Generally speaking, what's the more valuable position to play? CB or S?

[Direckshun]

I ask because I've been watching more and more film of the 2022 Chiefs season, and the Chiefs went very heavy on zone for much of the season, especially as the defense had clicked into gear about halfway through. And the defense that famous slowed the Chiefs down for much of the season was a two-high zone defense as well.

If playing a zone is becoming more prominent, and relying on lockdown boundary corners is less prominent... does it stand to reason that safety is more valuable than corner?

I know this is scheme dependent, in schemes like the Tampa 2 or Spags', safety is clearly a position that is asked to do more and corners are generally asked to do less.

But can we apply this rule leaguewide? That the future of the league's secondaries are going to lean hard on safeties as opposed to corners?

[KCrockaholic]

I think a high end versatile safety that can be used in the box or single high is more valuable than a lockdown corner.

[htismaqe]

The Chiefs also run a ton of nickel and dime. I think the emphasis is actually on interchangeable pieces, rather than individual players. Studs at S or CB are both expensive, CB probably more so, but I think it's more important to be good across the board and be able to mix things up than to sit back in base defense.

Look at the teams that ran two high against us and what do they have? Respectable CB's and two safeties that can play both FS and SS.

[louie aguiar]

a true lockdown corner is more valuable than a safety. good corners can often be transitioned to safety but not the other way around. Sneed is a good example of a corner that has the skill-set to make a pretty good safety.

[O.city]

Both

[O.city]

Todays nfl plying defense is more about having capable guys everywhere

You can’t hide holes anymore. 11-14 good solid players is the preference for the season

Now in a one game setting you need guys that can take over but it’s hard to do on defense

[Gary Cooper]

Elite safety. They can play in coverage or at the LOS. Also, they're more likely to be leaders on the field. I can't think of any corners who were captains of a defense.

An elite corner can still be negated by throwing away from them. Especially in today's league where teams spread five receivers.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by O.city

Todays nfl plying defense is more about having capable guys everywhere

You can’t hide holes anymore. 11-14 good solid players is the preference for the season

Now in a one game setting you need guys that can take over but it’s hard to do on defense

Yep.

[Rain Man]

Corners are more valuable in my opinion. A good corner frees up a safety. A good safety doesn't free up a corner.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Corners are more valuable in my opinion. A good corner frees up a safety. A good safety doesn't free up a corner.

Actually, a good safety can cover TE's and slot WR's as well as play nickel LB.

A good corner is nice and all but a good offense can scheme around them. Whereas a good, versatile safety is something his own defense can scheme around.

[louie aguiar]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Corners are more valuable in my opinion. A good corner frees up a safety. A good safety doesn't free up a corner.

Yep, NFL teams value corners more. I believe the franchise tag for corners is over 40% more than for safeties.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by louie aguiar

Yep, NFL teams value corners more. I believe the franchise tag for corners is over 40% more than for safeties.

Salary isn't always the best indicator of "value" though.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by JudasRising20

Elite safety. They can play in coverage or at the LOS. Also, they're more likely to be leaders on the field. I can't think of any corners who were captains of a defense.

An elite corner can still be negated by throwing away from them. Especially in today's league where teams spread five receivers.

Swing and a miss.

I'm taking a true shut down corner every single time. It says a lot when you can just look at an opponents #1 WR and know they are ****ed for all 4 quarters.

This team woulda curbstomped the Bengals twice if they were locking down chase with a single defender.

[Ming the Merciless]

generally speaking CB has historically had higher value.


This can be seen in draft picks & salary...for example I think Eric Berry was the 1st safety ever chosen 5th overall... where there have been multiple top 5 CB's like Charles Woodson, Patrick Peterson, Terrance Newman, Shawn Springs.


Too lazy to find salary info , but this should bear out that a typical premier CB gets more than a S but im not 100% on that

[Gary Cooper]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Swing and a miss.

I'm taking a true shut down corner every single time. It says a lot when you can just look at an opponents #1 WR and know they are ****ed for all 4 quarters.

This team woulda curbstomped the Bengals twice if they were locking down chase with a single defender.

Unless they have weapons at other positions, which most good offenses do.

For example, the Rams would have used Ramsey to take away Hill. But we still have Kelce. Imagine if we had a better #2 WR also. The offense doesn't care which weapon has the big game.

Also, corners tend to be divas. Just like receivers. They're typically the more selfish defensive players in the league.