College Senior Penn State. Get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and Hes proven to be exceedingly versatile, playing 510 snaps in the box, 682 deep and 259 from the slot for his career. Fast forward a year and Carter is on the doorstep of making good on that claim. His ability to get sideline to sideline, as well as downhill in the run game from a deep alignment, will serve him well at the next level. Sanders, an Alabama transfer, has spot edge rusher potential in addition to having the size necessary to hold up at the point of attack. Hes very solidly built for the position and loves to lay the boom. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas: Round 1, 3. Bates tallied a ridiculous 12 pass breakups to go along with three interceptions on the season despite playing the bulk of his snaps in the middle of the field, where those plays are hard to come by. Last year, his coverage and run-defense grades came in at 74.0 or better. Bryan Bresee is a player who has the coveted athletic qualities, but plays a bit stiff and lacking urgency. Brown may very well have the best movement skills of any safety in the draft class. Welcome to College Football News's European Union Experience. He was one of the most reliable slot defenders in the country, especially in tracking down ball carriers. What was concerning about last season was how badly he was exposed in coverage within the Seahawks defense. Ranking safeties in todays NFL is becoming increasingly complex because of defensive evolutions and the various roles the position encompasses. By: CollegeFootballNews.com. Reed Blankenship | Middle Tennessee State, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 1st-round projections with trades, 2023 NFL mock draft: Pre-combine 3-round forecast with trades, comp picks, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 3-round projections with trades, comp picks, 2023 NFL mock draft: 3-round projections after Senior Bowl week, 2023 NFL mock draft: 2-round projections with big trades, and a new No. 15. Keeanu Benton is a proven run stopper who showed a bit more pass-rush potential at the Senior Bowl. Jackson has earned three of the best five overall PFF grades of his career since turning 30 and is coming off back-to-back years with a mark north of 80.0 overall. The strong safeties of old continue to be replaced by hybrid matchup defenders, players who can line up in the box but also cover tight ends and running backs in single coverage from the slot or in other alignments as if they were cornerbacks. 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. Some of these players could fit more than one of these buckets, and in fact have throughout their careers, but this is where they sit right now based on the past couple of seasons. Hes elite when on the field, but he needs to stay healthy. Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M: Round Last season saw him earn a career-high PFF coverage grade (68.9). Joseph is able to read route combinations and anticipate breaks in his sleep. Bates recorded the highest overall PFF grade among safeties last season at 90.1 he was one of two players with a PFF coverage grade north of 90.0. 2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Height: 5-11. Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders will almost certainly be the first two linebackers off the board. Big 12 Picks, Lines For Saturday, February 25, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17. 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. Another player coming off a down season, this was the first play we had seen from Harris dating back to college that had been anything but good. Smith may be declining from his elite best (his past two seasons have earned PFF grades of 74.3 and 77.9, down from 90.0-plus), but he still ranked 12th at the position in 2021 for a defense that lost a lot of talent. Myles Murphy is a powerful edge rusher with the quick twitch qualities to develop, but he lacks a refined pass rush plan. As part of Athlon Sports' 2020 NFL Draft Guide, we have ranked each position, including 45 total safeties. Henry To'o'To'o had a higher grade last year than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went No. He carries one of the highest floors in the class. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-rankings-safety-brian-branch-antonio-johnson-jordan-battle/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The obvious name missing is Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. Watching him, you get the real sense that he is on the precipice of being a genuinely great player rather than the very good one that he is right now. The 2023 NFL draft is getting closer, and our analysts are building their draft boards. Now that he has an opportunity to play within a better defense again, we should see a rebound performance in 2022. Between being a former first-round pick, used in a debatable way early in his career and then used as a makeweight in the trade for Odell Beckham Jr., it would be easy to dismiss Jabrill Peppers as a bust, but he is far from a bad player. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Tier 3 are the Round 4-5 caliber players. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations. USA Today Network NFL reporters break down the draft position-by-position. He carries one of the highest floors in the class. Thats all well and good, but it's fairly meaningless if you cant cover. 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. 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. Athlon Sports. The strong safeties of old continue to be replaced by hybrid matchup defenders, players who can line up in the box but also cover tight ends and running backs in single coverage from the slot or in other alignments as if they were cornerbacks. Marcus Williams signed a big free agent deal this offseason and has been incredibly consistent in the NFL at a position where consistently high-end play is hard to come by. That all gives Robinson one of the higher floors at the safety position in the class. Here are the 10 most physical safety prospects in this class. 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. Alabama head coach Nick Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the responsibility in that scheme. The fact that Martin also has 851 snaps at outside cornerback in his career most coming as a freshman and sophomore is icing on the cake for his pro projection. Trevon Moehrig, TCU (second round) 3. No player has the production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the past two seasons. Find out where your favorite Safeties stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. Byards play has dropped off recently after two seasons of spectacular PFF grades above 85.0. Please check your email for a confirmation. Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr, 6-2, 210 2. If Porter tests to his potential in Indianapolis this week, he is going to go early. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. All the while, hes been an outstanding tackler (7.3% career missed tackle rate) and developed into a difference-maker in coverage. Budda Baker is a heat-seeking missile in the Arizona defense, amassing 160 defensive stops in just five seasons of play. At almost 34 years old, McCourty is coming off his lowest-graded season since 2011, when he was still playing cornerback for the Patriots. Similarly, Justin Simmons 90.7 PFF grade from 2019 represents his career-high by more than 10 grading points. 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak. Gipson missed just seven tackles from 80 attempts in 2020. 75 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. April 14, 2021 10:50 am ET. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers trade up for their QB, NFL combine burning questions: Young's size and more, NFL combine 2023 snubs and how other non-invites fared, Young-Richardson: Debate between production, potential, NFL combine 2023: Dates, times, how to watch, prospects, 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts, Bucs trade up for QBs, NFL Draft: Defensive positional rankings pre-combine, Seven burning questions for the NFL combine, Top DL prospect Carter tied to crash that killed teammate, Report: PGA Tour trimming some fields, ending cuts, Seahawks hint at drafting QB while talking deal with Smith, Kane trade grades: Rangers ace deal for former MVP, Detroit's Davis closing in on Maravich NCAA scoring mark, Trade tracker: Kings' Quick era ends with deal to Jackets. Hes been starting since he was a true freshman at South Carolina in 2019 and now has 2,909 career snaps to his name. A former cornerback, Jackson has transitioned to safety and enjoyed a second career once he moved past the age of 30. Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) takes the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Nissan Stadium. His biggest issue was with missed tackles, with 16 total on the year. Jamar Johnson, Indiana (fourth round) 8. The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of months away, so its time to update our prospect rankings for every position Felix Anudike-Uzomah has 19.5 sacks over the past two years, but more impressive is the ball production. 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. Theres nobody better at this than Derwin James. Kevin Byard has been a prototypical free safety since he was a draft prospect. Since moving to Pittsburgh and being allowed to play his natural position, Fitzpatrick has blossomed into one of the best safeties in the NFL. 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. Bench: 16. Derwin James, S, Florida State: Round 1, 2. 2021 NFL Draft: Safety Rankings. His 90.7 run-defense grade led all safeties in college football, while his 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the FBS. It would be easy to look at Houston last season and conclude they have no defenders of any quality, but Justin Reid has been an impressive safety for most of his career. Now, those players. 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. Kyzir White, S, West Virginia: Round 2, 6. 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. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | 2022 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak. 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. linebackers, particularly in sub packages, and the league has come to covet other skills for strong safeties. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 112. But the ones that do often turn into quality starters in the NFL. Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: Round 1, 4. Send feedback and thoughts to @ShanePHallam. section: | slug: nfl-draft-2023-jalen-carter-will-anderson-jr-atop-pre-combine-list-of-best-defensive-prospects-by-position | sport: football | route: article_single_special | 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Rankings 2024 NFL Draft S Rankings (Shane) 2024 NFL Draft Rankings 2024 NFL Draft S Rankings (Shane) by Shane Hallam August 18, 2021 0 1184 2024 NFL Draft Safety Rankings are updated weekly. The agility that Robinson plays with for a 200-plus-pound safety makes me think he missed his calling as a running back. Projected Round (2019): 1-2. 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings 1. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. That size does show up at points as a tackler, though. Maintaining high-level play in the secondary over time is an extremely difficult task, yet Simmons has had back-to-back excellent years for the Broncos. Hes one of the best true backend players in the draft class. Teams looking to add some size, speed, physicality, and athleticism to their secondary will have their share of options at the safety Reid was dragged down by the unit as a whole in 2020, and his coverage grade of 67.2 was the lowest of his career, but his previous two seasons had been flirting with an 80.0 grade, and he has increased the number of defensive stops he has made each season. Each can line up anywhere they are needed within the scheme and playing next to one another is clearly a force multiplier for their success. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. 1, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Simpson will be one of the top performers at the NFL combine this week. Notre Dame s Hamilton has long been hyped as the top safety in the draft, and he tops Brooks latest top five at the safety position. He also forced two fumbles, making five in total over the last two seasons. Hes missed 14.9% of his tackle attempts in his career and will have some ugly ones when asked to wrap up from a standstill. Ranking safeties in todays NFL is becoming increasingly complex because of defensive evolutions and the various roles the position encompasses. The 2023 NFL Draft safety class should provide a deep talent pool throughout Day 2 of the draft. Which prospects should boost their draft stock at the NFL Scouting Combine? There were similar concerns with Jaycee Horn coming out of South Carolina: handsy downfield in coverage and a high missed tackle rate. All Scouts Average Position Rank 11. 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. One player who seems to sit atop big boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. How do the top players at every position stack up? 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. In a four-year career, he has played just over 2,000 snaps, which is essentially half of the available playing time. Joseph rarely pops off the tape as a high-end athlete. NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. The former Notre Dame star had a relative down year in 2020, but he still recorded five picks, five pass breakups and better-than-average grades in every facet of play. With the rise of two-high safety looks in the NFL, the slot position has evolved into an integral part of so many defenses around the league. 2023 NFL Draft Strong Safety Rankings John Vogel October 27, 2022 in 2023 Rankings - 9 Minutes 1. 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. Smith can really cover some ground. Justin Reid, S, Stanford: Round 2, 5. Keilahn Harris, Oklahoma Baptist, rJr, 5096, 179, 4.45e, No.33 ranked WR. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Its exactly the role he handled for the Aggies the past two seasons. * No. With the NFL Scouting Combine getting set to begin positional workouts, heres a look at the biggest combine snubs at each position in the 2023 NFL Draft Class. Jaquan Brisker is a SS prospect in the 2022 draft class. However, he's much Joseph had an incredible 2021 season where he put numbers placing at the elite category of all DB's in college football. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports. They feel he is not strong or physical enough for the NFL because he missed a Height Feet 6-1. Will each look comfortable flipping their hips and running in coverage? By: CollegeFootballNews.com, College Basketball Predictions. 2023 NFL Draft Safety Rankings are updated weekly. Hand: 9.50. Weight: 205. The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of months away, so its time to update our prospect rankings for every position group in this years class. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) 2. Your inbox approves See the data Golfweek's top news 's best, via Nolan Smith missed time with injury this year, but he is slippery around the corner. 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. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas: Round 1, 3. Hes extremely fluid for a 220-pounder and can easily be a tight end eraser at the next level. Brown racked up six picks and six pass breakups in large part due to that make-up speed, but also because hes an all-around fluid athlete in space. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. He racked up 10 picks over the course of his career and allowed only 80 yards on 17 targets with Notre Dame this past season. Strong safety used to be a coveted specialty role in the NFL, encompassing those who played more like auxiliary linebackers and patrolled the box, defending the run and covering short zones underneath. It offers one of the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory Catch up with our positional rankings here. 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. Jevon Holland, Oregon (third round) 5. While lacking splash plays, he is consistently in the right place at the right time and grades very well in all facets of the game. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations. Its a big part of the reason hes such a good tackler. The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and the pro day circuit is in full swing, which means its time to take an updated look at our prospect rankings for the 2022 NFL draft. WebGet the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. Antoine Winfield Jr. may be entering only his third year in the league, but he hit the ground running for a Super Bowl team and then backed that up with an 86.1 PFF grade that ranked second in the league last year. Harrisons career wasnt stellar in Jacksonville, but the second he was traded to Cleveland, he began to look like a different player, and that was within a secondary that wasnt loaded with quality. Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Sr, 6-1, 192 4. Web90.6. He made a lot of spectacular plays as a rookie yet was also on the wrong end of some big gains for the offense. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Super informed fan? Will Cam Smith and Devon Witherspoon pass the speed test? Andre Cisco, Syracuse (second round) 4. Antonio Johnson's season was not as inspiring as the 2021 campaign, but he has a versatile skill set. Its why I think he can be so skilled in a coverage-first role in a two-high scheme. 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. He can get a little wild as a tackler, although when he does catch a ball carrier cleanly, they stop in their tracks. Its a rough NFL Draft year for several positions, but safety is sneaky-good. 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. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. 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. Live picks, grades and reaction to the 2023 NFL Draft. But. Tier 1 consists of the players expected to be taken in the first round. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. the ones that do often turn into quality starters in the NFL. 2018 NFL Draft Safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL Safety Rankings Projected Rounds: 1. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Alabama's Brian Branch takes top spot: The slot position has evolved into an integral part of an NFL defense a role Branch can handle with ease. This past season, he allowed only 17 catches on 32 targets for 176 yards with four picks and three pass breakups. Had it not been for injury, James might be the best safety in the league, and football fans everywhere have their fingers crossed that the injury bug is finally behind him so we can see the kind of special player he can be. Most importantly, though, Branch finishes plays. Updated safety rankings for the 2021 NFL draft. Four! Thats because, at 205 pounds, hes more than willing to mix it up. The now fifth-year safety missed just two tackles from 67 attempts in 2020. If he cant show that play again this year, then it really may never happen again. If Byard can bounce back to his best, he is a top-10 safety in this league. 2023 NFL Draft Eligible Safety Prospects 1. Harrison Smith has long been the prototype for this group of safeties. Unfortunately for Baker, the most memorable play of his season and arguably his career is getting chased down from behind by a flying D.K. His biggest weakness has been a lack of plays on the football, with just two picks and 25 pass breakups across seven years of play. Over the last two seasons, Simmons has the No. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, Jr, 6-3, 190 3. Thankfully, that couldnt be further from the truth with Branch. Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his safety rankings for the 2023 NFL draft following Senior Bowl week 2023 NFL draft: Post-Senior Bowl safety rankings Teams From the college perspective, here are the best safety prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Heres our updated list of this years top safety prospects: Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Tyree Wilson is a long, explosive athlete who has shown growth over the past year, but still has a ways to go before he repays the top-five draft capital likely to be used on him in April. 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. It offers one of the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory along with some size-speed freaks and versatile safeties. 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 Keenan Allen one of the best route-runners in the game and covering him like a blanket. A few years ago, this meant Earl Thomas-type players who occupied the single-high zone in defenses playing almost exclusively Cover 3 or Cover 1. Thats because, at 205 pounds, hes more than willing to mix it up. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2022-nfl-draft-rankings-safety-kyle-hamilton-dax-hill-jaquan-brisker-lewis-cine/, 12. Tyrann Mathieu is a complete and versatile player who has been a difference-maker within the Chiefs defense since he arrived there. Even with that tremendous speed, though, it may surprise you to know that Brown was almost entirely a. safety this past fall (only 60 of his 742 snaps came deep). SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NFL DRAFT GUIDE FOR AS LOW AS This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. Marcus Maye was the deep-lying free safety who allowed Jamal Adams to be the do-it-all star in the Jets secondary. Still, at his age, it feels wise to err on the side of caution. Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. Jack Campbell has great size and production for the linebacker position. Another strong candidate to hear his name called on Day Three of the draft, Harris was one See his 2022 and 2023 Rankings as well! at Kyle Hamilton can do it all -- he has the perfect size and agility for the position combined with nice coverage skills, hard tackling, and Jaquan Brisker is a great athlete with an elite combination of speed, size, tackling, and natural coverage ability to be a pro-bowl level sa Hill has played all over the secondary for the Wolverines, and this versatility is always in demand in the NFL especially when paired with Aspiring college or profootball journalist? The only worry is thats just about the only role weve ever seen him play. Jordan Battle is another Saban safety with extensive playing experience. 2021 NFL draft: Safety rankings led by TCU's Trevon Moehrig USA TODAY Sports Network Prospect rankings by position: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | Edge | DT | ILB | CB Jackson had one of the best seasons we have ever seen at the safety position back in 2018, earning an overall PFF grade of 93.2 and a coverage grade of 94.7, but since Vic Fangio left town to coach the Broncos, Jacksons elite play has evaporated and he has posted seasons of 67.0 and 59.5 in terms of PFF grade. Visit CBSSports.com for an aggregate look at the2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings! As part of our ranking of the position groups in the 2023 NFL Draft class, we have the safeties ranked No. 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. Poyer allowed just 8.7 yards per reception from 55 targets last season. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State (third round) 6. Something of a journeyman at the position, Tashaun Gipson Sr. is with his fourth team in the NFL, but his first year in Chicago was one of the best of his career and saw him post grades of at least 69.9 in every facet of play PFF measures. Tyree Gillespie, Missouri. 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. Its the 2022 NFL Drafts most underappreciated group at maybe the most Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Curl could be primed for a big sophomore campaign. His range is average at best, and his change-of-direction ability doesn't come close to that of others on this list. The singular position safety doesnt feel like it does justice to the kind of deployment the Panthers orchestrated for Jeremy Chinn in his rookie season. Similar to his twin brother Chase, Sydney can flat-out fly. 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. Arm: 31.13. Both players have shown elite upside and play, but they havent been able to maintain that peak for as long as some others. Coverage is king in todays NFL, and the safety position is pivoting toward players who excel deep downfield. Sign Up. Buffalo runs a scheme that puts them in position to succeed, but they take advantage of it extremely well on their own. He can get past a block or knife into the backfield in the blink of an eye. Brown may very well have the best movement skills of any safety in the draft class. Similar to his twin brother Chase, Sydney can flat-out fly. 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. The agility that Robinson plays with for a safety of his size, and hes a quality defender. Just 8.7 yards per reception from 55 targets last season but he needs to stay.! Rate ) and developed into a difference-maker within the Seahawks defense up, I confirm that I have and... More than willing to mix it up Battle nfl draft safety rankings Alabama, Sr 6-2! We 've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the X-axis weight. Rankings, grades and reaction to the 2023 NFL draft safety Rankings nfl draft safety rankings DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 safety... Saban safety with extensive playing Experience draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl,... Run stopper who showed a bit stiff and lacking urgency provide matchup previews, position Rankings, grades and! Rounds: 1 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the first Round have more strings to their bow simply! Virginia: Round 1, 2 Bresee is a powerful edge rusher the! Cisco, Syracuse ( second Round ) 4, and the various roles the position encompasses becoming! Fifth most in the NFL draft safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL safety Rankings Vogel. The safety position in the Jets secondary that peak for as long as some others are. Reporters break down the draft class, we should see a rebound performance in.! Carter is on the field, but it 's fairly meaningless if you cover... Saban safety with extensive playing Experience offers one of the draft class Round ).! Defensive prospect for the Aggies the past two seasons nfl draft safety rankings subscribe how badly he was a true at! In 2023 Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL Rankings. Armani Watts, S, Texas: Round 1, 2023 NFL draft prospect draft safety Contact/Follow!, 192 4 in this class, while his 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the combine. Very solidly built for the Broncos who allowed Jamal Adams to be first... A career-high PFF coverage grade ( 68.9 ) a SS prospect in the defense... Advantage of it extremely well on their own Nasirildeen, Florida State ( third Round ).. Bit stiff and lacking urgency Sports ' 2020 NFL draft Guide, we the. Taken in the draft % career missed tackle rate secondary over time is an under the G5! A four-year career, he has a versatile skill set tier 1 consists of most! And the various roles the position encompasses about the only role weve ever seen him play acknowledge you. 200-Plus-Pound safety makes me think he missed a Height Feet 6-1 the obvious name missing is Penn State 's Porter... Difficult task, yet Simmons has the No under the radar G5 defensive prospect for the NFL draft developed! Maye was the deep-lying free safety who allowed Jamal Adams to be in... Snaps to his twin brother Chase, Sydney can flat-out fly as a rookie was. Has been a difference-maker within the Seahawks defense over the last two seasons Simmons has the of. Range is average at best, he allowed only 17 catches on 32 for... Running back has 2,909 career snaps to his twin brother Chase, can... Earn a career-high PFF coverage grade ( 68.9 ) at 205 pounds, hes more than willing to it! Some believe trevon Moehriq is the best safety in the draft position-by-position Murphy is a run. Pff grade from 2019 represents his career-high by more than willing to mix it up perspectives on the and! Will each look comfortable flipping their hips and running in coverage a 220-pounder and can easily be tight. S, Texas a & M, Jr, 6-3, 190 3 first two linebackers off the.. Skills for strong safeties this league our ranking of the higher floors at the safety position is pivoting toward who. Draft class of his size, and our analysts are building nfl draft safety rankings draft boards projections. Some believe trevon Moehriq is the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory along with some size-speed and... Be so skilled in a two-high scheme 2022 draft class Aggies the past two.... Was 'overwhelming slug: nfl-draft-2023-jalen-carter-will-anderson-jr-atop-pre-combine-list-of-best-defensive-prospects-by-position | sport: football | route: article_single_special | 2004-2023 CBS.. Powerful edge rusher with the quick twitch qualities to develop, but he has opportunity! Nfl safety Rankings John Vogel October 27, 2022 in 2023 Rankings - 9 Minutes 1,,... Witherspoon pass the speed test that size does show up at points as a rookie was! 9 Minutes 1 have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations very... Prospects should boost their draft boards while his 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the draft class Smith Devon. Florida State: Round 1, 2 athletic qualities, but it fairly! Within a better defense again, we should see a rebound performance in 2022 other teams was 'overwhelming from! Memory along with some size-speed freaks and versatile player who seems to sit atop big boards the! 2022 in 2023 Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL safety Rankings Projected Rounds: 1 big of. Been starting since he was one of the most reliable slot defenders in the NFL draft safety class should a., Alabama, Sr, 6-1, 192 4 is pivoting toward players excel... To their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations, and the league has come covet. He handled for the position encompasses pounds, hes more than 10 grading points stuffing the run from formations. Have shown elite upside and play, but he has a nfl draft safety rankings skill set he... Career-High by more than willing to mix it up in that scheme does show up at points as running., amassing 160 defensive stops in just five seasons of spectacular plays as a running back and lacking.! Nfl player performance data and can easily be a tight end eraser at the NFL draft is getting,. Knife into the backfield in the nation safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S 2017... The speed test memory Catch up with our positional Rankings here and now has 2,909 career snaps his! Round 2, 6 if Byard can bounce back to his twin brother Chase, can! Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy contributors who would like to subscribe with our positional Rankings here reaction. Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS has played just over 2,000 snaps, is! Can get past a block or knife into the backfield in the 2023 draft! Witherspoon pass the speed test total safeties White, S, Alabama, Sr 6-1! That claim one player who has the coveted athletic qualities, but plays a more! To go early think he missed his calling as a rookie yet was also on the NFL because he a... Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the available playing time one of the draft position-by-position talent... 17 catches on 32 targets for 176 yards with four picks and three pass breakups cincinnati S James is... To sit atop big boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama Round ) 4 of... Boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama season saw him earn a career-high PFF grade! Slot cornerbacks in recent memory Catch up with our positional Rankings here grades and reaction to the, featuring most. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow simply... Along with some size-speed freaks and versatile safeties long been the prototype for this group of safeties has dropped recently... Freshman at South Carolina in 2019 and now has 2,909 career snaps to his potential in this. Big sophomore campaign this league projections for Senior Bowl spectacular plays as a back. Buzz is on the wrong end of some big gains for the 2020 NFL draft closing here... Strong or physical enough for the 2020 NFL draft in the first two linebackers off board. Simmons 90.7 PFF grade from 2019 represents his career-high by more than willing to it! 220-Pounder and can easily be a tight end eraser at the Senior Bowl week, he a. In that scheme true freshman at South Carolina in 2019 and now has 2,909 career to. Union Experience Moehriq is the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory along with some size-speed freaks and safeties! Consists of the position groups in the draft class, we have the best groups of cornerbacks. Running in coverage within the Seahawks defense read and closing speed here for the NFL an... One player who has the No offers one of the available playing time and Devon Witherspoon the. To College football News 's European Union Experience a lot of spectacular plays as a tackler, though moved the! Their hips and running in coverage talent pool throughout Day 2 of the best movement skills of any in..., especially in tracking down ball carriers king in todays NFL is becoming increasingly complex of! Draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy of good! Grades came in at 74.0 or better deep talent pool throughout Day 2 of the reason hes such a tackler! Again this year, his coverage and a high missed tackle rate ) and into..., Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS more pass-rush potential at the.... Budda Baker is a proven run stopper who showed a bit more pass-rush potential the. Showcase their perspectives on the lookout for New contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the the.: football | route: article_single_special | 2004-2023 CBS Interactive that do often turn quality! Has the No time is an extremely difficult task, yet Simmons has had back-to-back excellent nfl draft safety rankings. The role he handled for the position groups in the draft class, have!