The Next Gen Stats analytics team will showcase a unique Position Power Ranking every week of the 2023 NFL season, highlighting the best performers within a particular player group. For today, we have compiled a list of the top 10 slot defenders as we head into Week 11.
Before we proceed, it’s important to explain our methodology. In order to generate quantifiable rankings, we’ve designed a formula that produces a Next Gen Stats percentile score. This score gauges a player’s performance in comparison to his counterparts. The formula takes into account each player’s percentile score on various key metrics to produce a single composite score. This score signifies which players have outperformed others in their respective positions.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- The score for this week’s slot defender is a blend of a player’s output and effectiveness when positioned in the slot over the initial 10 weeks of the 2023 season. These rankings are drawn from a group of 46 slot defenders who spend a minimum of 50 percent of their game time in the slot, with a requirement of at least 50 slot snaps.
- For simplicity, slot overall scores are rounded to the nearest whole number. However, the rankings displayed below take into account the raw data up to the decimal point.
- Coverage Score: 94
- Pass Rush Score: 60
- Tackle Score: 92
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 91
Moore’s double pick-six performance in Week 9 against the Panthers, one of which came from a slot alignment, helped him land the No. 1 spot on this list.
The free-agent signee of 2017 is currently experiencing the best year of his career. He has achieved personal records in completion percentage over expected (-6.2%) and target EPA (-14.1%). Along with these records, his third-lowest number of receptions over expected when positioned as a slot corner (-3.2%) contributes to his top coverage score (94) on this list.
Playing slot corner isn’t just about pass defense; these guys are also tasked with assuming a crucial role in preventing big run plays to the outside. Moore’s top tackle score (92) on this list indicates he’s been incredibly effective at doing just that. In fact, Moore leads all defenders in run stop EPA (-5.5) from a slot alignment this season.
- Coverage Score: 78
- Pass Rush Score: 87
- Tackle Score: 84
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 84
Steve Spagnuolo is able to fully utilize the corner’s versatile skill set by positioning McDuffie in the slot during nickel and dime packages, and deploying the 2022 first-round pick on the outside in base defense.
McDuffie has performed exceptionally in coverage this season, with a -9.2 target EPA, even though he’s been the most targeted player on the Chiefs with 50 targets. However, Spagnuolo has utilized him even more effectively as a pass rusher by occasionally positioning him in the slot. The second-year professional has produced seven pressures from the slot this season, a figure that is tied for the highest in the NFL from that particular alignment. Five of these pressures occurred in less than 2.5 seconds, resulting in the highest pass rush score on this list at 87.
- Coverage Score: 86
- Pass Rush Score: 74
- Tackle Score: 75
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 83
Since joining the league as a fifth-round pick in 2021, this is the first time that Hobbs has permitted less completions (-5.2%) and receptions (-1.9%) than anticipated.
The pro in his third year appears to have settled in the slot, a position where the Raiders have been utilizing him much more this season (63.1%) compared to last year (14.7%). This boost in slot usage has led to the best performance of his career, with a decrease in completed passes over the expected (-3.2%) and received passes over the expected (-0.9%) when he is positioned there, contributing to his overall enhanced stats.
- Coverage Score: 76
- Pass Rush Score: 72
- Tackle Score: 81
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 80
The only rookie on this list, Branch hit the ground running in Week 1 when he intercepted a dropped Patrick Mahomes pass and took it to the house, hitting a top speed of 20.74 mph (the fourth-fastest top speed by a defensive ball carrier so far this season).
Branch, a professional safety, secured the nickel position in Detroit during training camp. Since then, he has played as a slot corner in 74.4% of his defensive snaps. His coverage skills have been outstanding, yielding the second-lowest target EPA (-7.8) among rookies when positioned in the slot, despite being the second most targeted player (with 30 targets) in that group.
Branch’s experience in the safety position has clearly demonstrated his ability to stop runs. When positioned as a slot corner, he leads all rookie defenders with a run stop EPA of -2.5.
- Coverage Score: 77
- Pass Rush Score: 83
- Tackle Score: 74
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 80
Last season, Gordon topped all Bears defensive backs in playtime, participating in 79.4% of defensive snaps. His role has expanded this season, with his slot snap rate rising from 43.9% to 73.6%. The Washington second-year professional has risen to the challenge, allowing just 5.0 yards per target on slot targets, ranking him fifth among all defenders (with a minimum of 15 slot targets).
However, similar to Trent McDuffie, Gordon also poses a significant threat as a pass rusher. His five pressures rank second among all defenders from a slot alignment and are tied for third among all cornerbacks. This has resulted in him having the second-highest pass rush score (83) on this list.
- Coverage Score: 73
- Pass Rush Score: 61
- Tackle Score: 89
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 79
Despite committing a disastrous pass interference in this past Monday night’s crushing loss to Denver, Johnson has been the most consistent cog in a banged-up Bills secondary that has underperformed all season. That DPI call did put the Broncos in position to win the game, but the rest of the night was another example of Johnson performing at a high level, as he allowed just two receptions for 9 yards on four targets.
The sixth-year veteran is the only Buffalo cornerback outside of the injured Tre’Davious White with a negative target EPA (-4.4) this season. It’s a far cry from his league-leading -12.1 receptions over expected in 2021, but he’s also been a force in the run game. Johnson’s 89 tackle score is the second-highest on this list, aided by his second-most run tackles (25) and run stops (15) among cornerbacks through Week 10.
- Coverage Score: 82
- Pass Rush Score: 24
- Tackle Score: 88
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 77
McMillian has been a surprise name to emerge from a Denver secondary that includes established stars Pat Surtain II and Justin Simmons.
In 2022, McMillian, who was undrafted, has primarily served as a slot corner in this season, taking up 83.8% of defensive snaps. He has led all defenders with a -15.1 percent CPOE from this position (with a minimum of 15 slot targets). Additionally, he has conceded 3.3 fewer receptions than anticipated, marking the second-best performance from a slot alignment.
McMillian’s talent for disrupting the passing game is enhanced by his robust ability to halt runs. His -3.5 run stop EPA ranks as the third highest among all defenders in a slot alignment for this season.
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- Coverage Score: 83
- Pass Rush Score: 36
- Tackle Score: 72
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 74
Since 2017, which was Hilton’s second year in the league, the erstwhile undrafted free-agent signee has positioned himself as a slot corner in over 65% of his defensive snaps. While Hilton’s metrics haven’t been consistently impressive after his shift from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati before the 2021 season, things seem to be improving for the veteran in 2023. This season is the first time Hilton has permitted fewer receptions (-1.4) than anticipated since he became a part of Cincinnati’s secondary, and the first time he’s had a negative EPA (-2.2) when targeted as a slot corner over the same period.
Hilton has also made significant contributions in stopping the run and is ranked fifth in run stop EPA (-4.1) among all defenders from a slot alignment in 2023.
- Coverage Score: 86
- Pass Rush Score: 60
- Tackle Score: 56
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 74
At age 30, Maulet is the oldest player on this list and has significantly contributed to Baltimore’s defensive success this season with his excellent performance in the slot.
In 2023, Maulet has been positioned in the slot for 85.7 percent of his defensive snaps. From this alignment, he has conceded the third-lowest completion percentage (57.1%) with a minimum of 15 slot targets. The ex-Steeler has also achieved a -9.1 target EPA this season, which ranks as the fourth-best score among all cornerbacks in slot alignment.
- Coverage Score: 80
- Pass Rush Score: 42
- Tackle Score: 71
- SLOT OVERALL SCORE: 73
A sixth-rounder in his sophomore season, Lake rounds out the list at No. 10. He barely qualified, playing just over 50 percent of his defensive snaps as a slot corner, but he has stood out when in the role, forcing the highest tight-window rate (53.3%) from the alignment (min. 15 slot targets). (The next-closest defender is Tennessee’s Roger McCreary, whose tight-window rate from the slot is 31.6%.)
Between Lake, Kyren Williams, Byron Young, and Puka Nacua, among others, the Rams continue to find steady contributors far beyond Round 1.
HONORABLE MENTION:
- Michael Carter, New York Jets
- Roger McCreary, Tennessee Titans
- Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints
— Mike Band, Keegan Abdoo and John Andersen contributed to this story.
