Most Under-appreciated CB in the NFL?

[Patler]

He may be the most under-appreciated cornerback for this season, and maybe for most of his career. This season, so far, he:

- ranks 14th of 113 cornerbacks graded by PFF
- has grades of 74.5 overall and 73.9 in coverage(10th)
- has allowed 20 completions on 35 passes thrown into his coverage, for 183 yards and 1 TD for a passer rating of 81.0

For this, he is being paid less than $1.6M (yes, the decimal point is after the "1", not the "6")

He has performed this way most of his 9-year career yet has earned less than $27M in total. He has missed only a few games in his career.

He may be the most under-appreciated CB this season and for much of his career.

He is Rasul Douglas.

[bobblehead]

Someone on this forum was outright pissed when we traded him for a song. I can't recall who it might have been.

Edit: Come to think of it another poster in this thread defended the trade at the time.

To top it all off a certain all pro CBs attitude went to shit right after Rasul left. I'm guessing the good habits and legendary film study and leadership of Rasul left with him.

[Patler]

I think the poster who defended the trade would still defend it today, based on the circumstances at the time of the trade. Nevertheless, he has always acknowledged that based on how the last half of that season played out it would have been better if the trade had not been made.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[bobblehead]

I think the poster who defended the trade would still defend it today, based on the circumstances at the time of the trade. Nevertheless, he has always acknowledged that based on how the last half of that season played out it would have been better if the trade had not been made.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

True. I try not to live in hindsight because then I'd have to acknowledge my failings as well. I like to boldly predict the future with confidence and then forget it if it doesn't pan out. I hated the trade at the time. I hate it now. And I hate that we didn't trade Jaire when he had value left. I really hate that Gutes has largely ignored the CB room and still they don't want to use Valentine despite him being our best CB since he arrived.

[Joemailman]

You win some. You lose some. Sometimes with the same player. The Packers got him for nothing and probably let him go too early (although he was not having a good year in 2023 when they let him go). Was great with Buffalo in 2023, but terrible with Buffalo in 2024. Now having a good year with Miami. Very up and down player.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'm not the one you're talking about, but I did think they shouldn't have traded him away, especially so cheap. That being said, though, I've seen a couple of games Douglas played with other teams where he didn't look all that great. I have very little faith in PFF and whatever other analyticals have to say. Quite often it goes blatantly against what observation shows.

[sharpe1027]

He's having a good year! I dunno about second guessing the trade. It made sense at the time. He wasn't playing great at the time for the Packers. It might have been the change in team (scheme, coaching, and motivation from being traded) that turned it around a bit for him. Even so, he was never elite by any means.

[Patler]

Then there is this from an NFL scout, in an article by Pete Daugherty discussing the Packers outlook for getting a CB via trade:

“But when you look at the bad teams, who’s really selling? Miami would sell, but they have the worst corner group in the league.

Douglas is in Miami, isn't he?

[pbmax]

There has to be a reason teams continue to let him go and those rankings probably don't reflect team views of him given his salary. He is likely priced well and overall plays like a 1.6 mil vet minimum player. He probably grades higher in certain types of coverage making him a liability under certain circumstances. For the life of me I don't remember if all his interceptions came in off-coverage or man.

Since the Packer's default is to play a cover three with CBs bailing to deeper routes, he's only going to be in man a certain amount of the time while in a zone on early downs. It is an interesting thought having him there for his specialty.

But given they now have a Bullard/Hobbs conundrum at slot corner, I'm not sure they want another part-time spare part even at half of $1.6 mil.

[bobblehead]

You win some. You lose some. Sometimes with the same player. The Packers got him for nothing and probably let him go too early (although he was not having a good year in 2023 when they let him go). Was great with Buffalo in 2023, but terrible with Buffalo in 2024. Now having a good year with Miami. Very up and down player.

He absolutely was having a good year when we traded him. I documented all his rankings at the time when I was throwing a tantrum. It probably cost us a legit shot at an Owl.

[bobblehead]

There has to be a reason teams continue to let him go and those rankings probably don't reflect team views of him given his salary. He is likely priced well and overall plays like a 1.6 mil vet minimum player. He probably grades higher in certain types of coverage making him a liability under certain circumstances. For the life of me I don't remember if all his interceptions came in off-coverage or man.

Since the Packer's default is to play a cover three with CBs bailing to deeper routes, he's only going to be in man a certain amount of the time while in a zone on early downs. It is an interesting thought having him there for his specialty.

But given they now have a Bullard/Hobbs conundrum at slot corner, I'm not sure they want another part-time spare part even at half of $1.6 mil.

My old memory remembers a lot of his interception in the end zone after we allowed teams to have a shot to beat us with a final drive. And Douglas played primarily outside CB for us. Not sure where he is lining up now.

[pbmax]

These kinds of situations, when it doesn't involve injury, always remind me of Wisconsin Badger punter Kevin Stemke. He was money for the Badgers but wasn't drafted. Badger fans loved him. Local media liked him.

When he got to the Packers as a UDFA, he struggled. Didn't look at all like the same guy. Mike Lucas would get apoplectic discussing how the Packers must have ruined him.

The two radio guys (Lucas and LePay) are playing to the home audience when they discuss him. Stemke was a marginal prospect no matter what he did as a Badger. The ball is different, the rules are different and the pro teams might want you on a one or two step drop, rather than 2 or 3. Given this is Green Bay, its also possible the ST coach was an idiot*. They might want directional kicks, etc. Dozens of things have obviously changed, the radio guys can't stop just remembering the past success.

They never discussed this or talked to coaches. Just prattled on like two geezers over a pickle barrel playing oversize checkers at cracker barrel.

I think this covers Douglas now, who is now on his fourth team (PS guy on Cardinals to the Packers, Packers trade to Bills for 3rd round pick, Bills didn't resign and he signed with Miami for a one year deal). His high water mark was a $7 mil/year 3yr deal with the Packers and they grew not to like the deal for an older player. One Bills fan pointed out that last season (from Reddit so reader beware: "QBs had a QB rating of 122.0 when targeting Douglas in coverage which is absolutely terrible.")

This is happening with Alexander now, except he has Pro Bowl/All Pro tape and experience. He might not be able to do the job physically (or be able to do get past his limiting knee condition). He can't admit that to himself. He got one big money deal and seemed likely to get another but it fell apart and he didn't even get the full, first payday. That has ruined other players (Finley, Jennings for the Packers). He's also 5 years removed from his best year. Even if his knee got right, he might be closer to done than great.

But like former first round QB picks, he's going to keep getting signed. Terrell Buckley did too.


* Bob's scout source method of reporting hasn't aged well in several respects, but one point he used to make I think still might be worth exploring today. There are specialist kicking coaches for punters and kickers today. Teams usually don't hire them. Their hire a special teams guy who might or might not know how to train kickers how to kick. I'm stunned more teams haven't gone to 3 man staffs for ST (ST coordinator, kicking coach, assistand ST coach). Beware though, this is just the kind of thing a scout would say to trash a ST coach when the latest kicker aquired doesn't pan out.

[Joemailman]

These kinds of situations, when it doesn't involve injury, always remind me of Wisconsin Badger punter Kevin Stemke. He was money for the Badgers but wasn't drafted. Badger fans loved him. Local media liked him.

When he got to the Packers as a UDFA, he struggled. Didn't look at all like the same guy. Mike Lucas would get apoplectic discussing how the Packers must have ruined him.

The two radio guys (Lucas and LePay) are playing to the home audience when they discuss him. Stemke was a marginal prospect no matter what he did as a Badger. The ball is different, the rules are different and the pro teams might want you on a one or two step drop, rather than 2 or 3. Given this is Green Bay, its also possible the ST coach was an idiot*. They might want directional kicks, etc. Dozens of things have obviously changed, the radio guys can't stop just remembering the past success.

They never discussed this or talked to coaches. Just prattled on like two geezers over a pickle barrel playing oversize checkers at cracker barrel.

I think this covers Douglas now, who is now on his fourth team (PS guy on Cardinals to the Packers, Packers trade to Bills for 3rd round pick, Bills didn't resign and he signed with Miami for a one year deal). His high water mark was a $7 mil/year 3yr deal with the Packers and they grew not to like the deal for an older player. One Bills fan pointed out that last season (from Reddit so reader beware: "QBs had a QB rating of 122.0 when targeting Douglas in coverage which is absolutely terrible.")

This is happening with Alexander now, except he has Pro Bowl/All Pro tape and experience. He might not be able to do the job physically (or be able to do get past his limiting knee condition). He can't admit that to himself. He got one big money deal and seemed likely to get another but it fell apart and he didn't even get the full, first payday. That has ruined other players (Finley, Jennings for the Packers). He's also 5 years removed from his best year. Even if his knee got right, he might be closer to done than great.

But like former first round QB picks, he's going to keep getting signed. Terrell Buckley did too.


* Bob's scout source method of reporting hasn't aged well in several respects, but one point he used to make I think still might be worth exploring today. There are specialist kicking coaches for punters and kickers today. Teams usually don't hire them. Their hire a special teams guy who might or might not know how to train kickers how to kick. I'm stunned more teams haven't gone to 3 man staffs for ST (ST coordinator, kicking coach, assistand ST coach). Beware though, this is just the kind of thing a scout would say to trash a ST coach when the latest kicker aquired doesn't pan out.

Pro Football Reference had him with an allowed passer rating of 122.0 in 2024. They had him with a 109.0 passer rating allowed in 2023 before the Packers traded him. That seems to be a pattern with him. His last year with Philadelphia he allowed a passer rating of 114.2. His one year with Carolina it was 108.5.

[bobblehead]

He is the 10th best CB in the NFL according to PFF. $11.6 for his last year is a nonstarter?? Man, who should we pay then?

This is what I posted immediately after the trade.

There was this post right before we beat dallas and were one good CB from Beating SF.

Because they weren't going to pay him 9M next year, and he isn't getting younger. This year is toast and something is better than nothing.

https://packerrats.com/showthread.php?32725-Rasul-Douglas-Traded-To-Bills/page2&highlight=rasul+douglas

The entire thread is filled with people claiming we weren't a contender so it was a good trade. FYI, we gave up Rasul and a 5th for a 3rd. Not just Rasul.

[pbmax]

He is the 10th best CB in the NFL according to PFF. $11.6 for his last year is a nonstarter?? Man, who should we pay then?

This is what I posted immediately after the trade.

There was this post right before we beat dallas and were one good CB from Beating SF.

https://packerrats.com/showthread.php?32725-Rasul-Douglas-Traded-To-Bills/page2&highlight=rasul+douglas

The entire thread is filled with people claiming we weren't a contender so it was a good trade. FYI, we gave up Rasul and a 5th for a 3rd. Not just Rasul.

I seriously doubt anyone is the league agrees with that assessment otherwise there would be trade activity for him. A demand for his services. PFF misses the boat as often as it finds it. That thread is 3 years ago. I doubt people have failed to notice a top 10 or top 20 CB playing for the minimum.