Which safeties will matter in the 2021 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?
2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings
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It’s a rough NFL Draft year for several positions, but safety is sneaky-good. There might not be any sure-thing, must-have superstars, but it’s a deep class of value picks with every guy on this list good enough to start.
From the college perspective, the top safeties in the 2021 NFL Draft are …
15. Richard LeCounte, Georgia
Size: 5-11, 196
The Good: A hugely productive defender at a high SEC level, he’s feisty, smart, and always seems to be in the right position with 176 career tackles with eight interceptions over the last three seasons and a whole lot of big plays and takeaways. He makes up for several issues by seemingly being a step ahead of everyone, but …
The Not-So-Good: He’s way too small and his pro day didn’t help. He’s too slender, not a big hitter, and the numbers aren’t there. He a high 4.7 runner without the explosion or star athleticism to make up for his lack of bulk.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There was a time in his Georgia career when he seemed like a possible must-have star NFL prospect based on what he did on the field – he still might be, but he’ll drop. The numbers and measurables just aren’t there, but he’s a big-time baller.
Projected Round: Fifth
14. James Wiggins, Cincinnati
Size: 5-11, 209
The Good: A stout, tough hitter with 4.4ish speed, he can get around in a hurry and bring the pop when he gets there. While he’s built to do big things against the run – he made 54 tackles as a sophomore and 32 last year – he’s got a great nose for when the ball is in the air with five interceptions and 11 broken up passes in his last two years.
The Not-So-Good: He missed all of 2019 with a knee injury and wasn’t quite the same all-around playmaker when he came back. In terms of size and bulk, he might not be exactly what the next-level types want and isn’t necessarily a man-on-man coverage defender.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’s not like he was bad last year coming off the knee injury. He could still hit and he still did a whole lot of big things when the ball was in the air. The 40 time helped prove the speed is there. Don’t be shocked if he’s a terrific value get somewhere on Day 3.
Projected Round: Fifth
13. Shawn Davis, Florida
Size: 5-11, 202
The Good: A good-sized tackler who came up with a whole lot of big plays over the last two years, Davis is a strong tackler who picked off five passes and broke up plenty of others. Unlike most of the safeties in this draft, Davis will bring the intimidating and physical thump to the secondary.
The Not-So-Good: It’s a one-off – hopefully – but he hurt is hamstring trying to run on pro day. He’s aggressive and tough, but sometimes he’ll miss the basic to go for the blow-up shot. Yeah, he’s more physical than other safeties in the draft, but he’s also less versatile than most of them.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: A producer at a high SEC level with the toughness that’s missing from this draft. Try to blow off the concerns about his pass coverage and misfires and like that he’s going to hit someone on the other team very, very hard.
Projected Round: Fourth
12. Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
Size: 6-0, 207
The Good: 4.38. He plays fast, tackles well, and makes himself known all over the field, and then came the workouts and he ripped off a great run to go along with the decent bulk in an NFL-sized safety. A steady hitter, he came up with 144 tackles in his last three seasons.
The Not-So-Good: Interceptions. There weren’t any. He broke up plenty of passes and made plenty of good things happen, but he didn’t do enough when the ball was in the air to change games around.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s got the tools, the experience, and the physical style that should work out as a part of the safety rotation right away. The range and speed are there to grow into a rock-solid pro – but the rest of the secondary might have to pick up the pass coverage slack.
Projected Round: Fourth
11. JaCoby Stevens, LSU
Size: 6-1, 212
The Good: A fantastic tackler over the last three seasons, he wasn’t as celebrated as other Tiger stars in the secondary, but he made 190 stops with four interceptions, 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 broken up passes. With terrific 212-pound size, he brings the thump to go along with his 4.5 speed and fantastic ranged.
The Not-So-Good: He doesn’t really have a set NFL position. While he’ll make plays in pass coverage, he’s really a bigger asset against the run. Even with his speed, he’s not going to be much if he has to handle a receiver one-on-one and might be forced to play up.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Don’t get caught up in his body type that looks a bit too bulky to be a defensive back – he moves well enough to not worry about his athleticism. As long as you have corners who can handle themselves, take him and let him make every tackle.
Projected Round: Fourth
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Top Ten
2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Top Ten
10. Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
Size: 6-3, 226
The Good: Really big and really fast, he gives teams a whole lot of options to work with. Not only is he built like a huge defensive back/smallish linebacker, but he’s a 4.4ish runner, too. He used it all to come up with 194 tackles and 11 tackles for loss in his last three seasons, and he grew into more of a pass defender with four picks in 2020.
The Not-So-Good: The tweener positives are also potential issues. He’s not a linebacker, and he’s not all that great against the speedier receivers if he ever has to lock on.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s way too much not to like. He might not have a specific position, and he might need to have strong cover guys around him, but he’ll hit and he’ll produce as a great-value starter coming after the first 100 picks.
Projected Round: Third
9. Caden Sterns, Texas
Size: 6-0, 212
The Good: Extremely good against the run over the last three seasons, he’s more than just a stats guy. He made 173 career stops, and the four picks as a freshman set a good tone. And then there’s the real number – 4.4. Insanely good all the way around at his pro day – and with a 212-pound body – he’s got the tools.
The Not-So-Good: Yeah, he cranked up the stats, but he also made a whole lot of tackles down the field. He was just okay against the pass – just one pick in his last two seasons – and might be forced into being mostly a run stopper.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: 4.4 for a safety changes things. He’s got the experience and the ability to be a starting NFL defensive back, but a team has to surround him by strong cover guys.
Projected Round: Fourth
8. Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
Size: 5-8, 176
The Good: He made all the plays Trevon Moehrig didn’t get to. He might not be all that big, but he moves well, is a solid tackler – 83 stops over the last two years – and came up with five picks in 2019. Always going 100 miles per hour, he makes up for the problems with energy and play-speed.
The Not-So-Good: He’s missing the NFL look and size. At 5-8 and 176 pounds he’s not big enough to bring any semblance of thump, and he’s going to have a whole lot of problem with the lightning fast receivers coming down the middle.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: You’re not going to find a tougher pound-for-pound guy in the draft, but the big shots he was able to come up with in college won’t happen at the next level. He’s enough of a playmaker to find a spot somewhere in an alignment.
Projected Round: Fourth
7. Talanoa Hufanga, USC
Size: 6-0, 199
The Good: A terrific tackler, he might not look like a big hitter but he is with 203 stops in three seasons and four forced fumbles over the last two years. He improved his play as a pass defender, coming up with four picks in just six games in 2020 while still coming up with a whole lot of big things in the backfield.
The Not-So-Good: He was great … when he was on the field. He’s a physical player who lays the lumber, but he also takes himself out with his big shots. You can’t take away his style without taking away what he does so well, but he’s going to always be banged up.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Here’s the deal. If you can promise that he’ll be healthy enough to play for at least 60 games over the next five years he might be one of the three best safeties in the draft. He’s so good that he’s a chance worth taking for what he’ll bring when he’s healthy.
Projected Round: Fourth
6. Andre Cisco, Syracuse
Size: 6-1, 216
The Good: There’s a whole lot to like. He’s big, he runs a sub-4.5, and was ultra-productive during his first two seasons and two games with 136 tackles with 13 interceptions and 14 broken up passes.
He rocked right out of the gate with seven picks as a freshman, and even though he was avoided, came up with five as a sophomore while also being a steady producer against the run.
The Not-So-Good: The stats are great, but he also worked himself in and out of a lot of plays by being overaggressive. He’ll make the massive play, but he’ll also misfire on a few others trying to come up with something big.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a whole lot to work with and the concerns can be tweaked. You don’t want to tamp down his fire or his playmaking ability, and once he gets into an NFL system and doesn’t have to do everything himself, he should shine. You want playmakers like Cisco.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings No. 5
2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings Top Five
5. Jamar Johnson, 6-0, 205
Size: 6-0, 205
The Good: Size, speed, production, he brings it all with little concern about fit.
Unlike most of the top safeties, he’s able to play any safety spot in any style and be more than fine. He’s got good enough speed to go along with a smoothness to his game, but he can also tackle. He might not be a blaster, but he’s more than adequate against the run.
Just coming into his own, he made a big jump from his sophomore to junior season, making 42 tackles with four picks with four broken up passes last year.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not the most physical of tacklers – he’s more functional than fantastic. Overall, it’s not quite right to say he only did it for one year, but he was good as a sophomore and came up with a great eight-game run as a junior. Even with the 24 games of experience he only came up with five broken up passes.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There should be a whole lot of teams out there hoping he slides to their spot in the third. While he might not be a sure-thing Pro Bowl talent, he’s going to be an instant starter who’ll make a coaching staff very happy. Stick him in a secondary wherever you need him and don’t worry.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings No. 4
4. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
Size: 6-3, 215
The Good: An excellent-sized defender who can run, he brings a different skill set to the mix. When he was healthy, he was a tackling machine with 192 stops over a two-year run with a massive 101-tackle, two-interception, three-forced fumble junior season.
While he didn’t make quite enough plays when the ball was in the air, he’s a sure-tackler, he’s got the length to hold up against the bigger targets, and best of all, he’s a coach on the field.
One of most unique (and overlooked) chess piece defenders in 2021 draft is @FSUFootball SS/WLB Hamsah Nasirildeen. Just one safety in league right now with Ham’s length combo (6032 & 34 1/2 arm). Played only 2 games last fall but showed good versatility on ‘19 tape. This INT 👀! pic.twitter.com/zHwnAss5t9
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 13, 2021
The Not-So-Good: He’s still getting back from a knee injury.
Just when it looked like he was about to blow up into a top 30 overall prospect, he suffered a torn ACL that cost him almost all of last season. He returned and he’s able to run and move just fine – he’s still a 4.6 runner – but it’s still a relatively fresh injury.
Even when he was healthy, despite being tall and rangy he was more of a tackler than a pass defender – and he’s not a powerful tackler.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Again, he’s a different type of defender, but he has the skills to be a good, reliable starter who’ll hold up and make stops in the open field and is more than fine when the ball is in the air. More than anything else, though, he’s everything you want as a locker room leader. If and when he’s a starter, he’ll make a defense his.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings No. 3
3. Richie Grant, UCF
Size: 6-0, 197
The Good: A terrific all-around playmaker for the last three seasons – after a 32-tackle freshman season – he’s a tough hitter for his size and was always around the ball.
With 290 tackles, ten picks, 17 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles, he’s a stat sheet filler who can cover, support against the run, and he knows how to take the ball away.
The raw speed is there to go along with the experience and hitting ability, but …
The Not-So-Good: The secondary wasn’t all that great as good as he was. He’ll do everything you need, but he’s not huge and he’s not a thumper – the intimidation factor isn’t there. He might make plenty of plays, but he also takes a whole lot of chances as he goes after everything.
27 Days🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/806EacY7o5
— Richie Grant (@rgrant1525) April 2, 2021
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: UCF was known for it’s fun and high-powered offense, but there’s been talent on the other side of the ball, too. Grant isn’t the perfect NFL safety prospect, but he can do a little of everything right, he’s a good veteran who knows how to make plays, and he’ll start for someone right away.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings No. 2
2. Jevon Holland, Oregon
Size: 6-1, 207
The Good: Extremely fast and extremely producing, he made 108 tackles with nine interceptions in his first two years before opting out of the 2020 season.
It’s a good problem to have when you have NFL corner speed and skills despite being a safety. If absolutely needed, he could be moved to the outside, but that’s not going to be his job.
He knows how to get to the ball and will win more than his share of 50/50 battles, and even though he’s not a thumper, he’ll tackle. He’s good enough in the open field to make the play, even if he’s not bringing the hammer.
Get your cameras out when Jevon Holland (@HollywoodVon) plays because he knows everything about using the right angles.@CBSSportsHQ | #NFLDraft @CoachRHolland #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/z1eiHMhwVm
— Bryant McFadden (@BMac_SportsTalk) March 25, 2021
The Not-So-Good: Is he a tweener? He’s got sub-4.5 speed and the toughness to hold up against the run, but he doesn’t necessarily have an exact role if he’s not making things happen on the move. There isn’t going to be the pop you might want from a safety who’ll be expected to star.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Just stick him at free safety or in space in the middle of the field and let him go do what he does to get the ball. Find others to come up and bang against the run. In today’s NFL you want smart veterans who can cover and make things happen against the high-powered passing games. You want as many of him on the field as possible on third downs.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2021 NFL Draft Safety Rankings No. 1
1. Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Size: 6-1, 202
The Good: He’s got the size, the range, and the all-around game to instantly step into any secondary and produce. He’s a free safety more than a strong, even though he can tackle and is more than fine in run support.
He won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back in 2020 – which he wasn’t, but it’s hard to argue with the talent – finishing his three-year run with the Horned Frogs with 124 tackles and seven picks.
He might be a bit wiry, but he’ll get physical with receivers, he has a great burst to the ball when dealing with the quicker targets, and he never seems to have a wasted move when the ball is in the air. He’s a broken up pass machine with 20 over the last two years.
Really like the playmaking ability and instincts of TCU S Trevon Moehrig
Will get a little handsy/aggressive at times on routes, but he was flagged only 4 times in 3 years
GREAT tape vs. Oklahoma … pic.twitter.com/xgMZ5AmpOD
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 12, 2021
The Not-So-Good: Yeah, he won the Thorpe, but he was far better as a sophomore. Obviously he wasn’t bad last year, but he didn’t make as many plays when the ball was in the air and was far more disruptive overall two seasons ago.
As good as he is tracking the ball, he’s not going to be an intimidating force as a hitter. He’ll be better in space than moving up to stuff the run, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Here’s the quarterback of your secondary. You don’t do what he did over the last few years for TCU without knowing how to play chess, and he’s got the all-around skills to make a whole lot of plays when the ball is in the air. He’s not the perfect safety prospect, but he’ll be a stat-sheet filler.
Projected Round: First
