The NFL's best outside cornerbacks, No. 3: Stephon Gilmore, Bills

Gilmore finished top 10 in passes defended last season.

I’m probably higher on Gilmore than most, but the pressure Rex Ryan’s defense puts on the Bills’ corners has me grading his path to stardom on a curve, and when healthy, he’s worth the hype. Gilmore (18) and rookie Ronald Darby (21) both finished in the top 10 in passes defended last season, with Gilmore often staring down each opponent’s top target and saddling Darby with extra work on the other side of the field. If he enters Week 1 with this summer’s expected holdout and last winter’s shoulder surgery both  behind him, he should be in for a special season.