Safety is another position that often doesn’t get a lot of respect from NFL teams on draft day and that isn’t likely going to change a lot. At least in the top half of the round as there really aren’t any safeties currently carrying a Top 15 type grade. However, there are a number of DBs with some later opening round potential including Antonio Johnson of Texas A&M, Alabama’s Jordan Battle and Brandon Joseph, now of Notre Dame after transferring across the state line from Northwestern, while Jalen Catalon of Arkansas heads a solid-enough contingent of second-day prospects at the position.
If there is a hidden message for NFL scouts in the safety file, though, it is perhaps head south if they are looking for a safety. Indeed, 12 of the top 20 safeties on our pre-season ranking are from the SEC including 4 in the top 14 – Battle, Brian Branch, DeMarcco Hellams and Malachi Moore – from Alabama alone, while there are two each from Texas A&M (Johnson and Demani Richardson); Florida (Trey Dean and Rashad Torrence) and Georgia (Tykee and Chris Smith). Add in a couple more from Florida State (Akeem Dent and Jammie Robinson) and you get a lot of southern cooking!
And while players from big-time programs dominate this year’s safety rankings – there are also a couple from Ohio State in Ronnie Hickman and Josh Proctor – several from lesser-light programs did make the list including JL Skinner of Boise State, Houston’s Gervarrius Owens and Kenny Logan from Kansas. Skinner is a particularly intriguing prospect as he is almost as a big as a LB at 6-3, 220, but still runs well and can make plays while the ball is in play, while KU’s Logan is the top-returning tackler at the position in college football. At the same time, the top safety prospect outside the FBS ranks is Michael Tutsie of North Dakota State, who isn’t necessarily all that big at 5-10, 195, but he’s athletic with excellent instincts.
Top 20 Safeties for 2023
April 26, 2023 1:37 PM
| # | Player | HT/WT | 40X | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Branch | 5-11.5, 190 | 4.58c | Alabama | X, CB | |
| Sydney Brown | 5-9.5, 211 | 4.47c | Illinois | ||
| Antonio Johnson | 6-2, 200 | 4.52c | Texas A&M | ||
| Ji'Ayir Brown | 5-11.5, 203 | 4.65c | Penn State | ||
| Quan Martin | 5-11, 195 | 4.46c | Illinois | ||
| Jammie Robinson | 5-10.5, 191 | 4.59c | Florida State | ||
| Jordan Battle | 6-1, 210 | 4.55c | Alabama | ||
| JL Skinner | 6-4, 210 | 4.55 | Boise State | ||
| Chris Smith | 5-10.5, 192 | 4.62c | Georgia | ||
| Daniel Scott | 6-0.5, 208 | 4.45c | California | ||
| Brandon Hill | 5-11, 195 | 4.43c | Pittsburgh | ||
| Jay Ward | 6-0.5, 188 | 4.56c | LSU | CB | |
| Ronnie Hickman | 6-0.5, 203 | 4.55 | Ohio State | ||
| Anthony Johnson | 6-0, 210 | 4.55 | Iowa State | ||
| Brandon Joseph | 6-0.5, 202 | 4.62c | Notre Dame | ||
| Kaevon Merriweather | 6-0, 205 | 4.62c | Iowa | ||
| Quindell Johnson | 6-1, 195 | 4.55 | Memphis | ||
| Jordan Howden | 5-11.5, 203 | 4.49c | Minnesota | ||
| Gervarrius Owens | 6-0, 195 | 4.50 | Houston | ||
| Keidron Smith | 6-1, 210 | 4.55 | Kentucky | ||
| Tyreque Jones | 6-2, 195 | 4.52c | Boise State | ||
| Marte Mapu | 6-2, 220 | 4.60 | Sacramento State | LB | |
| Chamarri Conner | 6-0, 202 | 4.51c | Virginia Tech | ||
| DeMarcco Hellams | 6-0.5, 203 | 4.57c | Alabama | ||
| Tanner McCallister | 5-11, 195 | 4.55 | Ohio State | ||
| Trey Dean | 6-2, 200 | 4.75c | Florida | ||
| Rashad Torrence | 5-11.5, 193 | 4.72c | Florida | ||
| Jordan Toles | 6-0, 205 | 4.55 | Morgan State | ||
| AJ Finley | 6-2, 202 | 4.60 | Mississippi | ||
| Key Lawrence | 6-1, 205 | 4.50 | Oklahoma | ||
| Josh Proctor | 6-1, 205 | 4.55 | Ohio State | ||
| Nico Bolden | 6-2, 215 | 4.60 | Kent State | ||
| Jason Taylor | 5-11.5, 204 | 4.50c | Oklahoma State | ||
| RJ Moten | 6-0, 225 | 4.60 | Michigan | ||
| Latavious Brini | 6-2, 215 | 4.65 | Arkansas | ||
| Devon Matthews | 6-0, 205 | 4.60 | Indiana | ||
| Antavious Lane | 5-9, 180 | 4.55 | Georgia State | ||
| Jerrick Reed | 5-10, 192 | 4.50 | New Mexico | ||
| Christian Young | 6-3, 220 | 4.45 | Arizona | ||
| Bralen Trahan | 6-0, 205 | 4.65 | Louisiana | ||
| Nick Andersen | 5-11, 195 | 4.60 | Wake Forest | ||
| Bentlee Sanders | 5-9, 180 | 4.55 | Nevada | ||
| Jalen Green | 6-0, 200 | 4.55 | Mississippi State | ||
| Evan Williams | 6-1, 195 | 4.60 | Fresno State |
* e indicates estimated time; c indicates combine; p indicates pro day time
** X indicates player has an injury or illness issue; XX indicates serious injury or illness that could impact draft status; XXX indicates injury or illness that could be career threatening; O indicates off-field issue
