Casey Hayward

Chargers' Casey Hayward faces top receivers at second-best rate

San Diego Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward finished second to only Arizona Cardinals superstar Patrick Peterson in coverage snaps on opposing number-one receivers.

What It Means:

Per Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner, Peterson led the NFL with 259 snaps chasing enemy ones while Hayward ranked second at 241. Tracy Porter (230) and rookie Jalen Ramsey (227) rounded out the top four. Hayward emerged as a legit shutdown force in 2016 and is the rare boundary corner capable of chasing top receivers into the slot. If Jason Verrett (ACL) can get healthy, the Chargers should field the NFL's best cornerback tandem in 2017.

The Chargers ranked 10th-best in opponent-adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points per play this year without Verrett. They'll only get better.