What happened: Witherspoon's ranking follows an 89.9 overall grade across 720 snaps in 2025. Nixon enters 2026 after more than doubling his forced incompletion rate last season.
Why it matters: The evaluation strengthens Witherspoon's elite standing while his fifth-year option runs through 2027. Nixon's outside-corner versatility and work across multiple phases support his place in the top 32.
By the numbers: Witherspoon ranked first among 114 qualified cornerbacks in overall grade, second in coverage and run defense, and first with 10 pressures in 2025.
What to watch: Preseason deployment will show how often Witherspoon works from the slot and Nixon lines up outside.