2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Safety

8/19/23: Some teams had Nubin graded as a potential first- or second-round pick for the 2023 NFL Draft prior to him returning to Minnesota for another year. In 2022, Nubin totaled 55 tackles, four interceptions and three passes defended. He had similar production in 2021 with 49 tackles, three picks and two passes broken up. Pro evaluators like that Nubin is big, physical, instinctive, and has impressive movement skills for a player of his size.

8/19/23: Kinchens broke out in 2022 with six interceptions, five passes defended, 59 tackles and a forced fumble. While he does not have special size, Kinchens possesses good instincts and serious ball skills. He is athletic, rangy, and could be single-high deep free safety for the NFL. Finding playmaking deep safeties are a tough commodity, so if Kinchens can stay close to being as consistent as he was in 2022, there should be a lot of teams targeting him in the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: DeJean was all over the field for Iowa in 2022, making big plays on his way to totaling 75 tackles, five interceptions and eight passes defended. It was a breakout season for him. DeJean is a gritty and instinctive defender. While he has played cornerback for Iowa, some team sources who have already done tape study on DeJean say they believe he would be a better fit at safety and nickel corner in the NFL. They feel that would let him use his instincts to make plays and keep him around the ball while also protecting a potential lack of juice as an outside corner to run with twitchy pro receivers.

8/19/23: Bullard is a corner/safety hybrid who is similar to Detroit Lions defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Brian Branch. In 2022, Bullard recorded 46 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up and 3.5 sacks. Bullard is highly instinctive, tough and physical, and has excellent feel and awareness. Bullard has a thinner frame, so it would help him to gain some weight for the NFL.

8/19/23: Bullock had a breakout sophomore season for the Trojans in 2022, recording 48 tackles, five interceptions and six passes defended. He showed instincts and a knack for making some splash plays in the clutch. As a freshman, Bullock totaled 39 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended. Bullock is a tall, long safety with ball skills. For the NFL, he could stand to get stronger and fill out his frame.

8/19/23: Williams is a big safety who has the size of a linebacker but moves pretty well for his size. Williams is more of a strong safety than a free safety for the NFL. He is consistent with his eye discipline, technique and tackling. However, his instincts aren’t bad and he has some coverage ability with flashes of physicality. In 2022, he recorded 59 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and six passes broken up.

8/19/23: Bishop only started half the 2021 season, but he played really well for the Utes, recording 54 tackles, three sacks and five passes broken up. In 2022, he collected 83 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and three pass breakups. If Bishop builds on his performance during his junior year, he could definitely rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Wheatley flashed as a redshirt freshman in 2022, recording 27 tackles, two interceptions and a pass defended. He has a good skill set and the upside to be a riser.

8/19/23: Ransom racked up 74 tackles, an interception, 1.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 2022. He dealt with injuries, but continued to play solid football for Ohio State. Ransom benefited from moving to safety from cornerback for 2022.

Ransom worked his way onto the field as a freshman and earned more playing time as the year progressed. He has excellent size with some natural cover skills. Ransom totaled 38 tackles, a forced fumble and five passes defended in 2021.

8/19/23: Brooks is undersized, but he is a tough football player who played well for the Tigers in 2022. Brooks recorded 63 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended. He contributed in 2021 (39-1-4) and in 2020 (39-2-1).

8/19/23: Moore recorded 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five passes broken up in 2022 as the backup star-position defender behind Brian Branch. Now that Branch has moved on, Moore should take over as the starter in 2023. Moore is a quality athlete with instincts. However, he struggles to stay with receivers in man coverage and lacks a burst out of his break and in transition. Moore also lacks some power and does not play strong.

Moore put together a phenomenal freshman season in 2020, totaling 44 tackles, one forced fumble, three interceptions and six passes broken up. He had 16 tackles and an interception in 2021, but also missed the final four games of the year with an injury. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has quality size to go with speed and instincts. He can play safety or nickel corner.

8/19/23: Dent collected 53 tackles and four passes broken up in 2022. He really came on in the back half of the 2021 season, showing improved tackling to go with solid pass-coverage skills. That season, he collected 44 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. Dent recorded 35 tackles and seven breakups in 2019.

For the Seminoles, Dent has played both cornerback and safety. The latter, however, looks like his best position for the next level.

8/19/23: Smith is undersized, but he is a tough football player. In 2022, he collected 29 tackles and one pass broken up. His best season came in 2020 with 61 tackles, two interceptions and five passes broken up.

8/19/23: Mukuba flashed ability in 2022 and 2021. He could be a riser if he builds on his performance and becomes more of a playmaker. As a sophomore, he had 53 tackles with an interception and three passes defended. In his freshman campaign, he totaled 47 tackles and six breakups.

8/19/23: Pearson was a decent defender for Texas Tech in 2022, recording 55 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended. After the season, he transferred to Oklahoma. Pearson was decent in 2021 and 2019. He could be more of a backup and special teams contributor at the next level.

8/19/23: Perry was a solid defender for the Horned Frogs in 2022, recording 84 tackles and two passes defended. The previous season, Perry played well at Colorado, totaling 66 tackles, three interceptions and three passes broken up. If Perry shows improved coverage skills as a senior, he could rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: Proctor recorded 21 tackles and two passes defended in 2022. He needs to improve his production in 2023.

8/19/23: In 2022, Shaw totaled 50 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. He was a decent defender for the Trojans, but he needs to show more pass-coverage skills and playmaking ability. In 2021 with Ohio State, he had 59 stops to go along with an interception and three passes defended. Shaw was a backup for the Buckeyes in the previous two seasons.

8/19/23: Paige has good height and length for a defensive back, but he has not been a producer for the Wolverines yet. In 2022, he had 41 tackles, one interception and two passes defended. Paige needs to produce more as a senior.

8/19/23: Ryan had 23 tackles, a forced fumble and one pass broken up in 2022. He has a decent skill set with upside to rise now that he has a year of starting experience.

8/19/23: Bradford was a decent defender in 2022, recording 58 tackles, an interception and eight passes defended. He had an interception and 52 tackles the previous year. Bradford needs to get stronger to tackle at the pro level.