The 2014 NFL Draft lacks any real great safety prospects at this point. However, that doesn’t mean that several players can’t emerge has elite talents. There are plenty of players like LSU’s Craig Loston and Kansas State’s Ty Zimmerman who feature a ton of upside.
1. Craig Loston, LSU (Late 1st Round)
Loston is the type of safety who loves to come up and support the run. His combination of size, quickness and nastiness allow him to make plays all over the field. He consistently uses proper angles to the football and delivers punishing hits when he reaches his target.
The one concern I have surrounding Loston is whether or not he’ll eventually out grow the safety position. His ability to play the run may force some teams to look at him as a potential linebacker prospect.
2. Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2nd Round)
Zimmerman is a fluid athlete who features the ability to quickly decipher post-snap information. This allows him to get a read on developing plays and break on the ball. Zimmerman’s length and leaping ability allow him to attack the football at its highest point.
This isn’t just a coverage safety, as Zimmerman also does a great job supporting the run. He’s committed to taking proper angles and breaking down prior to making the tackle.
3. Tevin McDonald, Eastern Washington (2nd Round)
McDonald routinely delivers big hits from his safety position. He plays an aggressive and nasty brand of football that features a torpedo-like attack on the line of scrimmage. His explosiveness is what allows him to fill the hole like a linebacker.
McDonald shows good range in deep coverage, but I didn’t see him dropping down into the slot too often. His overall stock will only increase if he shows the ability to play some man coverage from time to time.
As a comparison, McDonald reminds me of a taller version of Matt Elam.
4. LaMarcus Joyner, Florida State (2nd Round)
Florida State is planning on moving Joyner to cornerback this season, but he has extensive experience at the safety position too. Joyner is an explosive athlete who quickly gets up to full speed.
This overall speed allows him to stick with his target and attack the line of scrimmage against the run. Joyner also features fluid hips and change of direction ability. His overall athleticism is likely why Florida State feels he can make a smooth transition to cornerback.
It’s also important to note that Joyner is a difference maker as a kick returner. This should bring added value to his draft stock.
5. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama (2nd Round)
Clinton-Dix possesses the athleticism needed to develop into a difference maker at the next level. However, he just hasn’t shown enough consistency at Alabama to trust that he’ll develop. Clinton-Dix flashes his big-play potential, but also has a tendency to make mistakes.
Too often, he’ll allow a receiver to get behind him in deep coverage. He also will take some poor angles to the ball and get lost in coverage. His thin build is also an area of concern as it could create durability issues.
Clinton-Dix is a high upside player, but at this point still needs to prove himself.
6. Sean Parker, Washington (3rd Round)
Parker is a ferocious hitter who is always looking to make the offensive player pay for entering his area of the field. His big hits bring the added bonus of increasing the likelihood of a turnover.
The issue with Parker is that he doesn’t show great instincts in coverage. He has a tendency to allow too much space in the hopes of coming up and dislodging the ball with his tackle. This could be an issue in the NFL because of the new rules in place to protect defenseless receivers.
7. Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois (3rd Round)
Ward is an intriguing and versatile defensive back prospect. Defining a set position for him is difficult because he’s thin through the hips. He’s seen as a safety prospect but he also lines up a lot in the slot. This is where his versatility comes in, as Ward has the fluidity and quickness to hold up in man coverage.
He also has an excellent feel in zone coverage where he quickly reads and identifies the route. Despite his lack of bulk, Ward is aggressive when defending the run. His short-area burst allows him quickly close on the ball carrier. It also helps him make good use of his top-notch timing as a blitzer.
Ward has a ton of upside and could be a real difference maker at the next level. However, his lack of size could also keep him from reaching his full potential.
8. Jason Hendricks, Pittsburgh (4th Round)
Hendricks is a heady and aggressive safety prospect. His knack for reading the developing play allows him make plays all over the field. Pittsburgh typically lines him up as the deep safety where Hendricks takes good angles in both the run and passing game.
Despite lining up so deep, he does a great job of attacking the line of scrimmage and making sound tackles. Hendricks also has a knack for reading the quarterback and breaking on the ball. His good ball skills allow him to tally interceptions. Not sure that Hendricks will ever be an elite player, but he should be a solid starter at the next level.
9. CJ Barnett, Ohio State (4th Round)
Barnett is a solid athlete who does a good job coming up to support the run. His use of angles and ability to breakdown to make a tackle is what makes his run defense solid. However, Barnett didn’t show great overall explosiveness. In coverage, he’ll get a little lost and caught peeking into the backfield. There’s talent here but I’m just not seeing that “it” factor.
10. Brian Jackson, Oregon (Late 4th Round)
Jackson is a solid athlete with a good feel for playing the safety position. His instincts allow him to quickly identify the developing routes and quickly break on the ball. He’s also able to close on the ball because of his quick short-area burst. Oregon uses Jackson mainly in deep coverage, but does come up and play around the line from time to time. Overall, he just didn’t do much too really make himself standout throughout the season.
11. Deone Bucannon, Washington State (Late 4th Round)
Bucannon is a long and very athletic safety prospect. Despite his long legs, Bucannon shows the ability to quickly close on the football. He possesses good range in coverage—making plays sideline to sideline. Bucannon plays with a good motor and is always flying to the football. However, there are times when he’s a bit hesitant and takes false steps. He needs time to develop a better feel for the game and trust his instincts on a more consistent basis.
12. Jemea Thomas, Georgia Tech (Late 4th Round)
Thomas is a versatile defender who has seen time at both safety and cornerback. He shows good quickness, burst and the awareness to take good angles to the football. However, Thomas just doesn’t make enough big plays. He appears to be too willing to get blocked and taken out of the play. His ability to play cornerback will be in question until he plays there with more consistency. At this point, Thomas is an upside guy with more to prove.
13. Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt (Late 4th Round)
Ladler is a safety prospect who sees most of his time in deep coverage. In this role, he shows the ability to read the quarterback and routes around him. His instincts and quick burst make him a candidate to pull down interceptions. Ladler is an aggressive player who constantly works to the whistle. He isn’t afraid to come up to support the run, but he needs to do a better job breaking down and make solid tackles. Overall, this is a solid prospect who really doesn’t standout as anything other than a contributor.
14. Ahmad Dixon, Baylor (6th Round)
Dixon is a versatile player who lines up at linebacker and safety for Baylor. However, he plays more of a linebacker role and will bounce out to the slot in multiple receiver sets. Dixon has good size and can deliver a big hit from time to time. However, he isn’t a player who makes big plays on a consistent basis. He’s stiff in the hips which limits his ability in coverage and doesn’t attack the LOS with enough strength to play linebacker at the next level.
15. Elisha Olabode, TCU (6th Round)
Olabode is an explosive and aggressive defender. In fact, he has a tendency to play too aggressive. Olabode will bite on pump fakes and take risks which allow the receiver to get past him. Until he cleans this part of his game up he’ll be a risky pick.
16. Jordan Richards, Stanford (7th Round)
Richards is an undersized safety who has limited upside at the next level. His value comes from his ability to put himself in proper position to make a play. However, he lacks great overall athleticism and will take some poor angles from time to time. There are also occasions where he doesn’t appear to give 100% effort. Not a major motor concern, but not a guy whose motor will help overcome some of his shortcomings.
Others to Watch: Hakeem Smith- Louisville, Karlos Williams- Florida State, Brian Blechen- Utah, Christian Bryant- Ohio State,