DRAFT TRACKER 2023

Big, athletic safety with versatility to line up over the slot or inside the box for additional run support. Johnson has a strong passion for sticking his nose into whatever is going on near the line of scrimmage. He’s constantly flowing downhill to meet the play as close to the line of scrimmage as possible, but he needs to regulate his pace and angles to prevent overflowing and poor tackle balance. Johnson can be overmatched at the top of the route by top-end receivers, but he's capable of staying with pass-catching tight ends or a receiver with average speed. Johnson is positioned to become a good starter whose best ball will be played near the line of scrimmage.

Versatile defensive back who has shown the ability to line up over the slot, play as a down safety and patrol the outfield as a Cover 1 safety ready to read and range. The lack of speed and explosiveness Brown showed at the NFL Scouting Combine won’t help his draft stock, but he’s a fiery run defender and plays with undeniable coverage instincts. He has an excellent motor that fuels him throughout the game, as well. He needs to play with a little more discipline or veteran quarterbacks and play-callers will bait him into mistakes. Brown’s versatility and football character could help him eventually become an NFL starter.

Interchangeable safety with above average run support talent and the versatility for multiple coverages. Skinner plays with good awareness to routes with eyes for short zone and the instincts to play over the top. He can line up over pass-catching tight ends and has the ball skills to make quarterbacks pay for off-target throws. He has good feet but hips that can be a little sticky when flipping to run with vertical routes. His agility and range help him as a tackle collector in the open field. Skinner should become an above average starter within a couple of seasons.

Cornerback turned safety with good athletic traits for the safety position and rare physicality from a former cornerback. Johnson has grown into a safety’s frame but is versatile enough to play near the line of scrimmage or line up over the slot. He moves fluidly with good play speed but is still processing angles and coverage responsibilities at his new position. He will come downhill and hit anything near the line of scrimmage with everything he’s got, but he needs to learn to control his aggression to become a more consistent tackler. Johnson’s traits, versatility and toughness give him a chance to become a starting safety or nickel safety.

Battle offers the size, speed and pedigree to become a starter early in his NFL career. Film study shows a certain sageness to his game. He is usually where he needs to be on the field and helps his defense move on to the next play. He’s athletic enough for man coverage and is field-aware as a split safety. He’s not a thumper in run support and will miss tackles when he’s slow to find his positioning, but he typically finishes plays that are in front of him. Battle has the physical and mental makeup to upgrade a defense in need of steady safety play.

Short-armed defensive back with good toughness, a compact frame and the versatility for consideration at nickel back or safety. He thrives when playing downhill, where anticipation and burst provide quick closure to make plays on the throw. He has twitchy feet to match up from the slot but tends to stay behind if he falls behind in the route. He’s a run supporter with a nose for the ball but average stopping power. Robinson lacks ideal measurables and was unimpressive in NFL Scouting Combine athletic testing, but he’s a feisty defender whose success could be determined by how a team decides to deploy him.

Versatile safety prospect with the instincts, toughness and athletic attributes to play for a unit featuring scheme variance. Johnson has adequate NFL size and plays with clean hips and footwork in space. He’s capable of playing high safety or lining up over bigger slot receivers but could be overmatched if asked to carry speedsters around the field. He’s a heads-up run defender ready to mix it up but needs to balance his urgency with better control when it’s time to break down and tackle. Johnson is a capable backup safety and might have the ability to step into a more prominent role in the future.

Owens has the physical ingredients to play safety. The mistakes he put on tape should be a concern, though. His cornerback background shows with the way he matches route breaks from man coverage, but he lacks the field vision and instincts to become a consistent playmaker from man or zone. Owens is a willing and physical hitter, but he takes suspect angles to the football and has too many missed tackles after the catch and in run support. He has draftable traits, but the issues might be a difficult fix.

Undersized free safety with decent athletic ability and toughness to bolster roster depth. Smith has man-cover talent and range to play over the top, but he was often more effective attacking downhill on routes underneath and stopping plays. He’s willing in run support but tackling big backs could be an issue. Despite his limited size, his reliability in coverage is a big advantage against today’s offensive attacks.

Aggressive down safety with above-average cover traits but below-average instincts and consistency in run support. Hill is an equal opportunity hitter regardless of position or size of the opponent, but he needs to balance forceful striking with more wrap-up tackling. He is twitchy and plays with closing speed, which might make him a better fit for man coverage than zone, where he struggles to play with awareness and discipline. Hill has the demeanor and skill level to compete for a backup spot and should find special teams snaps early in his NFL career.

Taylor offers well-defined strengths and obvious areas of concern that should allow for teams to deploy him in the best manner possible if they are honest in their assessments. He boasts an NFL frame and is a powerful tackler who can stop rushers and pass-catchers in their tracks. Though his speed and agility are below par, he’s highly instinctive and possesses the skills to make plays on the ball as a deep safety. Figuring out when to play him low and when to play him high will be the challenge for defensive coordinators, but even as a backup, he brings four-phase special teams talent to the table immediately.

Merriweather has the size and toughness of an NFL safety but needs to improve his consistency to finish tackles near the box. He could struggle to keep up with wide receivers who get matched with him in space. He might have the tools necessary to cover tight ends, but he could be at his best playing short zone as a dime safety. Overall, Merriweather has physical traits that give him a chance to find a home as a backup safety.

Two-year starter with NFL size but lacking functional change of direction as an open-field tackler. Hickman is at his best as a down safety or big nickel, where he doesn’t have to close as much distance on the runner or pass-catcher. He can make plays as a run defender and in coverage when he’s in position, but issues redirecting in small spaces create uncertainty that he can play consistently enough to move beyond backup status.

A team captain with size, tools and six seasons of collegiate experience, Scott will turn 25 during the 2023 season. His age could hurt his chances with some teams, but his athleticism and four-phase special teams background will help him with others. He’s more confident and capable as a field-reading center fielder than he is sifting through bunch formations and matching in man coverage. He was a teammate to four Cal defensive backs who were drafted in recent years, and he could be next up thanks to his football character and special teams talent.

Joseph has adequate size and a good football IQ, but he must prove he can become a more technically sound tackler for consideration as an interchangeable safety. He sees the field fairly clearly as a free safety. He has the ball skills and instincts to help coral and challenge action in front of him. While he can be a punishing hitter when running the alley, tackling inconsistencies in the open field could be hard for teams to overlook. Joseph's traits and special teams talent give him the opportunity to battle for a backup safety spot as a Day 3 selection.

McGhee will have to prove he can make the big jump in competition, but he has a coverage background at cornerback and at nickel. His ball production will be viewed favorably by teams. He has NFL size, adequate speed and was an impressive tester at his pro day. He could be a late-round pick or a priority free agent, but his play on special teams helps his chances of getting a look as a backup safety.

Howden is a football-savvy free safety with good instincts and play recognition but a lack of acceleration, which could create a plethora of problems for him on the pro level. He’s quick to diagnose the run, but will need to improve his tackle technique. A lack of recovery juice could get him mismatched on the pro game, but he sees route combinations well when allowed to play as a two-deep safety. Howden has played a lot of football and can help on special teams but needs to prove himself as a tester at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Big, long safety with good athleticism and toughness but a lack of top-end speed. He needs to play with better patience early in the rep and must become more aware of his assignment responsibilities. While he lacked speed in his NFL Scouting Combine testing, he did show the ability to run with downfield targets on tape. Dean can cover big tight ends and help support the run in the box but spotty angles to the tackle plague him at times. Dean will have to compete to make a team as a down safety who can shine on special teams.

A productive safety with above-average football smarts, Reed might need to make a permanent move to a nickel role with backup safety roster flexibility. He covers with good footwork and is patient not to commit his hips prematurely against fakes. He works to squeeze tight to his targets through the route but could have issues against leapers who can go over the top of him. He’s a willing run supporter but the stopping power falls a little below the mark. He will have some work to do to find a full-time home in the league.

Box safety featuring good size and closing speed but a lack of fluidity to hold up to man-coverage duties as a pro. Jones plays with good toughness and a willingness to mix it up near the line of scrimmage. He’s capable in short zone coverage or against certain in-line tight ends, but he loses effectiveness when playing in reverse. Jones’ extreme length will catch the attention of traits-hungry teams, but those same teams will face limitations in how they are able use him.

Free safety with adequate athleticism but a lack of top-end speed and explosiveness on tape. Torrence understands the game and has a safety’s feel for leverage and caution when needed. He’s generally around the action and in position, but he needs to become a much more consistent wrap-up tackler. He can be opportunistic but is unlikely to create ball production at a high level as a pro due to his lack of instincts and burst. Torrence’s athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine could force him to compete for a roster spot as an undrafted player.

If Williams were 20 pounds heavier, he would be in consideration for a linebacker role in the NFL thanks to his nose for the football and style of play. He’s at his best near the line of scrimmage and playing the run, but his athletic deficiencies are hard to ignore as it pertains to his ability to hold up in coverage at the next level. Williams needs a very specific role as a box safety and will need to prove he can be a star on special teams.

Joiner has adequate size and toughness, along with a good nose for angles to the football. He moves around the field with fluidity, but he lacks the twitch and top-end speed needed to make plays on the throw in the NFL. He has the play recognition that will be needed on the next level. His measurables and athletic testing were solid. Joiner is a quality run defender, but he has below-average speed and might not offer much versatility as a pro prospect.

Sutherland played a hybrid safety/linebacker spot for Penn State, with duties ranging from slot coverage to run fits. He posted impressive numbers at his pro day and has above-average special teams production during his career. While he was asked to handle a versatile role, the tape doesn’t show him shining in any one area. Sutherland will need to find a positional home -- possibly as a nickel/dime linebacker -- to complement his special teams potential at the next level.

The size and length are appealing, and the ball production is nice, but Finley’s lack of short-area burst and top-end speed becomes an issue in coverage as well as in pursuit. He can challenge the throw when in position but has trouble getting there on time and creating contested throws. As a run defender, he lacks agility and reactive athleticism in the open field and can be too passive as a tackler. Finley needs to shine on special teams and tighten up the tackling to make it in the league.

Safety prospect with decent size and below average top-end speed. Cook has enough quickness to stay connected to routes, but he fails to play with the route recognition and instincts needed in coverage. He was a more consistent, physical tackler in 2021 and will need to get back to that style of play to give himself a chance to make a roster.

Izien is a shorter prospect, but he’s well-muscled with quick-twitch athleticism and good top-end speed. He’s been used as both a free safety and a nickel back. On paper, he should have above-average range as a safety over the top, but he’s slow to read and respond to the quarterback, so his ball production is fairly low for a player with his explosiveness. He’s willing as a run defender and his hustle brings him to a high number of tackle opportunities, but he has a hard time dismissing blockers quickly enough. Izien’s path to the pros might have to come at cornerback, where he might not have the necessary cover skills.

Reese’s size and overall length are appealing. He sees the field clearly, but he’s not a plus run defender. Also, he lacks the anticipation and short-area twitch to make plays on throws from zone. Reese will need to show he can do more than what was asked of him at Ole Miss and prove he can be a star on special teams to make a team.

Okada’s elite testing numbers at his pro day will have evaluators rushing to the film, but once they get there, they might find that the tape doesn’t always match the testing numbers. Okada has pretty good burst and short-area movement. However, he can be inconsistent as a run defender and allows too many catches due to his lack of anticipation and route recognition. He played nickel back in college and might be more effective as a safety in the NFL. Special teams might need to be his calling card if he’s going to make it at the next level.

Woodbey has good short-area quickness and play strength, but he lacks the instincts and burst to make plays that stand out. His speed testing was disappointing, but it appears to match what is on tape at times. He needs to prove he can play fast and will need to star on special teams to have a shot.

Height-weight-speed prospect lacking the football awareness and overall technique needed to step onto an NFL field at this time. Young has the frame to play as a box safety or potentially move to a Will linebacker role, but he must improve his tackling. He has special teams potential, so that could work for him if he gets into a camp.