* No. Rankings the 2023 NFL Draft safety prospects with all of their scouting reports linked to their draft profile. 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. 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. Get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and The 2023 NFL Draft safety class should provide a deep talent pool throughout Day 2 of the draft. 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. Mar 18, 2021. By: CollegeFootballNews.com. He made a lot of spectacular plays as a rookie yet was also on the wrong end of some big gains for the offense. Its the 2022 NFL Drafts most underappreciated group at maybe the most The now fifth-year safety missed just two tackles from 67 attempts in 2020. Despite his size, Gillespie Just behind his teammate is Poyer, a similarly versatile safety who allows the Bills to run any kind of coverage shell they want to. He is a tall, high-waisted player capable of flashing downhill or impacting pass lanes. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Broad: 9-8. 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. Tuli Tuipulotu was used as an edge rusher in Los Angeles, but projects to the inside. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. He earned PFF grades in 2020 that were impressive in all facets of play we measure and even had eight total pressures from 31 snaps on the blitz as a rusher. His ability to line up in any safety position within any coverage shell allowed the rest of the pieces to fall into place around him. 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. Here are the 10 most physical safety prospects in this class. He also forced two fumbles, making five in total over the last two seasons. 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. Collins isnt that far removed from a genuine Defensive Player of the Year kind of season, but he has declined sharply since that spectacular 2016 season. 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. Teams looking to add some size, speed, physicality, and athleticism to their secondary will have their share of options at the safety 40 Time: 4.45. Often forgotten men of the team, safeties can make a major difference to the quality of a defense and a secondary. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Savage recorded four picks and seven pass breakups and made several critical hits last year. 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. He can get past a block or knife into the backfield in the blink of an eye. Adrian Amos has become one of the most underrated safeties in the league. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) 2. 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. 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. 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. 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. Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M: Round Maye earned a career-high PFF grade of 82.9 last season, also notching career highs in snaps from the slot and in the box. 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. 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. 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 overall PFF grade dropped, but he was still above average in every facet of play that PFF measures. Yet, Joseph makes this list because of how adeptly he sees the game. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll now receive the top The Draft Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) takes the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Nissan Stadium. Welcome to College Football News's European Union Experience. In-depth prospect rankings with linked reports and all updated player information. That recklessness shows up a bit too often in coverage, but if that can be coached out of him, a drafting team is getting a heck of a player. 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. He can get a little wild as a tackler, although when he does catch a ball carrier cleanly, they stop in their tracks. USA Today Network NFL reporters break down the draft position-by-position. Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. On average, the league has been very consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the past decade. linebackers, particularly in sub packages, and the league has come to covet other skills for strong safeties. Its why I think he can be so skilled in a coverage-first role in a two-high scheme. It offers one of the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory along with some size-speed freaks and versatile safeties. Kyzir White, S, West Virginia: Round 2, 6. This past season, he allowed only 17 catches on 32 targets for 176 yards with four picks and three pass breakups. Hes proven to be exceedingly versatile, playing 510 snaps in the box, 682 deep and 259 from the slot for his career. Production often translates and Anderson has the height, weight and speed to be a top-10 edge rusher in the NFL. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NFL DRAFT GUIDE FOR AS LOW AS 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. Jack Campbell has great size and production for the linebacker position. Tier 2 are the players projected to be taken Day 2. Amos has been the leagues best-graded safety over the past two seasons. 2024 Rankings His range is average at best, and his change-of-direction ability doesn't come close to that of others on this list. Last season saw him earn a career-high PFF coverage grade (68.9). 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. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. The biggest thing preventing him from being the consensus best safety in the NFL is health. JL Skinner will be one of the more impressive prospects in Indianapolis this week. S. All Scouts Average Overall Rank 42.9. But the ones that do often turn into quality starters in the NFL. Antonio Johnson's season was not as inspiring as the 2021 campaign, but he has a versatile skill set. Jamal Adams was thought to be this matchup weapon on defense, a player capable of lining up anywhere and doing his job well, But in Seattle, he has been struggling badly in any role other than one close to the line of scrimmage as more of a classic strong safety. 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. 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. 2021 NFL Draft: Safety Rankings. Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Sr, 6-1, 192 4. Hes extremely steady and rarely caught out of control. NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. The safety A former cornerback, Jackson has transitioned to safety and enjoyed a second career once he moved past the age of 30. James Wiggins, Cincinnati (fourth round) 7. 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. He carries one of the highest floors in the class. Hes elite when on the field, but he needs to stay healthy. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Lets take a look at the future enforcers in the NFL that have entered their name into the 2021 draft. If Porter tests to his potential in Indianapolis this week, he is going to go early. Jevon Holland, Oregon (third round) 5. 1, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. WebGet the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. Joseph is able to read route combinations and anticipate breaks in his sleep. Coverage is king in todays NFL, and the safety position is pivoting toward players who excel deep downfield. Weight Lbs 199lbs. He scored an unofficial 9.11 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. His 90.7 run-defense grade led all safeties in college football, while his 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the FBS. Hes been instinctual ever since he stepped on the field at Alabama for 290 snaps as a true freshman. If youve watched Kyle Hamilton in his role this season with the Ravens, thats a good idea of what we can expect from Johnson at the next level. Updated safety rankings for the 2021 NFL draft. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas: Round 1, 3. 1, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Dax Hill | Michigan. Bench: 16. 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 Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. Experienced Jammie Robinson comes in at No. 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. 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. Four! 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. Those are great strengths to have on the back end. 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 | Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders will almost certainly be the first two linebackers off the board. 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. Will Cam Smith and Devon Witherspoon pass the speed test? Justin Reid, S, Stanford: Round 2, 5. Fast forward a year and Carter is on the doorstep of making good on that claim. In many schemes, a switch to linebacker may even be in the cards. 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. Tier 3 are the Round 4-5 caliber players. Safety in the NFL the ones that do often turn into quality starters in the NFL. Hes one of the best true backend players in the draft class. McCourty wasnt the only player who struggled for the Patriots in 2020, so maybe he can bounce back with the reinforcements they have assembled this year. Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr, 6-2, 210 2. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Super informed fan? Simpson will be one of the top performers at the NFL combine this week. That snap breakdown is precisely what most safeties at the next level will be asked to do. 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. How do the top players at every position stack up? Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Theres nobody better at this than Derwin James. Harrison Smith has long been the prototype for this group of safeties. Luke Easterling. From a testing perspective, theres a chance he puts up the most lackluster numbers at the combine of any player on this list. at 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. Kevin Byard has been a prototypical free safety since he was a draft prospect. As part of Athlon Sports' 2020 NFL Draft Guide, we have ranked each position, including 45 total safeties. Over the past two seasons, Martin has missed all of seven tackles on 129 attempts. 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. 2018 NFL Draft Safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL Safety Rankings Projected Rounds: 1. Henry To'o'To'o had a higher grade last year than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went No. He possesses good size and physicality for the position with average range and physicality. 2021 NFL Draft: Safety Rankings. It offers one of the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory He was one of the most reliable slot defenders in the country, especially in tracking down ball carriers. Thats a tremendous rate for a player often working out in space. 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