2023 Safeties

Top 100QBRB – WRTEOTIOL – EDGEDLLBCBS

Grade Scale for Ceiling/Floor: High-End Starter: 80+ | Avg. Starter: 60-79 | Backup/Situational Starter: 40-59 | Roster Filler: 20-39 | Camp Invite: 0-19 |
NFL Readiness: Graded on 0-5 scale
Grade calculation: Average of Ceiling(x3) and Floor + NFL readiness
RAS: Relative Athletic Score
RkPlayerPosSchoolHtWtArmFortyVertRASCeilingFloorReadyGradeScouting Report
S1Brian BranchS Alabama5'11"19030.75"4.5834.5"6.1087503.581.3Two-year starter as a strong safety/slot corner. Very little experience in the deep secondary and there may be concerns about his range if asked to play free safety. Did not test well at the combine, but does not appear to be lacking athleticism on the field. Strength is his football intelligence, which suggests his ability to anticipate would cover up for his modest speed in deep secondary. Does not make a ton of plays on the ball 一 shorter arms and poor vertical likely a factor here. Slightly undersized for a box safety, but plays bigger and can be a hard hitter and rarely misses tackle opportunities. Will be a 21-year-old rookie. Should be a reliable strong safety at worst, but questions about his athleticism and versatility add volatility to his draft stock.
S2Ji'Ayir BrownS Penn State5'11"20331.25"4.6532.5"4.598253478.8Spent two years at JUCO and three years at Penn State, two as a starter. Played a versatile role, primarily lining up in the deep secondary as a senior but taking more snaps in the box during his junior year. Spectacular on-ball production in the deep secondary 一 reads the quarterback and closes quickly. Consistently around the ball in the run game, takes great pursuit angles, but doesn’t wrap up as consistently as you’d like. Inefficiencies in his tackling makes playing in the box a question mark, though he does have the physical traits for it. Leadership skills, special teams ability and versatility set a very high floor and playmaking ability sets a high ceiling, especially for a role at free safety.
S3JL SkinnerS Boise State6'4"20932"------8045475.3Three-year starter, playing a versatile role in the secondary. Took most of his reps as a strong safety in the box or the slot, but showed exceptional on-ball production in the deep secondary. Rare height for the position, which can be an issue when trying to match up with smaller, quicker slot receivers 一 if he’s playing in the slot, you’ll probably need to be aware of matchups and put him in favorable situations. Mediocre run game production 一 typically in position to make plays, but just lacks the strength to consistently wrap up. Unable to work out this offseason due to a pec injury, so no testing numbers are unavailable. Versatility is an asset, but if you play him in the box at a high rate he may prove to be a liability in the run game. Best fit is in the deep secondary where his range and ability to read/react will create big plays.
S4Sydney BrownS Illinois5'10"21131.5"4.4740.5"9.638048375.0Five-year starter who flourished under Bret Bielema and DC Ryan Walters in Illinois’s man-heavy coverage scheme as their strong safety/slot corner. Adept and locating and playing the ball in coverage. Despite seeing significant action in the box, stopping the run is not his strength. Although he’s a willing tackler, his lack of size/strength shows up and he’ll miss too many 一 often diving at legs instead of wrapping up. Twin brother is running back Chase Brown (also a prospect in this class). Should make an immediate impact in coverage, but may not be trusted on early-downs due to some deficiencies defending the run.
S5Quan MartinS Illinois5'11"19431.125"4.4644"--8242375.0Five-year starter playing everywhere in the secondary. Closed out his redshirt-senior year playing outside corner in a man-heavy scheme and played at a high enough level to legitimately be considered a pure cornerback prospect. In 2021, lined up almost exclusively at slot corner. Lack of size would probably limit his effectiveness lining up in the box, but he’s been a reliable contributor against the run throughout his career. In coverage, is able to consistently find and play the ball, which was especially impressive given the rate at which he was lining up in man coverage over his final two seasons. Experience and production throughout the secondary sets a high floor for him as a valuable backup, but he also has starter potential at cornerback (slot or outside) and as a free safety.
S6Jammie RobinsonS Florida State5'11"19129.625"4.59--4.897550472.8Four-year starter (two at South Carolina, two at Florida State) as a versatile safety, though seeing more action as a strong safety in the box and slot. Consistent production throughout his career is tough to overlook, but his lack of size and poor testing numbers have to be factored in. Looks natural in coverage in the slot and has a knack for finding the ball. Ability to put himself in position to make plays shows an obviously high football IQ. Inconsistent tackling may limit his ability to play in the box against the run, but should provide value in coverage in slot or in the deep secondary. Despite lack of size and athleticism, bet on him as an intelligent playmaker. Testing numbers and measurables are below average across the board and below thresholds some teams demand for the position.
S7Antonio JohnsonS Texas A&M6'2"19832.125"4.5231"5.2478402.571.0Two-year starter as a box safety/slot corner. Ideal length for matching up with tight ends in coverage. Capable tackler but lacks consistency 一 just misses too many without one consistent mistake linking them, making it harder to identify a quick fix. Mediocre athleticism, coupled with rare height, means he likely can’t be a true slot corner 一 smaller, quicker slot receivers will exploit his lack of speed/agility. Lacks awareness in coverage to locate and play the ball 一 made virtually no plays on the ball throughout his college career. Very little experience in the deep secondary and lack of speed may limit his range there. Size and flashes of physical play makes him a potential starter at strong safety, but height and issues in coverage make him a potential liability against the pass, setting a low floor.
S8Marte MapuS Sacramento State------------6850265.5Spent six years in college (but Sac State’s 2020 season was canceled) and will be a 24-year-old rookie. Did not work out this offseason due to a torn pec, which will force him further down draft boards 一 no workout for a small-school prospect leaves too many questions unanswered. Primarily played the hybrid linebacker/safety role with lots of experience in the box and the slot. Impressive on-ball production for someone primarily in the box and the slot. Any team using this hybrid role in their defense (think Deone Bucannon with the Cardinals or Mark Barron with the Rams) will have interest in Mapu. Despite the lack of testing numbers, he’s a fairly safe prospect because his skillset clearly translates to a special teams role, setting an acceptable floor.
S9Jordan BattleS Alabama6'1"20932"4.55--8.996255565.3Four-star recruit who started a few games as a true freshman and stepped into a starting role as a sophomore. Team captain and Saban speaks highly of his work ethic, leadership and intelligence 一 it takes a lot to earn the trust of that staff at such a young age. Primarily played in the deep secondary but has taken plenty of reps in the slot and in the box. Highly productive and reliable tackler 一 very willing to step up in the run game. Really struggles to put himself in position to play the ball 一 a major red flag for someone who spent so much time in the deep secondary. Might be better off playing in the box, but there will be matchups against quicker slot receivers he can’t handle. Versatility and ability to play special teams sets a higher floor, as he’s virtually guaranteed to provide valuable depth even if he can’t win a starting job.
S10Christopher SmithS Georgia5'11"19231.125"4.62----68384.565.0Four-star recruit who spent five years at Georgia, two as a starter. Almost exclusively lined up in the deep secondary, with some experience in the slot but almost none in the box. Probably lacks the size to have the versatility to play in the box, and lacks ideal athleticism to play in the slot 一 if he’s a free safety only, that significantly lowers his floor as he may need to win a starting job to hold down a roster spot. Showed decent range in the deep secondary, and makes up for modest speed with an exceptional ability to read and react to the quarterback. Worth noting UGA’s high rate of two-high coverages limited the range he needed to cover. Range and ability to make plays on the ball definitely give him the ceiling of a potential starter, ideally with a team relying on two-high coverages.
S11Daniel ScottS California6'1"20830.25"4.4539.5"9.870.0
S12Brandon HillS Pittsburgh5'10"19330.75"4.4335.5"7.470.0
S13Jason TaylorS Oklahoma State------------0.0
S14Anthony Johnson Jr.S Iowa State6'2"20532.625"4.6330.5"9.110.0
S15Brandon JosephS Notre Dame6'0"20230.875"4.6230.5"5.840.0
S16Ronnie HickmanS Ohio State6'0"20333"------0.0
S17Chammari ConnerS Virginia Tech------------0.0
S18Kaevon MerriweatherS Iowa6'0"20531.875"4.6235.5"6.620.0
S19Trey Dean IIIS Florida6'2"20031.75"4.7536.5"--0.0
S20Christian IzienS Rutgers------------0.0
S21Jay WardS LSU6'1"18832.5"4.5534.5"8.020.0
S22Quindrell JohnsonS Memphis------------0.0