DRAFT TRACKER 2021

Very talented height-weight-speed prospect with the range and ball skills to become an impact defender at the next level. Moehrig possesses the overall talent to play in a variety of coverages, including over the slot against big targets, but his talent might be best served as a high safety where his instincts and anticipation lead him to the football. He's a talented ball tracker with soft hands and does a very good job of maintaining balance and positioning to make a play. While he can strike like a pro, he's not always a knock-back tackler and his inconsistent angles to ball-carriers present a bit of a concern as a last line of defense. His 2019 tape was a little better than 2020, but he has the talent and traits to become a good starter early in his career.

Ascending defensive back offering coverage and positional versatility for today's brand of NFL football. Johnson offers enough field fluidity to cover the slot and showed off impressive instincts and ball skills to excite teams about his potential as a high safety. His combination of vision, field awareness and instincts usually have him in the right place at the right time. Johnson is willing as a tackler, but needs to clean up his technique and approach to bolster his run support for the next level. His high football IQ should aid his transition to pro football as a future starter with a strong upside.

Versatile defensive back with good size, above-average instincts and impressive ball skills. Holland plays with good pattern recognition and anticipation underneath. He has the ball greed and competitiveness to make contested catches a challenge for opponents. He's willing and able in run support near the line of scrimmage, giving him value as a big nickel, but he lacks recovery burst and will struggle if he's matched one-on-one with speed from the slot. He has the football IQ and ball skills to handle split-safety duties but needs to continue fine-tuning his tackling technique. His added value as a punt returner should push him up the board a few spots.

Grant offers versatility to play deep or down safety and has decent man-cover ability against matchup tight ends. He's at his best as a high safety, where he has an overview of the field. He can key quarterbacks and use his ballhawking tendencies to force turnovers. His play as a down safety was marked with bouts of coverage confusion from bunch sets and occasional busts. He's a willing, physical tackler but just average when asked to do it in the open field as a last line of defense. Grant's size and length were on full display at the Senior Bowl, where he put together a strong week. He followed that up with a good pro day workout. He has been a fast riser up the boards and should go on Day 2.

Deablo has exceptional size and length. He also has a developing skill set that could make him a match for Cover 3 defenses at the Robber spot or as a hybrid player who's able to handle coverage duties and play near the line of scrimmage. While he has the strength and athletic ability to cover tight ends, he will need to improve his route recognition to make more plays on the football. Deablo has the demeanor to make a living in the box as a bigger body who can slow the run and be used as a matchup defender against teams running heavy 12 personnel. He has the potential to become a starter in the future.

Box safety projection with plus physical traits, but might need additional monitoring to see how he progresses from his ACL tear after playing just two games in 2020. He's a willing leader, good teammate and hard worker who has played for three different head coaches and defensive coordinators. Even while rehabbing, he made road trips to offer guidance and leadership to younger players and was celebrated by the entire sideline after grabbing an interception in one of his 2020 appearances. He can be a strong, capable tackler near the line of scrimmage, but needs to improve his understanding of angles and fundamentals as an open-field tackler. He could benefit from having one consistent teacher who is able to smooth out the wrinkles.

Safety prospect with the physical and athletic profile to make it in the league, but finding the right spot for him could be the key. Gillespie frequently roamed as a single-high safety in the Missouri scheme. He plays with decent instincts on the back-end, but might not have enough range to offer over-the-top help at the next level. He can be fluid in pursuit when running the alleys and working near the line of scrimmage but will need to improve tackle angles to prevent slip outs and misses. He appears to have the strength and athleticism to handle some man coverage on matchup tight ends, but the lack of ball production is a bit of a concern. Gillespie should be an early contributor on special teams with enough versatility to be looked at in a variety of schemes, although there might not be a perfect fit for him.

Boom-or-bust chance-taker with his frenzied, downhill run support at safety. Cisco plays with quick run diagnosis and displays a feel for reading gadget plays. However, he really struggles when it comes to taking proper pursuit angles and finishing as a balanced, wrap-up tackler. He has the athleticism for man coverage but is missing route feel and instincts to stay connected to the pattern. He was never better than his freshman season and he might benefit from fewer man cover duties and more split-safety looks where he can play forward and keep an eye on the quarterback. He plays with fearlessness but his linear, full-speed pursuit diminishes his margin for error greatly and could make him a high-risk safety.

Versatile safety prospect with the size, play strength and coverage ability to be deployed in a variety of positions. He's a plus athlete with above-average length and a playmaker's mindset. He has the foot quickness and anticipation to handle man coverage and contest catches underneath or handle split safety duties, where his awareness and athleticism benefit him. Tape shows an instinctive player who can be a little inconsistent in responding to what he sees. He's tough and physical enough to cover tight ends and play near the line of scrimmage in run support. His angles to the football and inconsistencies as an open-field tackler are a little concerning, but he should be an early backup with the upside to develop into a starter.

Hard-hitting safety whose size, toughness and urgent demeanor will be appealing for NFL teams looking to add some attitude on the back end. While he certainly embraces the role of enforcer when coming forward as a striker, too often his efforts will hit road bumps due to a lack of discipline with coming to balance and squaring/wrapping his target. If a team can correct that issue, he has plenty of value in run support. Davis moves with fluidity and some explosiveness, but he has average instincts and anticipation to shade coverage and attack throws. He's rangy over the top in two-deep and can play interchangeably in the box. His aggressiveness and versatility should create an opportunity as a good backup and eventual starter.

Safety with add-on potential who can come into the box and give his defense an additional linebacker look thanks to his strength and urgency near the line of scrimmage. He can handle zone-cover duties and matchups on in-line tight ends, but lacks the burst and top-end speed to be asked to handle a more expansive role on the back end. He pursues the run with patience and leverage, but will need to quicken his pace some or he could find that NFL speed defeats his angles to the perimeter. He plays with a pro demeanor and toughness, but the medical checks could be his biggest obstacle this draft season. He has box safety and nickel/dime linebacker potential.

Former highly touted recruit who came into Texas with plenty of hype but failed to make the impact that was expected. The size, length and aggressiveness as a hitter are still intriguing traits, but Sterns has moments where he really struggles with diagnosing play design and staying ahead of what the offense is trying to do. He lacks optimal instincts to play single-high, and man coverage can get away from him. He's shown signs of becoming a more reliable open-field tackler and he has the traits to be a better downhill safety than one playing backward. His eye-popping pro day numbers could push him up the draft board by a round, but the concerns about his play remain the same.

Forrest is an urgent player. He's willing and able to play near the line of scrimmage or flow downhill quickly in order to constrict the run lane and defend the flanks against outside runs. His eagerness to jump route fakes and his lack of recovery speed are both very exploitable in man coverage, though. He's comfortable and steady from split zone and has a game that is also suited for playing down near the box. He gets himself blocked by going too far downhill and will have some open-field misses, but what he brings in run support will outweigh those issues.

Sherwood is a big, sure tackler with the striking power to leave a mark. He can intimidate receivers working into the middle of the field and has the size to cover tight ends. He must play down safety or in a robber role as his speed and athletic ability will get him into too many binds and get him beat in the pros. It wouldn't be shocking to see a team eventually look to move him from safety to linebacker, where his athletic ability would go from hindrance to help. He could make the move if he can add more size onto his frame and learn to better take on (or slip) blocks, but most teams will likely view him as a big, scheme-dependent safety who is tough but limited.

Defensive back with adequate size to play free safety or as a big nickel near the line of scrimmage. Williams doesn't have the loose lowers or long speed to carry routes down the field, but he plays with adequate route anticipation and coverage burst to handle some off-man and zone duties from nickel. His play attributes could lend themselves to a role as a backup safety but he'll need to elevate his run support to stick around and fight off competition for his spot.

Very undersized college safety with low-end size and high-end play traits. Washington falls well below the desired measurables for a safety, but he plays with outstanding instincts and aggression in everything he does. He has good foot quickness and really reads play development and quarterback intentions with clear eyes. He's quicker than fast and there is some concern about how he will match up down the field against NFL size. He's a physical striker when he plays near the line, but can be pushed around by big bodies at times. Several teams will scratch him from their boards based on his size, but a move to nickel cornerback with man or zone talent could help him find NFL snaps regardless of stature.

Explosive tester with compact, muscular frame whose 2018 tape was simply better than what he put out in 2020 coming off his ACL injury. There is a good chance Wiggins will continue to find himself after another season removed from his injury. His short-area twitch and ability to quickly close on routes in front of him can be impressive. His 2018 ball production was no accident, as he frequently created opportunities for himself to make plays on the football, but he's much better moving forward than when asked to transition and cover lateral route breaks. He's tough and willing, but too small to cover NFL tight ends. In addition, his lack of reactive agility and length as an open-field tackler create concerns. He'll impress in a workout, but might have a ceiling as an NFL backup.

Has size and length but is missing the speed to handle man coverage down the field. He plays with good instincts and awareness when allowed to play with his eyes forward from off coverage and has adequate ball skills and solid ball production. He might have some man cover potential on tight ends but is more consistent from short zone and can be mismatched in space if asked to play deep. He's an aggressive, willing tackler in run support but he can often be found flying in too hot when filling downhill or missing the mark as an open-field tackler. There are traits and ball production to work with, which could make him a future backup.

Interchangeable safety carrying good weight on a long frame. He was tasked with more slot coverage this past season, which worked against him from a ball-production standpoint. He's much more effective breaking downhill than laterally and appears to be better suited in coverage as a split zone safety, where he can range and use his ball skills playing over the top. One concern will be his inconsistency as a last-resort tackler when playing from the post. He's a good tackler and striker near the line of scrimmage, so figuring out how to play him and where to play him could be critical, but he has NFL backup talent and traits.

Stevens is in a precarious position as either an undersized linebacker with just average toughness at the point of attack or an oversized safety lacking instincts and coverage speed. He played heavier in 2020 and simply didn't look as quick or as agile as he did in 2019. He displays some of the downhill run-defending characteristics teams will look for as a box safety but will need to lock in against tight ends to add legitimate coverage value. Determining his scheme fit and finding his optimal weight will be critical for him to have success on the next level.

Webb has handled the Star position for Georgia (which is essentially a big nickel back) but doesn't have the necessary speed or short-area quickness in coverage to continue playing that position in the pros. He's tough at the point of attack and does the dirty work in run support, so box safety is his likely designation during the evaluation process. It will be a challenge for him to make it as a defensive back, so adding weight and rebranding himself as a lighter backup linebacker and core special teamer might be a side door that could be under consideration.

Safety with a slender build but the mindset of a box thumper when flying downhill. LeCounte is very willing and capable as a striker on targets coming over the middle, but lacks the size and tackle strength to go heads-up against NFL runners and not take the worst of it. He can be opportunistic in coverage with good field awareness and decent ball skills, but his ability to carry deep speed down the field or match athleticism with quality receivers in space is a concern. He has backup potential but his lack of special teams experience might work against him.

DeLuca has played in two-deep, single-high and slot-man coverage with varying degrees of success. He has adequate size with decent athleticism, but his instincts and field recognition help to speed up his play and take him to the football. His paths to the football are fairly accurate when playing over the top, but his speed to range and get there on time to make a play is suspect on the next level. DeLuca is a willing, aggressive run supporter but might not have enough reactive athleticism to get to as many tackles as teams would like. The traits are average but his nose for the ball gives him a chance.

While USM used him in a variety of ways, Hemby fits best as an old-school box safety with an aggressive demeanor. He has the stopping power to take on big running backs with success in run support and Hemby's physical profile makes him suited to handle man cover duties against tight ends. However, his lack of recognition and desired coverage traits should limit what teams ask of him. He has a chance to become a capable special teams talent, which improves his chances of making a roster as a backup.

Safety prospect who played both high and low for Oregon as a one-year starter. There is no doubting his feel and instincts when you watch him play. Breeze plays with a willful demeanor and is fun to watch on special teams. However, he lacks the height/weight/speed components typical of make-it players at his position and teams might not feel comfortable keeping him around as a special-teamer if they don’t trust him to overcome his athletic shortcomings.

Likely box safety candidate with an NFL frame whose durability and production are quality check marks in his evaluation. Key is a four-year starter known for his work ethic off the field and the energy he brings to the field. His size, speed and explosiveness numbers will matter to some teams, but it's not always easy to see those attributes translating to the field when it comes to the athleticism needed in coverage and as an open-field tackler. Key is trustworthy around the line of scrimmage and is ready to do his part to stuff the run. With his measurables and potential as a special teams contributor, it would not be a surprise to see him get a shot in the NFL.

Stocky safety/nickel hybrid with good strength and a compact frame but a lack of desired agility in coverage. Bledsoe played nickel primarily and had a disappointing ratio of touchdowns allowed to plays on the ball during his career. His hips tend to hang up when he tries to flip and mirror route breaks. He's missing the make-up burst to close the distance and prevent the catch against NFL-caliber receivers. Bledsoe plays with strength from press and good awareness from short zone, which might be the best option for what he brings to the table. He plays with plenty of toughness and competitiveness, but his coverage limitations and lack of traits are concerns.

A team might fall in love with the combination of size, speed and explosiveness, but it simply doesn't manifest itself enough on tape to buy all the way in. His issues digesting combo routes and his leggy transitions are serious concerns when tasked with man coverage duties. Coyle has the speed and athletic ability to range and make plays on the football both downhill and over the top, but he only did that in one season. He appears to be a better tester than impact talent, but traits often earn players a longer look at the next level.

Seeing Thompson in the San Diego State uniform and observing his instincts and ball skills is very reminiscent of watching former Aztec and current NFL safety Damontae Kazee. Thompson isn't as long or loose as Kazee, but the way he processes the field in coverage is impressive. His ball production spanned all four seasons, so it's a talent and not a fluke. He's good at responding to route combinations and to clues from the quarterback, but he lacks the short-area burst to make up ground when he gets behind in the route. He's tight in his hips and runs with short strides, limiting his overall range and recovery talent. While those are legitimate concerns on the pro level, the football IQ and instincts could get him drafted if he runs well enough.

Came out of high school as one of the top athletes from the state of Ohio when signing with the Buckeyes. He started at receiver before switching to safety as a freshman and spent three seasons at Ohio State before transferring to reunite with his former defensive coordinator from the Buckeyes, Greg Schiano. He's big and plays physical enough to handle himself near the line of scrimmage. His average speed and burst to close shows up in coverage since he doesn't have much anticipation. While he's not going to stand out in any one area, his size and potential to bang on tight ends should get him into a camp to compete for a role as box safety.

Came into Arizona State as a highly regarded safety, but played in only one game last season after losing his starting job and being suspended by the team before he opted out. While NFL teams might end up having major concerns regarding character, concerns over mental mistakes and man coverage inconsistencies should be concerning, too. Crosswell might have to try to make a team as an undrafted free agent.

Box safety with good size and toughness but missing key elements for both coverage and run support duties. Johnson is more than happy to mix it up but needs to do a better job of locating his run fit and operating with better patience as an open-field tackler. He doesn't have the speed, range or recognition to play on the back-end and could struggle to stay connected with quality pass-catching tight ends as they work through the route. His best shot will be to ball out on special teams in order to make his case.

Murphy played the safety and big-nickel spots at Mississippi State, but neither position seems to suit him as a pro prospect. He has coverage limitations from the slot and lacks recovery speed and instincts as a high safety. He has the size to be a forceful hitter, but has way too many missed tackles for any NFL team to trust him as a last line of defense.

Ball-hawking safety with anticipatory traits and instincts that get the best of him at times, putting his team in harm's way. Against lesser quarterbacks, he shows off his ability to key the quarterback and get early jumps on throws whether from his role as split safety, slot corner or short-zone defender. However, NFL quarterbacks and play-callers will target his eagerness and take advantage of his willingness to get pulled out of position. He possesses below-average size in run support but is ready and willing to do his part, which will be appreciated. Ultimately, he's a feast-or-famine defender who needs a role that doesn't put him in position to be a last line of defense.

Played at Cincinnati as a productive, undersized linebacker with the ability to step outside and cover from time to time, but he'll need to rebrand as a box safety or dime linebacker moving forward. White has plenty of toughness to play near the line, but his lack of length and pace leads to missed open-field tackles. He's not bad at navigating around blocks and can handle zone cover duties underneath, but man coverage could be a challenge for him. His lack of size and true position fit could be too much to overcome, but box safety is his best shot.

Celebrated HBCU safety with good size and quality production over his last two seasons. Cole plays to his size with good physicality as a hitter and at the catch point. He has the hands to take the ball away, but his lack of speed and short-area burst will be very troubling against NFL targets if matched man-to-man. While he can body and finish running backs as a tackler, he's below average as an open-field tackler, which is a major concern.

Oft-injured safety with experience in a variety of schemes and the athletic ability to offer some versatility. The measurables were great at his pro day, but he doesn't play to his size, lacking tackle strength and heavy pads. Anderson can gain ground from high safety with a smooth pedal and has the hips to transition and adequately chase routes. There aren't enough instincts for NFL ball production, though, and his run support success is below average against lesser competition. His special teams background and impressive testing could get him into a camp if teams are OK with the medical evaluation.

Safety prospect with adequate size and speed but missing a skill set to help him stand out against other safeties in this class. In fact, White's draft standing might have taken a bit of a hit in 2020 due to issues in coverage. He struggles to find his footing as a decision-maker against combination routes and doesn't play with enough leverage to stay in the playmaking vicinity. He has moments as a downhill run supporter, but was unreliable in that area this past season.

Smallish safety with two years as a full-time starter. Brown has plenty of experience playing inside the box, but he's not as pesky or physical as you would like for that role. He's a high-energy player with athletic feet and adequate coverage instincts. He looks natural in off-man coverage when matched against the slot. However, he doesn't have the tools to play over the top of the defense. He has camp potential but lacks some important traits for an NFL safety.

Wade is a two-year starter light on traits, but he tested well enough to garner some attention. At the end of the day, he's too small to handle NFL safety duties and lacks makeup burst and coverage talent to make plays in the passing game.

Crawford has played corner and safety but nickel back will be the spot where he has the best chance to make it in the pros. He's too slight to play safety and lacks the speed or burst necessary for a cornerback expected to handle coverage down the field. He has quick feet and plays with enough athleticism to stay close to routes underneath. However, he is likely to be targeted and exploited as a run defender on the next level. The injury history and underwhelming traits could keep Crawford from sticking on a roster.