DRAFT TRACKER 2022

High-impact safety with unique blend of traits and characteristics that make him a bit of a unicorn at the position. Hamilton has the eyes and speed to play over the top, the strength and toughness to play near the line, and coverage length to guard elite pass-catching tight ends who often mismatch opposing defenses. It's rare to find such a ferocious striker and intimidator who has the football intelligence and athletic prowess to go make plays in the passing game, but Hamilton provides it all. He thrives playing downhill or sinking into a robber alignment on the back-end but will have occasional missteps in coverage when in retreat from his pedal. Hamilton has the traits and football character to transition from standout college moments to a standout pro career as a future Pro Bowler with All-Pro potential.

Athletic safety prospect whose versatility and toughness will endear him to coaches during the evaluation process. Brisker continued to pick up elements of the defensive scheme and his play has steadily transformed from hesitant in 2019 to downright instinctive in 2021. He has the versatility to become a moving chess piece in a variety of coverages and has the size and talent to match up with both "Y" and "F" tight ends. He played with a banged-up shoulder in 2021 so his 2020 tape is a clearer indicator of his run support acumen. Brisker is an ascending talent with the NFL traits to become a long-time starter as a Day 2 draft pick.

Skilled enforcer with the size, toughness and instincts to put his stamp on the game in a variety of ways. Cook plays with the confidence and consistency of a pro safety and loves to run and hit. His blend of football intelligence, athleticism and physicality makes him an ideal fit for matchup-oriented defenses looking for versatile back-end chameleons. He can be used as an add-on run defender, match up on "F" tight ends or play on the back-end. Cook needs to answer questions about his speed and play with focus and leverage as an open-field tackler, but he's reliable and talented. He could become a good starter early in his career.

Hybrid safety/nickel with an outstanding blend of speed, explosiveness and coverage versatility. Hill is a smooth, twitchy athlete who is unencumbered in his coverage movements. He's rangy playing over the top, has the eyes and burst to play zone, and the oily hips and length to shade bigger slots in man coverage. He can trigger quickly downhill to cut off angles in run support but his play demeanor is more run-and-cover than run-and-hit near the line. Hill has premium athletic traits, enticing coverage talent and the ability to make plays on the ball from anywhere he is aligned. He's sure to be a coveted target for defenses trapped in pass-happy divisions.

Cross operated as the bouncer of the Maryland defense, playing with the aggression and explosiveness to throw opponents out of the club. He is a chase player who seeks to make a statement upon impact and has impressive stopping power near the line or as an open-field tackler. He's a tight-hipped, linear mover, so flipping and flying are not his strong suit. He's capable of matching with most flavors of tight end and will be most comfortable in coverages that allow him to play with a downhill trigger. He has the temperament, size and toughness to become an eventual starter in the league.

Cine plays with a willing aggressiveness that fit right in with Georgia's talented stop unit. He plays with an urgent, downhill approach, which leads to memorable collisions but he's not always under control in getting there. He doesn't have desired mass and stopping power for his style of play, but the work gets done. Cine lacks range and instincts to play over the top and is better suited to split safety and down safety alignments. He can handle man coverage underneath but doesn't have the hips to swing and sway with talented receivers down the field. Cine has future starting potential as a zero flinch safety, but has limitations for defenses to consider.

Three-year starter who aligned as a big nickel and box add-on at Toledo and will likely be targeted in that same capacity by pro teams. Anderson's size, length and speed stand out on tape. He's a determined run supporter who plays with adequate block take-on and play strength near the line of scrimmage. He's a rangy, long tackler with the ability to short-circuit outside runners. Anderson has the potential to handle coverage underneath but might not have the instincts or ball skills to handle additional coverage duties. He has the ability to fit as backup down safety with upside.

Long-levered safety with excellent top-end speed and the potential to become a rangy playmaker if he can learn to play with better overall discipline. Woods has too many busted assignments to be trusted in single-high alignments at this time, but offers teams the coverage versatility to be deployed in a variety of spots. If he can play with better decisiveness, he has the length, burst and striking power to impact catch tries and take the ball away. Woods' tools are likely to make him a Day 2 pick, but he'll need to prove that his run support and tackle finishing are on a functional level for the pro game.

Thomas projects as a middle-round safety with good size and strength. He needs to play near the line of scrimmage. He will fit the run, run the alleys and finish what is on his plate as a downhill safety, but assignment busts and coverage tightness will cause defensive coordinators stress on the back-end. He's a very talented cover man on special teams. He might even have the frame to take on more weight and give it a go as a linebacker in the future. He should become a good backup with the talent to step in and potentially start if the scheme is right.

Free safety with average size and speed, good athleticism and only one season as a full-time starter at Illinois. Joseph worked for all five of his interceptions in 2021, using both his length and range over the top. He lacks prototypical instincts as a single-high safety but that might be due to a lack of experience. He's fluid in space but needs to play with better anticipation. Joseph is missing the demeanor and tackle strength for the box and is likely to be viewed as less versatile than some other safeties in the class, but he has potential in single-high and split-safety alignments.

Turner-Yell's fluidity in space is the first thing that jumps off the tape whether he's in coverage or in pursuit as a run defender. Anticipation and decisiveness help speed up his pace of play, but his playmaking demeanor also hurts his coverage discipline at times. He's versatile to play in a variety of coverages, but asking him to play man coverage against pass-catching tight ends might be biting off more than he can chew. He has the traits and demeanor to become a capable run defender but needs better pursuit angles to hold up against a faster level of competition. There are tools to work with, but Turner-Yell needs to play with better consistency to reach his potential.

Productive safety who will create a classic matchup pitting the traits versus the tape. In one corner we have an undersized, short-armed safety with average speed. In the other corner we have game tape highlighting McKinley's instincts, short-area quickness, aggressive demeanor and nose for making plays on the football. He's going to give way to some of the bigger bodies he'll encounter in the NFL, but he's a natural football player with an above-average feel for timing and angles. The traits could impact his draft slotting, but McKinley has the talent to make plays as a nickel safety.

Two-year starter with a fierce field demeanor but limitations that could be a concern in the passing game. Monday's an alpha with hitting always on his mind, but occasionally the big-game hunting will lead to missed tackles. He lacks top-end speed to stay connected for long periods of time and his instincts and play recognition can be spotty when processing. Monday should find a role as a force player near the line of scrimmage but his ceiling might be dictated by how a team decides to use him.

Upside free safety with feast-or-famine tackle approach that creates inconsistencies teams will need to have corrected. Butler vacillates between punishing hitting and taking arm-tackling angles in the open field. He's average in man coverage but plays with instincts and catch disruption from zone. He might see an uptick in his future value if he can get his run tackling solidified. Butler's outstanding work as a gunner adds to his draft day value and likelihood of sticking around the league.

Three-year starter with clear eyes and plus instincts who has suffered from an alarming number of missed tackles in run support over the years. Corker is more than eager to help in the run game and he seems to relish contact. His angles to the ball, however, are inconsistent and he has too many tackle attempts slide from his grasp. Hip tightness limits his transition fluidity in space, but his recognition is good and he plays with a downhill trigger that can bring him ball production. Corker's tackling must improve, but he's a good player with dime safety potential.

Physical safety with the commitment and talent to handle run-support duties on the pro level. Koerner is quick to diagnose and attack, using body control and play strength to stop running plays before they get started. His short-area quickness is more translatable as a run defender than in coverage and he lacks the range and man-cover talent teams look for on the back-end. He lacks coverage versatility but he's a very capable run defender with special-teams traits who could find a backup role as a Day 3 safety.

Safety prospect with the size, bloodlines and intelligence to make an NFL roster. Lake isn't the fastest or the most athletic player and has coverage limitations that cap his ceiling, but he has a high football IQ and impressive ball skills. He sees the field well, which helps him get to where he needs to go. He's not an enforcer near the line of scrimmage but does tackle with good strength and technique to finish the job. He was a demon on special teams as a freshman and will likely reprise that role as a backup in the league.

The four-year starting safety is making the move to linebacker, where his size, speed and aggressive demeanor should help him fit more cleanly than at safety. Carpenter is a natural in run support with clear eyes and a physical approach in the box. Taking on blockers in a faster-paced game could cause bumps in the road early on. He has good pursuit range, average body control and the potential to guard tight ends. Carpenter was an excellent pro-day tester, so the traits and special teams talent could buy him an early opportunity on a roster as he learns the linebacker position.

Team leader with average size, good testing speed and a special teams background that improves his chances of finding work. Turner plays with above-average coverage recognition and instincts but will be more productive playing underneath or from a "robber" position than on the back-end, where he lacks ideal coverage fluidity. He's a willing run supporter with the ability to get to the action and make tackles for loss, but his angles and positioning lead to misses. Turner has limitations but offers the athletic profile and versatility to be a late-round pick.

Belton's interception total and overall ball production from Iowa's hybrid "Cash" spot certainly grab your attention, but they might not be indicative of his NFL projection. Belton has average size, can line up over tight ends and excels in short-zone coverages, where his ball skills and anticipation bring him to the action. He lacks the suddenness to stay with route breaks underneath and will be exploited if asked to cover on the back end. Belton has the physical ability for run support, but defensive coordinators are sure to be concerned about his trouble reading keys and locating the football on the collegiate level.

Scheme-dependent safety whose impressive pro-day numbers will earn a second look from evaluators. Teams will love the speed, quickness and explosive testing but the attributes don't always pop on tape. He's a little tight-hipped and lacks fluidity in man coverage and ball tracking as a deep safety. Nelson is instinctive and reactive when playing forward. He's a solid cover man over the first two levels from man or zone. He's a capable run supporter with quick diagnosis but can be inconsistent with pursuit angles. If used properly, Nelson has backup potential.

The check marks for size, toughness, ball production and testing all point to an opportunity for Blount to make an NFL roster. He plays with an appealing level of aggression but disconcerting tackle consistency due to poor pursuit angles. His tight-hipped, linear movements will need to be paired with a downhill role or he is likely to be exploited on the back-end. Inconsistency in fulfilling his duties will be hard to get around for some teams, but the traits and special teams potential are likely to give Blount a much-needed push.

Safety prospect with decent size and toughness but a lack of instincts and range could lock him into a narrower role as a pro. Hawkins doesn't have the ball skills or comfort level needed to play too far off the line of scrimmage. He's a productive run supporter and capable tackler, so his best opportunity to play in the league could be as a core special-teamer with nickel linebacker and dime safety value.

Safety prospect with good size and field recognition but major deficiencies that could be tough to overcome. O'Neal puts the work in and it shows with the way he locates routes and rushes on top of them as a zone defender. While he has some success playing forward, he's missing the hips and speed to hold up as a last line of defense against NFL speed. To make the situation muddier, O'Neal was an inconsistent tackler throughout his time at Texas A&M, which could add to the challenge of making a roster in 2022.

Active, lanky safety with run support flashes but a need for better technique and body control as a tackler. Bell has experience at a variety of alignments but is too tight-hipped to be cast in heavy-duty coverage assignments. His movements are unorthodox and lack desired fluidity, but he plays with a burst to close that helps him do his job. He could use a more clearly defined skill set to flash enough to make a practice squad or back-end of a roster.

Height, weight, speed and aggression all check out for Bell. He is a capable run supporter with the range and aggression to make plays, but his instincts still need a lot of work. Unless Bell plays with more discipline and awareness on the back-end, he'll be unlikely to find the field for an NFL defensive coordinator. Bell's traits and physicality give him a shot as a priority free agent.

Athletic free safety with NFL traits and adequate pattern recognition but wildly inconsistent results relative to his potential. Bolden is fluid in space with a smooth pedal and loose hips. He has cover talent, but lacks on-ball production and will allow for yards after the catch due to mistakes with tackle angles. He played through a shoulder injury for much of last season, which may have had some impact on his run support, but the 2020 tape had issues in the same area. He's likely to test well and should get a shot to prove himself as a backup safety with special teams value, but the tackling inconsistencies will be hard to overcome.

Moore is a box safety with good size, length and aggression to play near the line of scrimmage. His intent is usually to rush downhill and disrupt the run game and he's pretty good at it. He's clunky on the back-end and could get into major trouble if asked to cover in space. He'll need to be great on special teams to make a roster, but his size and physicality give him an outside shot.

Combination safety with quality size and aggressive demeanor whose impressive ball production may not translate in the pros. He can't carry long speed downfield and is heavy-legged to match routes effectively. He plays with recognition from zone and takes chances necessary to make plays. He triggers quickly downhill to hunt running backs once he diagnoses, but inconsistencies in reading play design and a lack of control as a tackler lead to big plays for the wrong team. His strengths and weaknesses may not align cleanly with a particular scheme, and it may be a fight for him to find a roster spot.

Versatile safety with adequate size and good athleticism. Blankenship is a team leader who is aggressive and heavily experienced in a defense that required his versatility. He's ready and willing in run support but has a problem with tackle angles that causes too many misses from a variety of locations around the field. He's athletic and his route recognition is good when he's playing from up top; however, he lacks top-end speed to stay with downfield assignments. He will need to shine on special teams to improve his chances of making it in the league.

The twin brother of cornerback Zyon McCollum features the same size and athletic prowess as Zyon but lacks the instincts and coverage consistency teams are looking for. Getting to the play with burst and tenacity is not a problem, but doing it on time can be. McCollum will need to improve his route recognition in order to make more plays on the football. His testing and character will be appealing to teams, but he needs to tighten up his play on the back-end to make a roster.

Long, athletic free safety who has the potential to get better with a longer developmental runway. Adams showed off his explosive traits and short-area quickness at the HBCU Combine, but might need to add more weight and improve his technique to compete against NFL-level competition. Traits and upside could give him a shot as a practice-squad target.

Celebrated HBCU All-American safety who transferred to Louisville for his final collegiate season. Cole has posted good ball and tackle production over the last three years and teams will appreciate that his size and physicality show up on tape. He has the hands and ball skills to flip the field but lacks short-area coverage quickness and deep-end range to match up against NFL targets. He's a below-average open-field tackler but possesses some enforcer-type qualities near the box. Cole might go undrafted but the production and toughness will land him in a camp.

Louisville transfer who put together his most productive college season in his lone year in Manhattan. Yeast is a smallish safety lacking the speed for single-high or man coverage and the play strength to become a functional NFL run supporter. Yeast has had way too many busts in coverage over the years, but does show the twitch and ball skills to hound the catch when he's in position. He's a likely undrafted prospect who should find a camp invite.