Table of Contents

• #10
• #9
• #8
• #7
• #6
• #5
• #4
• #3
• #2
• #1 – Best Cornerback Duo in the NFL
• Honorable Mentions
• FAQ – Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL
• Conclusion – Top NFL CB Duos Ranked (2025)

Benford and Johnson sneak into the top 10 for 2025 thanks to smart play and strong positional fit.

#10 – Christian Benford & Taron Johnson (Buffalo Bills)

Benford just keeps climbing. A sixth-round pick who wasn’t even supposed to start, he’s now the Bills’ top outside corner and looked the part in 2024 — physical, smart, and rarely out of position. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, and Buffalo trusts him to handle big-time matchups.

Taron Johnson might be the most underappreciated slot corner in football. He hits like a safety, disrupts timing routes, and forced more fumbles than most linebackers last year. In a secondary full of turnover, Johnson’s been the glue guy.

Benford holds it down outside. Johnson locks it up inside. Quietly, this duo gives Buffalo one of the most versatile and consistent CB pairings in the AFC.

Veteran Slay teams up with rising star Porter Jr. to give Pittsburgh a dangerous cornerback pairing.

#9 – Darius Slay & Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Darius Slay might’ve lost a step, but he hasn’t lost the edge. He still plays with confidence, instincts, and the kind of veteran savvy that makes QBs second-guess throws. He’s not traveling with WR1s every snap anymore, but he can still win reps in man or zone.

Joey Porter Jr. is the riser here. He shadowed top receivers as a rookie and held his own — especially late in the year. His physicality at the line pops on film, and he’s starting to put the whole picture together. The instincts are catching up to the tools.

Slay’s the mentor. Porter’s the muscle. 

Jaylon Johnson and Stevenson are rising up the rankings, landing at #8 among the NFL’s best CB duos in 2025.

#8 – Jaylon Johnson & Tyrique Stevenson (Chicago Bears)

Jaylon Johnson finally got the respect he deserves. He locked up WR1s all year, made the All-Pro team, and allowed the lowest passer rating in football when targeted. His technique is airtight, and he’s playing with swagger that matches his production.

Tyrique Stevenson is still growing — but he’s already physical, aggressive, and fearless. He took some lumps, but he also showed flashes of being a legit press-man corner with long-term upside.

If they tighten the back-end communication, Chicago might quietly have one of the best young corner duos in the NFC.

Surtain and Moss form Denver’s top-tier CB duo, ranked #7 among the Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL today.

#7 – Pat Surtain II & Riley Moss (Denver Broncos)

Pat Surtain still carries that CB1 aura — silky footwork, elite anticipation, and the size to match up with any WR1 in football. Even when the Broncos’ defense fell apart, Surtain stayed consistent. Teams just didn’t test him.

Riley Moss is the X-factor here. He’s fast, and physical but still a lot to learn.

Surtain is the superstar. Moss is the wild card. If Moss can hold his own across from Surtain, this duo has the potential to jump way up this list by midseason.

Baltimore’s cornerback pairing of Humphrey and Wiggins ranks #6 among the NFL’s best heading into 2025.

#6 – Marlon Humphrey & Nate Wiggins (Baltimore Ravens)

Marlon Humphrey hasn’t been at full strength in a while, but when healthy, he’s still one of the most physical and versatile corners in football. He thrives in the slot, excels in man, and brings veteran swagger to a tough Ravens defense.

Nate Wiggins is the burner. He’s raw, but the traits are special — and Baltimore’s defense is known for accelerating DB development.

Humphrey brings the pedigree. Wiggins brings the wheels. If Wiggins adjusts quickly to the NFL grind, this pairing could become a nightmare to throw against by the second half of the season.

The Eagles may have struck gold with Mitchell and DeJean, who form the top-ranked young CB duo in the league.

#5 – Quinyon Mitchell & Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles)

The Eagles needed to get younger in the secondary — and they nailed both picks. Quinyon Mitchell is a technician with speed and instincts, and earned his CB1 duties as a rookie. 

Cooper DeJean was the most versatile DB in his draft class. He can play outside, in the slot, or even at safety, and will get a chance to take on more of a role with the departure of Slay.

They’re both dogs. If the Eagles let these two grow together, this could quietly become one of the league’s top secondaries within a year or two.

The Cowboys duo of Diggs and Bland ranks #4 among the Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL thanks to elite takeaway production.

#4 – Trevon Diggs & DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys)

Trevon Diggs is still the alpha when healthy. His ball skills are elite, and he brings a gambling style that can swing momentum in one play. The problem are the injuries and he struggled last season.

Daron Bland experienced a similar trend as Diggs. After an elite season he came back to life struggling with injuries last season.

Both of these players can be top 10 cornerbacks in the NFL, but they need to stay healthy.

Gonzalez and Davis crack the top 3 among the Best CB Duos in the NFL today, with Gonzalez emerging as a future star.

#3 – Christian Gonzalez & Carlton Davis (New England Patriots)

Christian Gonzalez was locking up WR1s and playing with the kind of patience and recovery speed that screamed future star. While injuries have set him back, the talent is clearly there.

Carlton Davis brings the veteran presence. He’s physical at the line, thrives in press-man, and gives New England a battle-tested corner who’s been in deep playoff runs. He’s not flashy, but he rarely gets bullied.

Gonzalez is the rising shutdown. Davis is the reliable muscle. Together, they give the Patriots one of the most versatile, high-ceiling duos in the league — if Gonzalez stays healthy.

Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen come in at #2 among the Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL entering the 2025 season.

#2 – Devon Witherspoon & Riq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks)

Devon Witherspoon brings pure chaos — in a good way. He hits like a safety, blitzes like a linebacker, and has the instincts of a ballhawk. He was everywhere for Seattle last season and quickly became the heartbeat of their secondary.

Riq Woolen is the lanky track star who turns the sideline into a no-fly zone. His length and recovery speed make him a nightmare in deep coverage. He just needs to stay healthy so he can tackle more reliably. 

Witherspoon is the disruptor. Woolen is the eraser. It’s a rare combo of fire and finesse that gives Seattle one of the most unpredictable secondaries in football.

Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter headline our list of the Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL heading into 2025.

#1 – Derek Stingley Jr. & Kamari Lassiter (Houston Texans)

Derek Stingley Jr. finally looked like the guy Houston drafted at No. 3 overall. When healthy, he shadowed WR1s and made it look easy — his ball skills, burst, and body control are elite. He has proven to be a superstar.

Kamari Lassiter doesn’t have Stingley’s resume yet, but don’t sleep. He had a tremendous rookie season, and looks to become one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL going into his sophomore year.

Stingley is the alpha. Lassiter is  climbing fast. They are the best Cornerback duo in the NFL today.

Honorable Mentions

Michael Carter & Sauce Gardner – New York Jets 

Terrion Arnold & D.J. Reed – Detroit Lions

A.J. Terrell Jr. & Mike Hughes – Atlanta Falcons

Jaylon Jones & Charvarius Ward – Indianapolis Colts

Mike Jackson & Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers

FAQ – Best Cornerback Duos in the NFL

Who has the best cornerback duo in the NFL right now?
The Houston Texans take the crown heading into 2025. Derek Stingley Jr. finally broke out as a true lockdown CB, and Kamari Lassiter looks like the real deal already. This pairing has elite upside — and they’re just getting started.

What makes a great NFL cornerback duo?
Balance. The best CB duos in the NFL usually feature one elite cover guy and a physical or instinctual complement. You want two starters who can survive on an island, communicate well, and adapt to different WR types. If they can rotate seamlessly in zone and dominate in man? That’s top-tier.

Why are cornerback duos more important than ever in today’s NFL?
Passing volume keeps going up. With more 3-WR sets and elite quarterback play across the league, it’s not enough to have one good corner anymore. Teams that can roll out two legit CB1s — or close to it — have a real edge when it matters most, especially in January.

Conclusion – Top NFL CB Duos Ranked (2025)

From young rising stars to battle-tested vets, the NFL is stacked with cornerback pairings that can flip a game with one mistake from a QB. The best cornerback duos in the NFL today bring a mix of swagger, instincts, and versatility that offenses have to account for every single snap.

Teams like Houston and Seattle are building their entire identity around these secondaries. Others, like Dallas and Baltimore, are hoping young blood injects new life into formerly elite units. And then you have wildcards — sophomores stepping into CB1 roles, vets bouncing back, and new duos clicking faster than expected.

As the 2025 season rolls on, don’t be surprised if this list shifts. Injuries, schemes, and breakout seasons can shuffle the deck fast in a pass-first league. But for now, these are the duos that set the standard.