Welcome to draft season! This is the ninth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 27-29). Here are my top 10 safeties:
— 1. Brian Branch (Jr., Alabama, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds)
Branch isn't a "freakish" athlete, but can play anywhere in the secondary and is one of the surest tacklers you will find in a defensive backfield. He was the only FBS player with 90-plus tackles, 14-plus tackles for loss and at least two interceptions in 2022. Searching for weakness in Branch's game is a little like trying to find Waldo. Projected: Round 1
— 2. Antonio Johnson (Jr., Texas A&M, 6-1, 198)
Johnson is a rangy, versatile impact tackler whose size and athleticism will allow defensive coordinators to get creative. Some of his freestyle tendencies will need to be reined in. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— 3. Ji'Ayir Brown (Sr., Penn State, 5-11, 203)
Brown earned JUCO All-American honors at Lackawanna College as a sophomore before ending up in Happy Valley. His size and athletic ability checked out in Indy. He's a versatile defensive back who can cover the slot, play in the box or patrol center field as a safety. He was highly productive as a team captain for the Nittany Lions in 2022 with a team-high 74 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Brown was also the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl in Penn State's victory over Utah. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 4. Sydney Brown (Sr., Illinois, 5-9, 211)
Brown showcased his ball-hawk skills with six interceptions last season (led Big Ten). He's an impact player around the line of scrimmage as well. There's some footwork issues in zone coverage that needs to be coached up, but the Illini team captain features all the tools to be a star at the next level and he likely made himself some money with his performance in Indy. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 5. Jartavius Martin (Sr., Illinois, 5-11, 194)
Martin is a five-year starter with a high football IQ and plenty of speed and athleticism to spare. His 44-inch vertical, 11-1 broad jump and 1.44 10-yard split was tops among safeties at the combine. He primarily focused on defending the slot the last two seasons, where he exhibited premium ball skills (22 passes defended and four interceptions the past two years). He's a bit undersized, so focusing on the slot in the NFL could help shield him away from bigger receivers in coverage. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— 6. Jordan Battle (Sr., Alabama, 6-1, 209)
Battle was considered a potential first-rounder last year had he left school early, but he used his senior season to become a better tackler and more reliable run supporter (he was already dynamic in coverage). Whether it's innate or the product of film study, he's one of the more instinctively gifted players you're going to find at the position and he knows what to do once he has the ball in his hands. Battle returned three of his six career interceptions for a touchdown, and averaged 26 yards per return. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— 7. Christopher Smith (Sr., Georgia, 5-10, 192)
Smith was originally a four-star recruit at cornerback and is a bit undersized for a free safety, but he flies around the field with reckless abandon, and proved more effective attacking downhill — he had five tackles for a loss in 2022 as an unanimous All-American. He also produced six interceptions his last two seasons in Athens and was one of the leaders of a star-studded defense that led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 8. JL Skinner (Sr., Boise State, 6-3, 209)
The San Diego native suffered a torn pectoral muscle during his training before the combine and wasn't able to participate in on-field drills in Indy, but his versatility, size, ball skills and athleticism will keep him in the running to be drafted on day two. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 9. Jammie Robinson (Sr., Florida State, 5-10, 191)
Robinson was a three-star recruit, and two-year starter at South Carolina, before transferring to Tallahassee because of a coaching change. Big receivers and tight ends can challenge him over the top, but Robinson is a sure tackler, who is an asset against the run and features the versatility to play free safety or nickel back. He was the first FSU defender to earn first team All-ACC in two straight seasons since Jalen Ramsey (2014-15). Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 10. Jason Taylor II (Sr., Oklahoma State, 5-11, 204)
Taylor lacks elite speed, but his 43-inch vertical was second among all combine prospects and his impressive instincts seem to always put him around the ball. He produced 19 passes defensed and eight interceptions the past two seasons. He's also blocked a field goal and returned an interception, fumble and onside kick for a TD since 2020. Projected: Rounds 4-5
— BONUS: Ronnie Hickman (Jr., Ohio State, 6-0, 203)
Hickman was a four-star recruit, and top-10 safety in the 2019 class. He played more of a hybrid linebacker/safety role in 2021, before transitioning to free safety as a junior, which cut his tackles in half, but he led the Buckeyes in passes defensed (seven) in 2022. He was unable to work out at the combine or his pro day because of a right hip labrum injury suffered in March. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— BONUS: Chamarri Conner (Sr., Virginia Tech, 6-0, 202)
A defensive coaching staff will fall in love with Conner's versatility, physicality and play recognition. He's a team captain who alternated between linebacker, safety and slot cornerback. He actually led the Hokies in sacks (5.5) as a freshman and was a special teams ace in college (over 800 snaps). There are missed tackles sprinkled throughout his tape, mostly due to his aggressive nature. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Jay Ward (Sr., LSU, 6-0, 188)
Ward was a three-star recruit at cornerback who split his 23 starts for the Tigers at safety, cornerback and in the slot. He's blocked two field goals in his collegiate career after blocking four field goals in high school. He features natural ball skills in coverage, but his thin build doesn't do him any favors as a tackler. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Marte Mapu (Sr., Sacramento State, 6-3, 221)
Mapu couldn't test or work out for NFL teams after suffering a torn right pectoral muscle in February that required surgery. The Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year has elite size and ball skills — 20 passes defensed and six interceptions the last two seasons — and played well against two FBS opponents (Colorado State and Cal). Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Brandon Joseph (Jr., Notre Dame, 6-0, 202)
Joseph looked like a future first-rounder as a freshman and consensus All-American at Northwestern, leading the FBS in interceptions (six in only nine games). His last two seasons have been uneven at best. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Isaiah Bolden (Sr., Jackson State, 6-2, 201)
Bolden was a four-star recruit who began his collegiate career at Florida State before joining head coach Deion Sanders in Mississippi. His technique and play recognition at corner needs work, but he's an elite athlete who ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at his pro day and was a dominant kick returner in 2021. He led the nation with 36.9 yards per return and had two kick returns for TDs, both over 90-plus yards. Projected: PFA
