2023 NFL Draft Profile: Alabama Safety Brian Branch

BamaCentral is taking a long look at each of the Crimson Tide's 15 football prospects who could hear their names called during the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City on April 27-29.

Brian Branch is widely considered the best safety in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

The question is whether that's enough for the Alabama Crimson Tide standout to be a first-round selection, especially since he's being projected as a slot defender at the next level. 

Branch was a top-five safety prospect out of Sandy Creek High School in Georgia, where he won the state's Iron Man of the Year Award as a senior for his play on both sides of the ball.

He focused on defense, though, at Alabama, and worked his way on to the field as a freshman. That initial season he played in 12 games with three starts (27 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes broken up) and won a national championship ring. 

He played in all 15 games in 2021, starting seven times and led the Crimson Tide with nine pass breakups (also recording 55 tackles, five for loss). He was a second-team Associated Press All-American as a junior, starting all 13 games (90 tackles, 14 for loss with three sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups). 

"I think Brian Branch could actually play corner if we needed him to," Nick Saban said about him last year. "We do practice him some there."

Consequently, Branch ran drills with the cornerbacks at the NFL combine in an effort to show his versatility. 

“Smart and competitive and way stronger than you expect. He could come in and become a top player quickly,” NFL.com quoted a personnel executive for an AFC team as saying about Branch. 

Alabama Defensive Back Brian Branch

NFL Combine/Workout Details

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

No. 14
Position: S
Height: 5115
Weight: 190
Hand: 0948
Arm: 3068
Wing: 7528
DOB: 10/22/2001
Hometown: Tyrone, GA
High School: Sandy Creek

40-Yard Dash: 4.58 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.56 seconds
Vertical Jump: 34.5’’
Broad Jump: 10’ 5’’
Bench Press: 14

What They're Saying About Brian Branch

Alabama Athletics

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Plug-and-play defensive back with every ingredient necessary to become a high-performing starter early in his career. Branch has primarily handled nickel coverage at Alabama but has the range and instincts for single-high or split safety looks. He’s quick, fast and strong with the ability to match up with shifty slots, bigger possession receivers and pass-catching tight ends. He’s urgent and has a mind for the game. He takes playmaking angles into the throwing lane but does have a tendency to play it a little safe from off-man coverage. There are areas where he can improve but no real weaknesses, which could make him one of the safest picks in the draft.

NFL Draft Bible: The 2020 Alabama recruiting class has produced enormous talent and immediate results. Brian Branch, after contributing his freshman season, became a top-tier college defender in 2021. The defensive back has the versatility to play any position in the secondary and even boasts elite special teams potential. Branch is a fluid and clean mover who makes easy changes of direction and transitions. The Alabama safety is explosive in all directions and has good long speed. Further, Branch plays with elite physicality in all areas of the game. He attacks blockers with straight, accurate hands to establish distance and work through them. He is effective against linemen for his size, but he overpowers and sheds skill position blockers at will. What’s more, Branch is a remarkably efficient tackler who plays with safe technique and a hard-hitting style. He easily tracks the ball carrier and navigates traffic. On top of his downhill traits, Branch is a standout in man coverage. He has a knack for playing the top shoulder and dominating from there, though he can win from the low shoulder. He mirrors pass-catchers before and after contact but excels after landing his hands and slowing receivers down.

Branch leverages routes well and avoids committing prematurely in man. He takes clean recovery angles and keeps sound eye discipline while minimizing blind spots. Branch also flashes spatial awareness and route recognition in zone. He understands route development and combinations. At the catch point, Branch is physical and has great hand-eye coordination. Still, Branch may not appeal to all NFL teams. He split time in 2021 with fellow rising third-year safety Malachi Moore. Additionally, he will primarily be a nickel corner and man-coverage specialist early in his career. Moreover, Branch must refine certain technical aspects of his game.

In man, he gives up his chest with inaccurate hands. He is occasionally a step slow mirroring without contact. High-level NFL prospects, at times, fool him with salesmanship. In trying to land hands, Branch chases and puts himself in a recovery position. In zone coverage, Branch can overcommit to one route and leave another open. He does not have the range to play single high. At the catch point, Branch is outreached or boxed out too often. He occasionally takes improper angles to the tackle point. Brian Branch projects as a rookie starter at nickel; he has the potential to be a high-level versatile defensive back.

SI: Alabama’s Brian Branch is really solid, and probably a mid- to late first-rounder, but he is like Michigan’s Daxton Hill was last year: more of a slot corner in college with the versatility to play back at safety. And after Branch, one team said, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the next safety not go until the fourth round.

BamaCentral Analysis

The NFL comparison one hears with Branch is former Alabama All-American Minkah Fitzpatrick, which is a little generous on right on in terms of playing style. Regardless, players with his kind of versatility are in high demand, so even if he falls out of the first round Branch shouldn't last too long. Critics labeled him overrated at the combine when he didn't stand out, but when they go back and look at the game film they'll be reminded of what initially impressed them so much: his football intelligence.

Projection: Low first round. 

This is the second story in an annual series profiling Alabama football players available in the upcoming NFL draft.

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr.

Safety Jordan Battle 

Every defense could use a Brian Branch. That read and react speed doesn’t show up on a 40 time. pic.twitter.com/CixqIJvOmI

— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) April 10, 2023

Bama in the NFL Database

All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players Selected in the NFL Draft