2024 Safeties

#01 - Malik Mustapha FS/SS Wake Forest

Positives

+Blistering downhill defender

+Enough range to play at the high safety spot

+Smooth backpedal 
+Fantastic run instincts

+Great tackler

Areas of Improvement

-Height and length are undesired 

-Lack of feel for coverage but this is the thing coaches look to fix

Quick Hit

Where is the love for Mustapha? What he possesses is the stuff you cannot train: heart, the ability to come blistering downhill, square up, lock in, and make a secure tackle. He effortlessly backpedals and transitions while also having the range to cover the deep part of the field. What he lacks is coachable, but what he has, you'd be hard-pressed to find, let alone cultivate, in a prospect.

Grade: (85.6) - 2nd Round Grade

#02 - Jaden Hicks SS/FS Washington State

Positives

+Ideal size

+Good speed, enough range to satisfy the role of free safety

+Trash talker

+High end physicality; has legitimate punishing blows

+Intelligent run defender 

+Likes to keep things in front because he trust his eyes and it lets him be aggressive

+Ball skills  

Areas of Improvement

-Aggressiveness gets him caught, leading to missed tackles 

-High pedal has him tight hipped and grasping to gain depth in zone

-Struggles with transition and lateral mobility lead to struggles in man coverage

Quick Hit

Hicks is the ideal strong safety of the class that bring free safety flexibility. Hicks understands his limitations, likes to keep plays in front of him and attack downhill. High competitive who can bring the pain with hits and it appears words on the football field as he can get animated after the play. 

Grade: (84.75) - 2nd Round Grade

#03 - Tyler Nubin FS Minnesota

Positives

+Stellar zone instincts that have turned him into a ball hawk

+All time leader in interceptions in school history

+When its working he can come downhill quick and hard

+Special teams player throughout career

Areas of Improvement

-Average range makes him cautious

-Some hip tightness

-The caution that he plays with has him late to play run

Quick Hit

Nubin showcases stellar zone instincts, evident in his remarkable ability to read plays and create turnovers. As the all-time leader in interceptions in school history, his knack for making game-changing plays is undeniable. While capable of coming downhill quickly and with force, his average range sometimes leads to cautious play, an area he'll need to address for a smoother transition to the NFL.

Grade: (83.55) - 3rd Round Grade

#04 - Cole Bishop FS/SS Utah

Positives

+Ideal size

+Great range

+Secure tackler with pop when coming downhill

+Experience at all three spots

+Good football intelligence

Areas of Improvement

-How he plays causes him to lack eye discipline

-Small arms gets him stuck on blocks

-Occasionally tackles high

Quick Hit

Bishop comes in with ideal size and great range to play two or single high safety. I am higher on his transition ability than the big names in the industry. He is a secure tackler, takes pride in it and brings pop when he is speeding downhill. However, his occasional lapses in discipline and hesitance to attack due to his smaller arms are areas for improvement. Nonetheless, he presents as a solid prospect overall, with notable upside in the right system

Grade: (83.45) - 3rd Round Grade

#05 - Javon Bullard FS/SS Georgia

Positives

+Highly intelligent, communicates well, and feel as though in zine he can see a play before it develops 

+Competitive nature 

+High end ball skills, break ups and picks, while being undersized 

+Solid tackler

+Takes great angles to football

Areas of Improvement

-Worse game athlete than tested

-Can be a step late in man coverage

-While others have concerns to be a high safety my concerns are more in man coverage out of slot

Quick Hit

Bullard possesses a high football IQ, evident in his exceptional communication and anticipation skills, allowing him to anticipate plays before they unfold, particularly in zone coverage. His competitive nature fuels his drive on the field, complementing his high-end ball skills and run support. For me his eval reminds me a lot on how I felt about Geno Stone. Just too smart not to see the field

Grade: (82.15) - 3rd Round Grade

#06 - Calen Bullock FS/NB USC

Positives

+Rangy free safety with nickel/slot versatility 

+True center fielder 

+Elite length

+Incredible fluidity 

+Willing tackler

+Ball tracker

Areas of Improvement

-Nickname is sticks and it is evident where it comes from 

-Lacks anticipation, can be manipulated in zone coverage by quarterback and takes quick but early angles to the running back in run support

Quick Hit

Bullock is such a fluid mover, and with the speed and length he possesses, he can effectively eliminate the entire deep part of the field. He's a willing tackler, and I believe he's more solid than he's given credit for, but when coming downhill, his form significantly deteriorates.

Grade: (82.05) - 3rd Round Grade

#07 - Kamren Kinchens FS/SS Miami

Positives

+Played all three safety spots

+Strong tackler

+Presents decent fluidity 

+Went without penalties all last season

+Knack for playing football, brings down the dreaded tips and overthrows  

+Just a really instinctual player

Areas of Improvement

-Leaves too much space between himself and the receiver he guards 

-Can take poor angles to the football 

-Doesn't support the run with urgency from the top position

-Limited range

Quick Hit

Kinchens brings versatility having played all three safety positions and showcases strong tackling ability on the field. He demonstrates decent fluidity and remarkable discipline, going penalty-free throughout the last season. With a natural instinct for the game, he capitalizes on opportunities. However, he struggles with maintaining optimal positioning relative to receivers, occasionally taking poor angles to the football, and lacks urgency in run support from the top position.

Grade: (80.8) - 3rd Round Grade

#08 - Dadrion Taylor-Demerson FS/NB Texas Tech

Positives

+Fantastic range

+Has good field vision that allows him to find his missed assignment and speed allows him to recover nicely 

+Effective blitzer

+Takes decent angles downhill 

+Ball skills are a positive 

Areas of Improvement

-Undersized for position 

-Manipulated off assignment with play action or motion 

-Play strength must improve

Quick Hit

Taylor-Demerson's susceptibility to play action or motion can sometimes draw him away from his assignment, yet his broad field vision, impressive range, and quick recovery speed enable him to readjust and remain poised for success. He has honed his attacking skills, demonstrating effectiveness as a blitzer and displaying improved judgment in his angles to the football.

Grade: (80.025) - 3rd Round Grade

#09 - Kitan Oladapo SS Oregon State

Positives

+Elite length that allows him to makes plays at catch point

+Ideal size for strong safety

+Strong finisher

+Good football intelligence, understands route concepts and receiver objectives but just can't make up for it athletically sometimes 

Areas of Improvement

-Lack of speed, and fluidity is apparent in man coverage 

-Heavy blitzer 

-Can be tentative with blocks and needs to improve on disengagement

Quick Hit

Oladapo is a box safety whose intelligence has kept him on the field and in the play. Ideal size and length to play down he's going to need to bring his physicality to every play at next level. The athleticism gap will increase at the next level, the hope is his positives outweigh his negatives. Certainly has the traits to become a standout special teamer. 

Grade: (78.825) - 4th Round Grade

#10 - Jaylin Simpson FS/NB Auburn

Positives

+Length

+Elite ball skills

+Some fluidity but needs to fix backpedal

+Speed

+Comes down with some physicality despite size

Areas of Improvement

-High backpedal

-Lack of anticipation 

-Late to recognize the play

-Takes poor angles to ball carrier

Comp: Jalen Mills

Grade: (71.625) - 6th Round Grade

#11 - Tykee Smith SS/NB Georgia

Positives

+Good length 

+Solid recovery speed

+Nice anticipation in run game=, very solid attacking LOS

+Solid tackler

Areas of Improvement

-Heavy injury history needs to be checked 

-Fluidity is an issue 

-Limitations in coverage, heavy blitzer

Grade: (70.775) - 6th Round Grade

#12 - Beau Brade SS Maryland

Positives

+Good size

+See how his translate will translate to solid special teams player at next level

+Decent understanding of zone concepts, stays unfazed

+Has the ability and see the growth potential on taking on and defeating blocks at a consistent rate

+Large hands

Areas of Improvement

-Tackling miscues 

-Change of direction is minimal 

-Lacks the range to play and cover deep parts of field 

Grade: (68.35) - 7th Round/PFA Grade

#13 - Sione Vaki SS Utah

Positives

+Two way player

+Play faster than he was tested

+Can produce thumping hits

Areas of Improvement

-Can loose the receiver in coverage

-Limited hip fluidity

-Needs to work to correct tackling form to reduce missed tackles

Grade: (64.85) - 7th Round/PFA Grade