DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Talented safety prospect with the size, length and instincts that teams are looking for to shore up the back end. Nubin has the ability to play as an interchangeable safety but will make his money as a ball thief. He's rangy over the top in two-high safety looks and plays chess in the middle of the field, using instincts to think along with the quarterback and pounce on throws from an angle. He's average in man coverage and might lack ideal top-end speed, but his anticipation and discipline help make up for that. He's capable in run support, but his pursuit angles get him beat outside. Nubin's traits, instincts and ball skills give him an opportunity to become a successful long-term starter.

Taylor-Demerson might not have the highly coveted measurables that teams will gravitate toward, but he brings plenty of instincts and ball skills. He offers coverage versatility as a split safety, high safety and nickel. He’s quick enough to handle man coverage and plays with outstanding anticipation to steal from quarterbacks who show their cards. His aggression will create some negative plays and his tackling might never be more than average. Taylor-Demerson’s versatility, football IQ and consistent ball production align with what defensive coordinators are looking for and should make him a solid starting defensive back. 

Bullard isn't a clean fit as a full-time nickel and might lack the length and range teams seek from a split safety, but he's a good football player with the field awareness teams are looking for. He's going to be a little tight with lateral movements, which will create some throwing windows and missed tackles from time to time, but his route recognition and angles of pursuit help to stabilize his play. There will be some challenging matchups, but Georgia's provided the blueprint by playing him as a big nickel with run support and modest man cover duties -- NFL teams would be wise to follow suit. With the right fit, Bullard should develop into a quality NFL starter.

Bishop was a highly productive tackler and valuable three-year starter for Utah. He stays busy around the line of scrimmage and can dart into gaps but can be a little slow playing off of big blockers. Bishop has man coverage potential on tight ends and is a bona fide striker when crashing down from his zone perch. He balances pursuit flow with a last-line-of-defense mentality as a run defender from high safety but will lose discipline in his deep safety duties at times. Bishop is an enforcer with NFL size and toughness for consideration in both down safety and split safety alignments.

Oladapo possesses classic strong safety traits and play attributes, which should help evaluators define him more easily. He has very good size, with the play strength and toughness to tackle near the box and enough cover skills to line up over tight ends in man. While he can play some split safety, he can be a little inconsistent in big space, so playing forward is his best bet. There is room for improvement as a tackler, but he generally pursues with leverage and takes his role as last line of defense to heart. He has "make it" size and attributes. He's likely to come in as a backup with special teams duties but has a pretty good shot of becoming an eventual starter.

Long and athletic with a series of feast-or-famine plays all over the tape. Bullock can be scary good in coverage and scary bad as a run defender. He has the range to play single-high safety, the athleticism to line up over the slot and the ball skills to chalk up impressive on-ball production. As a run defender, Bullock's poor recognition, missed run fits and bad angles to the football cost his team chunk plays and touchdowns. He won't always see or process the game clearly, but the athleticism and playmaking talent are hard to overlook. He's young and talented, and if he runs well enough, there might be a team more interested in his skill set as a cornerback than as a boom/bust safety.

Safety prospect with the toughness, instincts and ball skills to handle NFL work, although his lack of speed could give teams pause. Kinchens is a willing run supporter near the box, hits with message-sending purpose over the middle and plays with outstanding range as a high safety. Despite the positive tape and attributes at his disposal, he made mistakes in run support and coverage that led to big plays and, in some cases, touchdowns. If he can eliminate the mental mistakes and take better angles to the ball as an open-field tackler, he will improve his consistency, but Kinchens’ poor speed testing at the NFL Scouting Combine could limit how teams will want to use him.

Two-year starting safety lacking desired height and length but carrying a compact, muscular frame for the rigors of the position. Mustapha will be in consideration as a down safety who can help support against the run and handle short and intermediate zone coverages. He's not overly instinctive, but he does play with a good burst on throws and well-timed challenges. He struggles against bigger targets and might not be the best option to handle single- or two-high safety looks. There are occasional mistakes made with aggressive downhill angles to ball-carriers, but he's generally in position and maintains tackle-ready posture when the time comes. He projects as an average backup but does possess some quality play traits.

There is a lot to like on tape for Brown, who received his first meaningful reps for Nebraska in 2023 after transferring from Northern Iowa before the 2022 season. He has adequate size and plays fast with quick eyes and explosive closing burst. He’s adept in man coverage from the slot and has enough awareness and range to handle split safety duties. His urgent demeanor guides him toward playmaking opportunities and away from defaulting into consistently “safe” options. He’s both a striker and a tackler but will need to improve his approach, as he tends to come in too hot, leading to misses. Brown possesses the versatility, instincts and traits to compete for NFL reps.

Long defensive back with speed, athleticism and ball skills that might have teams posting him in the cornerback column instead of at safety. Simpson has started at both positions but might be caught between the two. He doesn’t support the run well enough to instill confidence as a last line of defense and he can be a little tardy to get his hips flipped in one-on-one transitions as a corner. Simpson does pedal and match receivers in space, balancing his eyes between route progressions and the quarterback as a high safety. He also contests catches with good success. He’s a good football player with explosive traits, but teams will need to have a plan for how to use him.

Brade offers some dual-safety qualities and can align as a split safety or near the line of scrimmage for best results. He can be a disruptive add-on defender in the box, but he doesn’t possess an enforcer's power as a hitter. Brade is fairly average in run support by NFL standards, but he's capable. While his eyes and instincts are nothing special in coverage, he does play with good ball skills when it comes time to challenge the throw. He's steady and capable of doing his job but feels more like a third safety than an impact starter.

Average game film has to be weighed against his traits and the potential of what he could do with pro coaching. Hampton is big, fast and long, and defensive coordinators can work with that. He's more comfortable operating as a read-and-react high safety than in man coverage. He's willing in run support, but erratic angles to the tackle and below-average body control can lead to poor positioning and excessive arm tackles. Hampton's traits and potential could sway a team to take him on Day 3 and develop him into an average backup with core special teams value.

Williams is a physical safety with a long, athletic frame. While it’s fun watching him run and strike from high safety, it is much less fun watching his coverage confusion. He doesn’t see the game as clearly as teams might like right now, but he has the athleticism and cover skills to tighten up the windows on tight ends in man coverage. Williams might need a year to add weight and keep working on his game, but his traits and playing demeanor should earn him a role as a box safety or nickel linebacker.

Hard-hitting safety with man cover tools but potential limitations if asked to play on the back end. Anthony is high-cut but with good size and an aggressive field demeanor. He aligned as both a big nickel and a split safety. He's fairly comfortable handling man coverage duties over the slot and does a nice job of staying connected with routes and disrupting catch tries with timing. He's fast enough to play over the top from center field, but the instincts are average, and he can be clunky swiveling hips with the changing gaze of the quarterback. He needs to take more consistent angles and do a better job of wrapping up, but Anthony has the talent to become a versatile backup.

Proctor might be a little older than a typical draft prospect, but he saved his best football for his last season. He has a long, athletic frame and does a nice job with his footwork to prevent his coverage movements from becoming too leggy. He can align over big slot targets and has the instincts and ball skills to make plays underneath, but coverage can slip away from him when pure long speed is involved. Proctor has always been a plus run defender and adequate tackler, whether he's playing near the line or as a split safety. His speed could work against him, but he's talented enough to compete for a backup role.

Traits-based safety with limited in-game experience and bumpy tape but impressive flashes. Owens simply hasn't played enough football for one to determine whether or not his apparent mental busts and issues with positioning in the run game will subside with more experience. He's big, physical and rangy with a temperament for striking near the line of scrimmage. He's not ready to handle high safety responsibilities but can be a tough out when he's in position to contest a throw. His A+ special teams potential could buy him time as he continues his schooling as a hybrid linebacker/safety with a higher floor and lower ceiling.

It doesn’t take long to see why Kirby Smart and Georgia welcomed Smith over from West Virginia when he was in the transfer portal. Smith plays the “Star” position and is like an additional linebacker in a much smaller frame. He’s at his best playing forward and has the strength to take on blockers and disrupt pass catchers underneath. Smith is compact and strong but lacks the functional height and length for downfield coverage. He plays with an NFL demeanor but will likely be typecast in a very narrow role as a sub-package safety with coverage limitations.

Taylor is a productive down safety with good size and the type of character teams will want in the locker room. He’s much more effective as a short-zone defender or in split safety alignment from a coverage standpoint. Taylor appears to lack the athletic profile and speed necessary to handle man coverage as a pro. He’s an urgent run defender who works around blockers to make plays near the line, but he’ll also overrun his leverage and end up attempting too many arm tackles. Taylor has enough working in his favor to have a shot at making a roster.

Williams was a tad more consistent in 2022 while at Fresno State, but he was also put in better position to succeed. He is broad-hipped with limited agility and athleticism to align too far away from the line of scrimmage. He’s a box safety with a good feel for finding entry points and making tackles near the line. He can match up underneath and is average in zone but will allow too many big plays against NFL wideouts. He has a chance to impress on special teams but inconsistent open-field tackling could hurt his chances of becoming a viable backup strong safety.

Unique journey to the draft with 53 career starts over seven years with three different teams. Sam has added substantial weight to his frame since coming into college but is still built more like a cornerback than a safety. He plays with a smooth pedal and solid response time to the quarterback’s eyes and operation from his safety perch. He is more consistent lining up over the slot or playing from split safety alignments, where his attention is much more focused than when he’s digesting the field from single-high. He improved as a tackler as the season wore on, but angles of pursuit might still be an issue. Sam has late-round potential.

Stocky safety lacking the length and speed to make easy scheme projections for him. Bradford’s inconsistencies as a tackle finisher will be a disqualifier for some teams. In coverage, he plays with good field recognition and is fairly athletic in man coverage but lacks the length and burst to make enough plays on the football. His physical limitations could make it an uphill battle to stick on a roster.

Scheme-dependent box safety who requires a specific plan for usage when he’s on the field. Jules has good size and terrific play strength. He can deliver a thumping blow when running the alley and has the play strength to cover tight ends and finish tackles near the line. His anticipation and foot quickness are below average in man coverage and he doesn’t run well enough to stick with vertical challengers. He’s a fit with teams looking for a player who can hold his own on special teams and compete at nickel safety in short-zone cover concepts.

McMorris' tape study can be a roller-coaster ride. He has good size and physicality and moves with fluidity in coverage. He has played all three safety spots and is capable of lining up over the slot. On the flip side, the speed and acceleration are fairly average in coverage. His missed tackles don't really square with his frame and the way he plays the game. He flashes the potential to play in the league in split-safety alignments or as a sub-package option with scheme versatility. However, he needs to run well and prove he can become a more consistent tackle finisher to get his chance.

Slywka’s level of competition could give teams pause, but his impressive pro day and game tape suggest he has a chance. The explosiveness he showed in his workout is above the norm for NFL starters at his position. He has good size but will need to get stronger and improve his play as a run defender. Slywka has smooth hips in space and sees what is unfolding when playing as a single-high safety. He might be viewed as a developmental prospect, but he has the physical traits and versatility to give himself a shot as an interchangeable safety with special teams value.

Allen’s career ball production and takeaway totals immediately grab your eye, and his size adds to the intrigue. However, the instincts and ball skills might not matter on the next level because he can’t run down receivers in catch-up mode and simply gives up too much separation from both the slot and in split-safety alignments. He’s a below-average run defender and fails to stand out on special teams, so his NFL shot is a long one.

Carlies likely needs to make the transition from safety to linebacker to have an opportunity in the NFL. He’s very tight in his hips and plays with a debilitating lack of change of direction that causes problems for him in coverage and as an open-field tackler. As a linear mover, he needs to be able to play forward and near the line, where he’s less likely to make mistakes with his angles of pursuit. Carlies has pretty good ball skills but will have a hard time sticking with pass-catching tight ends, so it could be challenging for teams to lock in on a role for him.

Physical safety who leaves me wanting more due to his inconsistent play. Perry has the size, strength and toughness to be a more impactful run defender but seems too content to cruise through games at times. He’s not as successful when forced to process the field from split safety but does have some talent in man coverage near the line. Perry has the play strength to finish tackles quickly but missed tackles have stacked up on him over the last three seasons. He lacks versatility and urgency but might have the traits to garner NFL attention.

A five-star recruit when he entered Florida State, Dent leaves with pedestrian production over his five seasons at the school. He possesses below-average size and physicality for the position, with runners breaking tackles or crashing forward for additional yardage. He has trouble changing direction fluidly whether he’s in coverage or looking to make a stop as an open-field tackler. Dent tested well at his pro day and teams love speedy safeties, but he might be a short-term back end of the roster player at best.

UAB transfer who started the full 2023 season for the Tide. Key has the size and play strength of an NFL safety but is not as active or consistent as he needs to be as a run defender. He's a decent athlete and can cover straight-line routes but doesn't play with enough route anticipation or make-up burst to contest many catches. Key's physical traits work in his favor, but he needs to have a definable play trait as either a run defender or in coverage, and that seems to be missing.

Gattison doesn’t have the speed or cover talent to stay at cornerback in the NFL, but he might have the toughness for a move to safety. Speed and short-area quickness will still be an issue for him against NFL opponents, even at the safety position. He has decent instincts and ball skills, which will give him a fighting chance in camp. He’s both willing and successful as a tackler and does a nice job of getting around or playing off of blocks when it’s time to help in run support. He’s unlikely to be drafted, but his size, toughness and special-teams ability could earn him a look in camp.

Safety prospect with outstanding size but limited agility and cover talent, which could create a barrier to entry. Richardson has good play strength and can match up on big tight ends but doesn't play with the change-of-direction quickness needed to constrict the route and play the ball against true pass-catching tight ends and slots. He has good build-up speed but lacks early acceleration, and that could limit his range. Richardson is below average as an open-field tackler but can stop plays suddenly when he's locked in as a wrap-up tackler. His traits and special teams talent give him a shot, but he might be too limited for teams to keep him long-term.

Phillips’ size and special-teams experience will be looked upon favorably by NFL teams, but he lacks top-end speed to run with vertical receivers. He can cover tight ends, but he needs to become more anticipatory in man coverage. He’s more of a grass guarder than playmaker as a high safety and can get turned around by routes when singled up in deep space. Phillips has the tools as a tackler, but getting to the spot without running into traffic or off the pathway is an issue.

Five-year starter who was the heartbeat of the UTSA defense. Wisdom is a fiery competitor whose aggression can sometimes lead to penalties and missteps in positioning. His size and length will be a concern for teams, but he’s physical in both run support and coverage. Wisdom’s lack of ball production stems, in part, from his unwillingness to trust his eyes and squeeze catch points. To make a roster, Wisdom will need to find a level of disciplined urgency to minimize his negative reps and maximize any advantages from his aggressive demeanor.

Productive tackler with good size and loads of experience on the back end. Logan’s game is set on aggressive near the line but passive in space. He’s a willing tackler near the box and is quick to drop down as an add-on run stopper when he’s at moderate depth pre-snap. He’s an average tackler in run support and, after the catch, lacks pursuit speed to close off angles in space. He plays too upright in space and lacks the change-of-direction quickness and athletic package teams look for to handle big-space coverage. Logan will check some boxes, but maybe not enough to make a team.

Harper has been a roaming box safety, playing for four different schools in the past six seasons. His aggression and physicality near the line of scrimmage are his calling card and his testing numbers are sure to gain some attention from teams who lean heavily into traits when searching for priority free agents. He can handle some coverage details and might get better in that area with more time, but his best chance will be to impress as a hard-charging special-teams ace.

Long-limbed down safety whose pedestrian timed speed and above-average size could force a position change to linebacker. Isbell is quick to diagnose and flow downhill to the action and is a willing hitter, but his pursuit angles and tackle strength both need upgrading to eliminate missed tackles. His coverage background and ball production could give him an advantage when asked to match up against pass-catching tight ends. Isbell might need to earn his way as an undrafted free agent but he has some elements to work with as a potential practice-squad talent.

Box safety with the toughness and play strength to play near the line and get his nose dirty against the run. Kane has decent straight-line speed and was an explosive leaper at his pro day. However, he struggles to transition and match route-runners and lacks the anticipation to squeeze the catch space often enough. Teams will need to have a narrowly focused role for Kane as a special teams performer and dime linebacker who can cover underneath and survey the terrain for screen passes and draw plays. The athletic testing and production are solid, but scheme limitations could cost him.

Nikkel might not be talented enough to handle backup safety duties without more coaching and experience, but he deserves a look for his special teams work. He has good size and races down the field like his hair is on fire, both on kickoffs and as a gunner. Nikkel played on all five phases of special teams at Iowa State, but he’s nowhere near ready to take NFL snaps at safety.

Edmonds’ impressive measurables and speed are offset by disappointing aggression as a run defender and a lack of instincts in zone coverage. He looks the part but too often allows the game to play him instead of attacking plays in front of him. He allows too much catch space on the back end and has too many missed tackles near the line and in the open field. While the traits could get him a camp look, the tape might foreshadow a short NFL stint.

Traits-based prospect whose pro day was more impressive than his game tape. Colbert’s size, length and explosive athleticism are exactly what teams look for in late-round prospects, but he doesn’t have the coverage instincts needed to make up for below-average speed. He struggles to consistently center up and stop ball-carriers in the run game. Colbert’s best chance to make it will be as a special teams standout and backup split safety in a two-high shell.

Undersized collegiate safety who will need to make a transition to slot corner to give himself a chance. Ellis has good speed and is an explosive athlete, but those traits fail to make enough of a difference in Ellis’ coverage. He’s a willing tackler but lacks ideal stopping power. Ellis lacks the anticipation to be a playmaker and will need to keep improving in that area to give himself a chance of making a team.

Safety prospect missing the coverage and tackle efficiency to be a make-it player as a pro. Johnson’s quickness testing was solid, but he failed to impress with explosion testing and his speed was average. He’s clunky when flipping his hips to phase the route and isn’t instinctive playing on top. He can be a good hitter and tackler when he’s in position, but there are too many mistakes on tape to trust him to make the needed plays.