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In the NFL, the man at safety has one of the most important and least heralded roles on the football field. It's his job to make sure no offensive players break free on the ground for big yardage, make catches deep, or, worse still, score a TD right down the middle.
The safety is generally the last line of defense; a guy who simply can't afford to miss a tackle. In that sense, it's a cruel position: if a safety makes a mistake, he expects it to show up on tape.
The premier safeties in the business tend to be athletically gifted: strong, fast, and physical enough to win contested catches. Real fan favorites at that position tend to be big hitters, too; guys capable of making game-changing plays both in coverage and on pass rush duties.
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Long and short of it is that having an elite NFL safety can take your franchise to the next level. If you don't believe me, just ask Pete Carroll.
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Consequently, with so many top safety talents getting set to enter the 2021 NFL Draft on April 29 -- but perhaps not so many standout superstars -- there is sure to be a lot of competition among the NFL's 32 franchise teams for the signatures of the very best.
Take a look at Sportskeeda's top 10 safeties heading into the 2021 NFL Draft
1.Richie Grant, UCF
Richie Grant has been a top performer for UCF in each of the three seasons he's starred in, tallying up ten interceptions and seven forced fumbles. The big-tackling, six-footer also earned himself First Team All-AAC honors in each of those seasons, which might have something to do with the fact he only allowed three TD passes in his zone throughout his entire college career.
2. Trevon Moehrig, TCU
A free safety, Trevon Moehrig was one of the most highly-regarded defensive backs in college football in 2019 & 2020, attracting interest from a host of NFL teams.
In his career at TCU, Moehrig tallied 26 PDs and six interceptions in 22 games, subsequently winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college football in 2020.
At 6"1, Moehrig is tall for safety and uses his size to his advantage, making big hits and forcing receivers into errors at the point of the catch. That's because the TCU man has earned himself a reputation as being a ballhawk, and there aren't many franchise teams who can't find room for one of those on the roster!
3. Jevon Holland, Oregon
Jevon Holland, a four-star recruit out of Oregon, is a safety that's been turning a few heads during the build-up to the 2021 NFL Draft.
The DraftNetwork writes of Holland:
"Jevon Holland aligned at safety for the Ducks defense. He shows excellent versatility and football intelligence to align in multiple places in the secondary. He demonstrates good leadership and communication on the back end and easily adjusts with motion. He is an excellent athlete with loose hips, agility, and body control while in coverage. When aligned in the slot, he demonstrates the coverage upside to allow the coordinator the flexibility to make different calls. As a result, he demonstrates the skill set that will allow the defense to stay in base against 11-personnel. He has tremendous versatility and the ball skills to make him an elite prospect at the position."
4. Andre Cisco, Syracuse
A versatile footballer, Andre CIsco is capable of fulfilling several different roles in his position and has been used as a strong safety, free safety, and even a "rover" during his college career at Syracuse.
Often referred to as a 'ball magnet,' Cisco registered 13 interceptions during his three-year stint with the Orange; seven of which came in 2018 when the safety became the first freshman since 1998 to lead the league in that category.
Most scouting reports mention that Cisco needs to learn better to control his positioning and work on damage limitations: he has a habit of going for the spectacular pick which sometimes leads to mistakes in coverage. As an impact safety, however, he looks every bit an NFL player to me.
5. Jamar Johnson, Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers safety Jamar Johnson led the team with six interceptions and didn't allow one TD in his zone in two seasons of play.
Johnson can improve his positioning slightly, but at 6"1, 190 lbs, and 4.58s 40-yard dash-time, he appears to have both the athleticism and ball-hawking skills required to make him a top safety in the NFL.
6. Hamsah Nasirildeen
We may have to wait until the day of the draft itself to learn how to pronounce his name correctly, but Namsah Nasrildeen could end up being one of those names we never forget; certainly not if his college tape is anything to go by!
Nasirildeen played free safety during his entire college career and was a crucial component in defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s schemes in 2018 & 2019, leading the Seminoles in tackles.
Unfortunately, Nasrildeen tore his ACL in 2020 and spent the majority of the year on IR.
7. Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
At 5"8, Ar'Darius Washington might be on the short side for a safety in the NFL, but what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for in physicality and a natural ability to read plays as they unfold.
Of Washington, the DraftNetwork writes:
"He (Washington) has often been able to save the day as the last line of defense. While not afforded opportunities to play it often except in the red zone, he’s shown to be adequate in man coverage, as he has the smoothness and athleticism to cover slot options. He's got ball skills galore and he attacks the ball out of the air. He's highly competitive at the catch point and many of his turnover opportunities have come from coverage awareness or following the eyes of throwers to take him to intended throwing locations."
8. Talanoa Hufanga, USC
Talanoa Hufanga has drawn comparisons with fellow Polynesian and legendary NFL first-ballot Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, and it's not just the shared cultural heritage that has people talking:
Like Polamalu at the Steelers, Hufanga plays strong safety and isn't scared of putting the shoulder in on tackles.
Unfortunately, a recurring shoulder injury marred Hufanga's first two seasons with the Trojans. He did manage to stay healthy last season, though, and was voted Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 10.3 tackles per game and registering four picks to boot.
There are some concerns over Hufanga's shoulder injury and perceived lack of pace at the elite level. Regardless, on the off-chance he turns out to be 2/3 the player Polamalu was, he is surely worth a punt come the second-and third-round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
9. Shawn Davis, Florida
Judging by the clip above, Shawn Davis clearly has an eye for the spectacular, but there's much more to him than incredible one-handed picks. Davis is touted as having a high football IQ; something that had his coaches referring to him as 'the quarterback of the secondary."
Perhaps it was this in-game intelligence the coaches speak of that enabled Davis to tally up to five interceptions over the course of the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Florida Gators, and that's despite battling several injuries.
If he can keep himself fit, Davis projects himself as a solid, dependable NFL safety with a potentially very high ceiling.
10. Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
Tyree Gillespie primarily operated as a deep safety during his career with the Missouri Tigers.
Gillespie is a solid tackler who plays his best football closer to the line of scrimmage, teeing up running backs for big hits when they break across the first line of defense.
Scouting reports suggest Gillespie does have a few issues with his reaction speed and positional awareness in deep coverage, though, which would help explain his low yield on the stat sheets: 0 interceptions and just 12 PDs over four years in Missouri.
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