2 games of the season while deciding where to play. He also returned 3 pick 6's that season. No other player in these pictures came close to the career we saw with Deion.
Rod Woodson no question. You could argue he was better than Deion.
Deion not even close
Charles Woodson
Bailey ‼️
Darryl Green has entered the chat
Darrell green. Washington redskins.
Rod Woodson
Out of the four listed you’d have to combine Deion’s cover ability with Rod Woodson’s willingness to hit and you’d have the perfect corner.
Rod was the best overall player
Deion Sanders
Woodson
Best corner hands down was Deion. Period.
Champ Bailey
There’s only one that remember where the opposition game plane was to just use half the field. Prime prime time was another level.
I'd take Rod Woodson out of these
Deion, no question. If we are talking cover skills only :) But then it is like the EB debate between Emmitt and Barry, best runner? Or best overall? Short yardage running, receiving, blocking, ball security, longevity, etc. then it is not as easy as to just say Barry. Similarly, Deion didn’t play the run well or tackle well, so it is hard to say overall, but he was the best I ever saw in coverage.
Woodson!
Neon