NFL Draft’s finest security prospects, ranked for the 2024 class

We’ve made it to the 2024 NFL Draft, and whereas security has fallen down the listing of positional values, there are many intriguing prospects to have a look at.

There have been no security prospects taken within the first spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, and it appears as if the identical scenario may bear out in 2024. The final time a security prospect was chosen within the draft’s first spherical was in 2022, when Kyle Hamilton went 14th general to the Baltimore Ravens. Loads of Day 2 and Day 3 choices are in play.

Introduced listed here are these safeties who SB Nation believes to be among the many prime 10 at their place on this yr’s draft class. How did we attain a consensus? SB Nation’s group of NFL draft analysts every ranked their prime security prospects, and this listing represents the cumulative outcomes of these particular person rankings.

10. Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest

Mustapha is a compact security who’s constructed properly with above-average play energy. His positional strengths lie in his aggressiveness and talent to shortly shut on tackles. Malik Mustapha will probably be a down security within the NFL, spending most of his time close to the road of scrimmage. Mustapha possesses good athleticism however appears to be like misplaced at instances when taking part in the deep security place.

9. Cole Bishop, Utah

The widest vary of votes on our listing — one voter had him as excessive as three, however he was additionally as little as 11. I’ll confess: Mine was the vote that had Bishop at three, and he’s one in every of my favourite prospects of this draft. Bishop was a three-year starter and a pacesetter of Utah’s secondary. He’s an incredible athlete and versatile sufficient to minimize within the field or up excessive in a cut up security look. Bishop was a menace when he dropped down, getting used as a “robber” in protection. He has the athleticism to cowl tight ends man to man, and the tenacity to put the hit-stick on imposing ball carriers. I believe Bishop has an opportunity to be one of the best security to return out of this class if he lands in the correct scenario.

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8. Beau Brade, Maryland

Brade affords high quality dimension and size for an NFL security, and he had two stable years of manufacturing at Maryland. He takes the suitable angles on ball carriers within the run recreation, and when collapsing on vast receivers in zone protection. Brade appears to own good play recognition and has a knack for enjoying the soccer when it’s within the air. He would possibly begin as a rotational security and particular groups man, however Brade the possibility to develop right into a starter.

7. James Williams, Miami

Williams is a huge security prospect at 6’4” and 231 kilos. He tasks to be a field security or nickel linebacker, as Williams doesn’t supply a lot in protection conditions. He’s an explosive hitter who makes use of his size and athleticism to shut run lanes shortly. Williams might have a while to determine precisely how he’ll match into an NFL protection, however he has some distinctive traits that present upside close to the road of scrimmage.

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6. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech

Taylor-Demerson might have one of the best instincts and soccer IQ out of anybody on this group. His anticipation and high-end processing expertise typically put him within the right spot to make performs, and he has the pure means to make these performs. The knock on Taylor-Demerson is that he doesn’t have the specified dimension (5’10”, 197 kilos) for a typical NFL security, however he makes up for that in his versatility. He can play a number of positions within the secondary and he’s comfy in numerous defensive schemes. One vote amongst our lists positioned him as excessive as third.

5. Jaden Hicks, Washington St.

Hicks had a large breadth amongst our rankings, with one second-place vote and one ninth-place vote. The red-shirt sophomore from Washington oozes with upside. He has the specified dimension (6’2”, 211 kilos) and athleticism of an NFL security, however he would possibly want extra time to develop. Hicks proficiently owns his space of the sphere and is a drive to be reckoned with when the ball is in his neighborhood. His tackling is inconsistent and can have to be cleaned up, however Hicks is an fascinating prospect who has an opportunity to be an above-average starter.

4. Kamren Kinchens, Miami

To place it bluntly, Kinchens had an atrocious exhibiting on the NFL Scouting Mix. His draft inventory plummeted — from being mentioned as the highest security within the draft, to questions whether or not he shall be drafted by the tip of Day 2. That being mentioned, Kinchens did some harm management and improved a few of his athletic testing numbers at his professional day. No matter testing numbers, Kinchens is a game-changing security, evident by his 11 takeaways over the past two seasons. His recreation tape and instincts are second to none, however his poor testing velocity and occasional psychological errors would possibly give groups pause. Kinchens would possibly want a extra outlined function within the NFL, probably nearer to the road of scrimmage, however wherever he’s put he’ll make performs.

3. Calen Bullock, USC

Bullock is an extended and rangy deep security prospect who additionally has the athleticism to match up man-to-man within the slot. He isn’t nice in run help and that may probably restrict him to a deep security function. That’s completely fantastic, given he’s excellent in that function. Bullock is a fluid mover who can change route on a dime, possessing the physique management and timing of a large receiver. Whichever staff selects Bullock has their deep security place locked down for the foreseeable future.

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2. Javon Bullard, Georgia

Merely put, Bullard is an efficient soccer participant. He will not be the quickest or largest amongst his friends, however he is aware of the best way to play the place and he performs it properly. Bullard appears extra comfy nearer to the road of scrimmage, and that would discover him being utilized in an enormous nickel function within the NFL. He affords manufacturing in each run help and cross protection. Bullard has good spatial consciousness in zone protection and reveals a pure stickiness when latching onto a large receiver. A real playmaker, Bullard will discover a method to positively have an effect on a recreation irrespective of the place he performs.

1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

Nubin was the unanimous prime security amongst our voters. He has the best dimension, size, and instincts to be a top-tier ball-hawking security within the NFL. Nubin has an uncanny means to “time his pounce” on the ball when it’s within the air. He’s succesful in run help however he’s at house when taking part in excessive as a deep security. Nubin has the “it” issue of an elite playmaker and likes to play video games with opposing quarterback to bait them into throwing the ball the place he needs it to go. Generally it appears to be like like he’s taking part in chess to a sign caller’s recreation of checkers. Tyler Nubin shall be an immediate affect participant the minute he units foot on an NFL area.

All of our 2024 NFL Draft positional rankings