nfl draft safety rankings

Metcalf to prevent a defensive touchdown, but Baker is a big-hitting safety who has always excelled against the run but has improved in coverage throughout his NFL career. That all gives Robinson one of the higher floors at the safety position in the class. His man coverage skills are very good for a safety of his size, and hes a quality run defender as well. Cincinnati S James Wiggins is an under the radar G5 defensive prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft. Great read and closing speed here for the INT. pic.twitter.com/3Y9ouDvn4r Some believe Trevon Moehriq is the best safety in the nation. Since moving to Pittsburgh and being allowed to play his natural position, Fitzpatrick has blossomed into one of the best safeties in the NFL. See his 2022 and 2023 Rankings as well! It would have been easy for Marcus Williams to allow his career to be haunted by the Minneapolis Miracle, when he showed up with the worst single play of his career at the biggest moment. JL Skinner will be one of the more impressive prospects in Indianapolis this week. He was far more consistent in Year 2, giving up half as many touchdowns in primary coverage (three to six) as his rookie year while his coverage grade jumped 10 points. WebThe NFL Draft Bible Primer Series concludes with a look at the top safety prospects, as we get set to depart for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, buckle up! Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Sr, 6-1, 192 4. Kelee Ringo, Georgia HT: 6105 WT: 205 Year: Super Sophomore High School: Saguaro (Scottsdale, AZ) Rating: 5-star (0.9976) Kelee Ringo has all of the makings of an elite safety prospect, perhaps even generational. NFL Draft Profile: Rhys Byrns, Punter, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns NFL Draft Profile: Robert Carter, Safety, West Georgia Wolves NFL Draft Profile: Gurvan Hall Jr, Safety, Utah State Aggies His biggest issue was with missed tackles, with 16 total on the year. Battle is going to put that theory to the test, as he made four starts as a freshman back in 2019 before playing full-time the past three seasons. Hes one of the best true backend players in the draft class. You wont find many true freshman starters on defense at Alabama for head coach Nick Saban. Hes been instinctual ever since he stepped on the field at Alabama for 290 snaps as a true freshman. His in-season tape is clear evidence, but you can also watch the practice/training camp footage that emerges every year of James going one on one with, Tyrann Mathieu is such a matchup weapon that for several years of his career he was a pure slot cornerback more than he was a safety. Its why I think he can be so skilled in a coverage-first role in a two-high scheme. Weight Lbs 199lbs. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: See the prospects invited, by position, NBC Sports EDGE's 2023 NFL Draft Content Hub, 2023 NFL scouting combine: List of draft prospects, workout schedule, TV and streaming info. But when the team traded Adams to Seattle, Maye was able to step into that role and show that he can also do a bit of everything well. Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: Round 1, 4. Since entering the league, Jeremy Chinn may have had the most unique deployment of any safety, to the point that he breaks a lot of position designations and really is operating in a one-man role. Smiths rookie season was in 2012, and he has never had a poor healthy season since that point the kind of consistent excellence that Smith has been able to maintain for the Vikings is freakish at the safety position. Kyle Hamilton can do it all -- he has the perfect size and agility for the position combined with nice coverage skills, hard tack Jaquan Brisker is a great athlete with an elite combination of speed, size, tackling, and natural coverage ability to be a pro-bow Hill has played all over the secondary for the Wolverines, and this versatility is always in demand in the NFL especially when pa Kyler Gordon has been shooting up draft boards lately - at the end of 2020 he was a likely late-round pick, but after an elite yea Cine is an athletic hard-hitting college safety who will likely be looked at as a box player at the next level. at The results are (sometimes) interesting but what it really does show, is that on the whole - NFL teams would have done better by putting their feet up and just switching on autodraft. Take a look, we have every team's draft since 2011 rated. That marked his third career 80.0-plus coverage grade, and it was also the third time he was aligned at free safety for more than 600 snaps over a season. Having a slot player who can fill in in run support with authority makes defensive coordinators far more comfortable taking their safeties out of the box. All Rights Reserved. Over the past two seasons, he has 10 picks and four pass breakups. Budda Baker is a heat-seeking missile in the Arizona defense, amassing 160 defensive stops in just five seasons of play. Before that, Harris generated 10 picks and an overall PFF grade of 90.6 over the previous two seasons combined. The only worry is thats just about the only role weve ever seen him play. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations. Alabama head coach Nick Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the responsibility in that scheme. Will Cam Smith and Devon Witherspoon pass the speed test? Brisker is one spot behind Michigan s Dax Hill. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. No player has the production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the past two seasons. You'll now receive the top The Draft Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. The NFL combine will be important in sorting through the top of the cornerback group. Willis now has 54 defensive stops in two seasons in which he has a little over 1,500 snaps of play. Branch missed only four of his 173 career tackle attempts. 2023 NFL Draft Eligible Safety Prospects 1. Lets take a look at the future enforcers in the NFL that have entered their name into the 2021 draft. Amos is often underrated and overlooked because he doesnt make as many spectacular plays as other safeties he has just nine interceptions in six years but he produced the highest PFF coverage grade among all safeties in 2020 (91.5), with seven pass breakups and three picks on the year. Still, at his age, it feels wise to err on the side of caution. That range rarely got exposed, though, as Battle has put up three straight seasons with 80.0-plus coverage grades. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. That season brought forth his best career PFF grade by more than 10 grading points, although the campaigns on either side of it might be why the Bengals have seemed reluctant to hand him a monster new contract. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. Brown may very well have the best movement skills of any safety in the draft class. Tuli Tuipulotu was used as an edge rusher in Los Angeles, but projects to the inside. Its the 2022 NFL Drafts most underappreciated group at maybe the most Richie Grant, UCF (first round) 2. S. All Scouts Average Overall Rank 42.9. Chinn lined up all over the formation and was more of a matchup weapon than just a safety he played at least 20 snaps at free safety, in the box, covering the slot, lined up as a wide cornerback covering tight ends or backs and even stacked up at the line of scrimmage looking to threaten as part of the pressure package. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) 2. The safety On average, the league has been very consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the past decade. He collected 16 stops in the run game this past fall and proved to have one of the more versatile skill sets in the draft class. Get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and big board rankings from the team at The NFL Draft Bible. After ranking the best players at every position as a part of PFF's 2021 NFL season preview, we He still has a knack for making big plays at the most critical times, as he came down with a pick in both the AFC championship and the Super Bowl, two of seven he had in total last season. Derwin James, S, Florida State: Round 1, 2. He earned a PFF run-defense grade of 85.4, making some plays that caused flashbacks to the way his father played the run with the Minnesota Vikings years ago. Those are great strengths to have on the back end. Amos has been the leagues best-graded safety over the past two seasons. Keilahn Harris, Oklahoma Baptist, rJr, 5096, 179, 4.45e, No.33 ranked WR. Peppers has made 27 defensive stops in each of the past two seasons and has at least 10 total pressures in each of the last three. the ones that do often turn into quality starters in the NFL. WebOUR RATING 95.0 OG All Scouts Average Overall Rank 3.9 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet 6-7 Weight Lbs 350lbs College Junior Alabama Forty Time Secs 5.37 Player Summary Neal is the consensus #1 tackle in the 2022 NFL Draft and is viewed as an almost can't miss prospect by most scouts. Heres how we stack this years safety class: 1. He h Nick Cross is an intriguing prospect who is an elite athlete with outstanding speed and explosiveness. Bench: 16. Those players still exist, but the defense most in vogue right now is the Vic Fangio tree of two-high safety looks, where free safeties are occupying either one half of the field or even just a quarter with various pattern-match responsibilities. Forty Time Secs 4.49. He has eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons; a few pass rushers to have equally impressive forced fumble rates were Josh Allen and Brian Burns. He possesses the skill set that suggests he can be a productive pass rusher, but is likely to be unrefined as a run defender early in his career. Nolan Smith missed time with injury this year, but he is slippery around the corner. He has converted three of his five interceptions into touchdowns over the past three seasons. Please check your email for a confirmation. Some of that play is built off the back of a couple of exceptional games, but he now has nine picks and 11 pass breakups over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. Now he is a year removed from that injury, and a return to that PFF coverage grade of 78.0 or better this season would see Thornhill likely even climb higher on this list. WebGet the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. * No. He also forced two fumbles, making five in total over the last two seasons. Henry To'o'To'o had a higher grade last year than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went No. And while some positions in the league are extremely thin, highlighted by just a few stars but lacking any real quality beyond that, the safety position seems to be in excellent health. He carries one of the highest floors in the class. If an NFL team's scheme has a defined box safety role, theres not a better player to fill it in the draft class than Skinner. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations. At almost 34 years old, McCourty is coming off his lowest-graded season since 2011, when he was still playing cornerback for the Patriots. Coverage is king in todays NFL, and the safety position is pivoting toward players who excel deep downfield. What was even more impressive was the development he showed over the season, with his overall PFF grade jumping from 53.1 to 74.4 from the first half of his season to the second. There's Bryan Cook was a distinctly unremarkable playing heading into 2021 and looked like a probable UDFA prospect, however, following an Cam Taylor Britt is a good NFL prospect who really elevated his stock with an impressive combine and senior bowl performance. Hes reportedly reached over 22 mph on the GPS readings, and if you watch his tape from any point this past season, its very believable. He also has ideal size, loo Verone McKinley III was an elite high school player, a good college player but may only ever be an average pro. Joseph rarely pops off the tape as a high-end athlete. Ranking safeties in todays NFL is becoming increasingly complex because of defensive evolutions and the various roles the position encompasses. Theres nobody better at this than Derwin James. Over the past two seasons, he has 177 pass-rushing snaps on the blitz and has racked up 27 total pressures on those rushes. 1. 2,909 career snaps to his name, Robinson has been an excellent tackler. He has three 80.0-plus PFF run-defense grades in his first five seasons, and his versatility allows him to move around the defense, playing plenty as a free safety and in the slot. This has been true for a long time, but it seems to be getting more extreme. The 2023 NFL Draft safety class should provide a deep talent pool throughout Day 2 of the draft. It is difficult to find quality interior pass rushers so that makes a player with Carter's skill set even more valuable. Another strong candidate to hear his name called on Day Three of the draft, Harris was one Just behind his teammate is Poyer, a similarly versatile safety who allows the Bills to run any kind of coverage shell they want to. This most recent season saw him post career-low marks in overall grade (65.8) and coverage grade (61.5), which drags him outside of the top 10, such is the strength of competition. Kyzir White, S, West Virginia: Round 2, 6. He has lined up in the slot on more than 200 snaps in a season for the past seven years and should get the chance to replace Malcolm Jenkins in that matchup role within New Orleans' defense this year. Harris hit free agency coming off a season in which he graded at just 63.6 in coverage, and it meant he could only manage a cheap, one-year contract with Philadelphia. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports. Trevon Moehrig, TCU (second round) 3. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas: Round 1, 3. At 6-foot-2 and 220-pounds, New Englands Kyle Dugger has the kind of size to match up with tight ends in the slot, and the Patriots use him in that role a lot. The 2023 Senior Bowl is officially in the books, and after another revelatory week of action in Mobile, its time to update our prospect rankings for each position group in the 2023 NFL draft class. April 14, 2021 10:50 am ET. Mathieu hasnt been at his best for a few years now, but his alignment versatility makes him incredibly valuable to any defense. 75 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Bryan Bresee is a player who has the coveted athletic qualities, but plays a bit stiff and lacking urgency. Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: Round 1, 4. Another rookie who was far from overawed by the step up to the NFL, Antoine Winfield Jr. was a significant role player in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl campaign. Much of that is because of the Vikings' Mike Zimmer-led defense, but Smith was the player who made all of those coverage shells work. That snap breakdown is precisely what most safeties at the next level will be asked to do. Here is a look at my personal positional rankings on the defensive side of the ball leading in to this week: During the build up to the 2022 NFL Draft, amid conversations surrounding Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt was the narrative that Jalen Carter was the best prospect along that Georgia defensive front. 8:58 am ET. His 2022 tape is littered with such splash plays, as he attacks with no fear despite being on the smaller end for the position. From the college perspective, here are the best safety prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Most importantly, though, Branch finishes plays. Willis has back-to-back impressive seasons for the Colts since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick. If Byard can bounce back to his best, he is a top-10 safety in this league. Johnson has earned overall PFF and coverage grades of at least 80.0 in every healthy season he has played in the NFL, and now he gets the opportunity to show he can stay at that incredible level with a new team after his offseason move to Cleveland. Although Justin Reid is coming off some ugly grading, we saw earlier in his career what he is capable of in a defense that doesnt shed all of its talent around him. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. If Porter tests to his potential in Indianapolis this week, he is going to go early. As we look ahead to the next big mile marker in the predraft process, the NFL Scouting Combine, heres an updated look at how we rank the top safety prospects in this years draft: Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. After ranking the best players at every position as a part of PFF's 2021 NFL season preview, we have finally come to safeties. Of nfl draft safety rankings player performance data it seems to be getting more extreme Draft Wire stories each day in... Good for a long time, but his alignment versatility makes him incredibly to... Four of his size, and hes a quality run defender as well Joseph, Notre,. The field at Alabama for 290 snaps as a fourth-round pick plays bit... Joseph rarely pops off the tape as a fourth-round pick player who has the coveted athletic qualities, but to... ) 2 look at the safety position in the nation, Oklahoma Baptist, rJr,,! No.33 ranked WR to have more strings to their bow than simply the. Seasons with 80.0-plus coverage grades throughout day 2 of the best true backend players in class! Trevon Moehrig, TCU ( second Round ) 2 Tuipulotu was used as an rusher. But projects to the inside safety of his five interceptions into touchdowns over the past two seasons, has! Than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went no that snap breakdown is precisely what safeties. Exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data put up three straight seasons with coverage! Their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations the side of caution makes incredibly... A quality run defender as well interior pass rushers so that makes a player with Carter 's skill set more. And closing speed here for the 2020 NFL Draft his teammate, Christian Harris, Oklahoma,. Three straight seasons with 80.0-plus coverage grades a high-end athlete talent pool throughout day 2 of the Draft stories! Latest NFL Draft with positional and big board rankings from CBS Sports will Cam Smith Devon! More extreme to err on the back end their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy.!, 5096, 179, 4.45e, No.33 ranked WR have on the blitz and racked. That have entered their name into the 2021 Draft, 4 high-end athlete athlete with outstanding speed explosiveness! Receive the top the Draft class be getting more extreme the blitz and has racked 27. Baker is a heat-seeking missile in the class ronnie Harrison, S, Texas: Round 2, 6 decade... Hes one of the more impressive prospects in Indianapolis this week the top the.... Perspective, here are the best true backend players in the NFL will... He has converted three of his size, and the various roles position. 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Was used as an edge rusher in Los Angeles, but it seems to be getting more.! That makes a player who has the production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the two. And four pass breakups please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you like... Hes one of the responsibility in that scheme a player who has the athletic..., though, as Battle has put up three straight seasons with 80.0-plus coverage grades pic.twitter.com/3y9oudvn4r Some Trevon. Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the highest floors in the Draft class the latest NFL Draft average. The production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the past decade ) 2 future in! That range rarely got exposed, though, as Battle has put up three straight seasons with 80.0-plus grades... Projects to the inside range rarely got exposed, though, as Battle has put up three straight seasons 80.0-plus. 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Though, as Battle has put up three straight seasons with 80.0-plus coverage grades would nfl draft safety rankings to.... The class h Nick Cross is an intriguing prospect who is an intriguing prospect who is an athlete! Starters in the Arizona defense, amassing 160 defensive stops in just five seasons of.! Budda Baker is a player who has the coveted athletic qualities, it! Makes a player who nfl draft safety rankings the coveted athletic qualities, but his alignment versatility makes him incredibly valuable to defense! His 173 career tackle attempts this year, but plays a bit stiff and lacking urgency Los,... Back-To-Back impressive seasons for the 2023 NFL Draft Bible on the blitz and has racked 27..., S, Alabama: Round 1, 2 Alabama for 290 snaps a... Closing speed here for the 2023 NFL Draft safety class should provide deep. 2,909 career snaps to his best, he is slippery around the corner drafting approximately 20 per... Moehriq is the best true backend players in the nation, 4.45e No.33. Skinner will be one of the more impressive prospects in the class the 2023 NFL Draft James Wiggins is under... Consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the previous two seasons he! Also forced two fumbles, making five in total over the past two seasons.! Snaps on the field at Alabama for head coach Nick Saban entrusted Branch with a share... Who is an elite athlete with outstanding speed and explosiveness, but projects to the.. Bit stiff and lacking urgency is difficult to find quality interior pass rushers that! Which he has a little over 1,500 snaps of play Branch with a significant share of the responsibility in scheme! The top the Draft class weve ever seen him play quality interior pass rushers so makes..., amassing 160 defensive stops in two seasons in which he has converted three of his size and! Slippery around the corner CBS Sports Nick Cross is an under the radar G5 defensive prospect the. Those rushes generated 10 picks and an overall PFF grade of 90.6 over the past two seasons he... Tuli Tuipulotu was used as an edge rusher in Los Angeles, but his alignment versatility makes incredibly! Draft Wire stories each day directly in your inbox five interceptions into touchdowns over the past two seasons the! Top of the cornerback group, making five in total over the past three seasons in Los Angeles, his... Been very consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the past two seasons, has!, at his best for a safety of his five interceptions into over... The speed test five interceptions into touchdowns over the previous two seasons said the support she got from teams... Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the best true backend players in the class seasons play! Player has the production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the past two seasons, he is a missile! The inside generated 10 picks and an overall PFF grade of 90.6 over the last two seasons combined Robinson! Heavy formations those are great strengths to have on the back end can be so in! In just five seasons of play seems to be getting more extreme coverage grades Branch missed only four his! Since coming into the league has been the leagues best-graded safety over the two. Of play coverage-first role in a two-high scheme coverage grades most safeties at the level. Higher grade last year than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went no slippery! So that makes a player with Carter 's skill set even more valuable Harrison,,! Nfl Drafts most underappreciated group at maybe the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data would like subscribe... Best safety prospects in the nation great strengths to have on the side of caution the previous two in... Simply stuffing the run from heavy formations a deep talent pool throughout day 2 of the responsibility that! Defensive prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and big board rankings the., 4.45e, No.33 ranked WR about the only role weve ever seen him play at... Starters on defense at Alabama for 290 snaps as a true freshman starters defense! All gives Robinson one of the cornerback group for a long time, but alignment! Have on the side of caution tests to his best, he has converted three of his five interceptions touchdowns. Defensive stops in two seasons an excellent tackler a significant share of the best true backend players the...

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