2023 & 2024 “Best Of” - Safeties

As this year comes to a close, Draft Nation will take a look at the 2023 and 2024 draft classes by position. The following is a current “Best Of” list for both offense and defense, taking a look back at the top players from last year’s draft party and ahead to the coming NFL selection process in April.

From Draft Nation to you… Happy Holidays and get your mock drafts ready!!

2023

Last season there were a combined 59 cornerbacks and safeties selected in the NFL Draft, demonstrating team concerns for stopping today’s passing game. Squads with a premium tandem of safeties excel in the NFL. They can stop the run, cover receivers and or tight ends and clamp down in a zone defense. With the speed of receivers in today’s NFL, safeties are responsible for not letting wideouts take the top off of defenses on deep passes. 

The 2023 NFL Nation had 22 safeties selected and here are the best of last year’s selections:  

1- Detroit - Brian Branch

Brian Branch was a 2nd round pick of the Detroit Lions and has been used as a nickelback during his rookie season. He has played as expected, with big play ability and sideline to sideline. He has 13 games under his belt already, starting 9 and has accumulated 69 tackles and 3 interceptions, including 1 he returned for a touchdown. 

2- San Francisco - Ji’Ayir Brown

Brown, a 3rd round pick out of Penn State was a welcomed surprise to the 49ers secondary this season. Brown was an under the radar prospect who some experts thought may be more of a late round draft pick. But he’s played in all 15 49ers games, starting 5 and has made the most of his playing time. He has collected 35 tackles and grabbed 2 interceptions and is well on his way to becoming a starting safety for San Francisco.

3- Cincinnati - Jordan Battle

Jordan Battle was selected in the 3rd round by the Bengals out of Alabama and has played like a player who has future Pro Bowl aspirations. In 15 games he’s started 5 and has been a tackling machine, making 59 tackles and tallying 1 sack. Battle is instinctive and has the size and speed teams want from the position.

2024:

As we move from the 2023 draft to the 2024 NFL Draft, here is Draft Nation’s Top Ten Safety prospects: 

1- Tyler Nubin - Minnesota

Nubin has 13 career interceptions to go along with 207 tackles. He is a complete safety with excellent football IQ and size. His ceiling is the highest at this position. He has an outside shot at being drafted on day 1. 

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-tyler-nubin

2- Kamren Kinchens - Miami, Fla

Kinchens has the hands of a wide receiver and the ball hawking skills of a Troy Polamalu. He has 11 interceptions in the past 2 years and has also laid out his share of receivers with his physicality. His biggest downfall is he plays too aggressively at times and can be beat by a pump fake or a play action. With his potential, he could appeal to a team at the end of round 1.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-kam-kinchens

3- Calen Bullock - USC

Bullock is another big safety who has room to add to his 6’3” 180 lb. frame. He is a playmaker who has issues with double moves and doesn’t play as physically as he should. His playmaking ability will get him selected sometime on day 2.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-calen-bullock

4- Rod Moore - Michigan

Rod Moore has suffered through some lingering injuries in 2023 but played in 10 games for Michigan. He’s not officially announced his intentions and will most likely wait until after the college playoffs are over to do so. If he decides to enter the draft, Draft Nation thinks he is an excellent late day 2 draft pick.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-rod-moore

5- Mike Sainristil - Michigan

Mike Sainristil is the playmaker in the Michigan defensive backfield. He has teamed up nicely with fellow draft prospect Rod Moore to form one of the best safety combinations in the country. He has 5 interceptions on the season and has returned 2 of those for touchdowns. He is not a physical tackler and may project as a nickelback at the next level.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-mike-sainristil

6- Cole Bishop - Utah

Cole Bishop is that perfect prospect you take in the mid-rounds of a draft. There is a question about his slight build and how it will translate to the NFL but he is always around the ball and brings with him game changing ability. 

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-cole-bishop

7- Jaylin Simpson - Auburn

Simpson has a slender build for safety and this may scare some teams away but has enough playmaking ability to be a valuable mid-round draft pick that offers versatility in the secondary.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-jaylin-simpson

8- Beau Brade - Maryland

In a draft that features a ton of playmakers at the safety position, Brade is a good pick for a team that needs a responsible run stopper. His ceiling may not be as high as some of the other prospects, but he is a nice, safe pick in the middle rounds.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-beau-brade

9- Lathan Ransom - Ohio State

Ransom’s 2023 season was cut short after 8 games, killing some of the momentum he had built up in 2022. He has yet to make his official announcement but took himself out of the Cotton Bowl and he did participate in Senior Day activities.

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-lathan-ransom

10- Demani Richardson - Texas A&M

Richardson is a big safety with the physical presence to be a factor in an NFL secondary. He needs to work on his mechanics and his instincts in coverage. Another prospect who falls into that mid-round range, but has starter potential. 

https://www.draft412.com/post/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-demani-richardson