The NFL knows not to run crossing routes against Marcus Peters

Pro Football Focus recently reviewed NFL cornerbacks in 2016 and how they stacked up against different wide receiver routes. PFF said that Chiefs corner Marcus Peters was the best in the league at defending crossing routes.

Peters was targeted six times on crossing routes in 2016, allowing one catch for six yards. His one yard allowed per target was the lowest mark among all qualifying corners. He had a QB rating of 39.6, second-best in the league. His crossing routes were closer to drag routes than deep crosses, as his aDOT against was only 7.5 yards, with just two targets coming deeper than 10 yards (13 and 18 yards).

Defending crossing routes is nothing new for Peters. One of his early career highlights was this interception against the Vikings (a crossing route) that Andy Reid praised.

Peters, a First-Team All-Pro in 2016, is widely recognized for his ability to go make plays on the ball in the secondary. As the season progressed, we began to see more and more offenses avoid throwing to Peters’ side of the field as a nod of respect to his abilities.

A recent mock draft from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar slotted the Chiefs to pick cornerback Sidney Jones from Washington in the first round (Peters also went to Washington). Another cornerback could go a long way in helping the Chiefs solidify the secondary even with Terrance Mitchell’s solid play late last season.