2023 NFL Draft Primer: S Big Board Rankings (FS & SS)

The NFL Draft Bible Primer Series concludes with a look at the top safety prospects, as we get set to depart for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, buckle up!

The safety position is one that is defined by blurred lines. In the modern-day NFL, many teams employ their safeties in dual roles. That could mean playing both free and strong safety, or safety and slot, or maybe even safety and linebacker. On average, the league has been very consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the past decade.

For the purpose of the NFL Draft Bible big board, we have done our best to separate prospects into free safety and strong safety designations.

One player who seems to sit atop big boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama. More of an in-the-box safety type, Branch is also strong in coverage when lined up as a slot defender. His overall game should translate well to the next level and it would not be surprising to see him be the first safety selected.

Sticking to the SEC, you will find numerous tremendous talents such as Christopher Smith of Georgia, another versatile safety who can line up at multiple spots due to his speed, instincts and ability to cover lots of ground. A longer safety who can help stuff the run, in addition to play centerfield in pass coverage is Antonio Johnson of Texas A&M, who also figures to hear his name called early. Another interchangeable part would be Trey Dean of Florida. Dean can play either safety spot and was a man amongst boys at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas. In fact, he projects to be one of the best value picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

There are several safeties who stand out as mid-round selections that possess starter traits. While he doesn’t receive the same national recognition as his peers, Sydney Brown of Illinois is a Sunday impact player. His coverage ability was on full display at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and he flashed nearly every week of the college football regular season with a splash play, so make sure you remember the name come draft day. If you don’t know Marte Mapu of Sacramento State, you will now. A relatively unknown entering the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Mapu won over scouts in attendance so much that he was immediately shipped to Mobile, in order to compete against a higher level of competition—Mapu dominated at both all-star games and will be impossible to take off the field at the next level as a safety/linebacker.

Remember, if you want full, in-depth scouting reports for 500+ prospects, be sure to order your copy of the Official 2023 NFL Draft Bible! Below is the NFL Draft Bible safety big board, plus our top NFL prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. Keep it locked all week for exclusive coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine!

2023 NFL DRAFT PRIMER SERIES: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

PLAYER KEY: Rank, Player, School, Year, Height, Weight, Forty, Hand, Arm, Wingspan, All-Star Game, Combine Status, Projection | Scouting Report

ABBREVIATIONS: SRB = Senior Bowl, EWS = East-West Shrine Bowl, NFLPA = NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, HULA = Hula Bowl, TROP = Tropical Bowl, CGS = College Gridiron Showcase, NIC = NFL Combine Invite, UDFA = Undrafted Free Agent, NIC (National Invitational Camp) = NFL Scouting Combine

2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: FREE SAFETY (2/28/23)

RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | YR | HT | WT | FORTY | HAND | ARM | WING | AS | COMBINE | PROJECTION | PROFILE

1. Christopher Smith, Georgia, Sr, 5102, 188, 4.49e, 0958, 3158, 7500, SRB, NIC, Rd2 | REPORT

2. *Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, Jr, 6026, 200, 4.49, NIC, Rd2 | REPORT

3. *Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr, 6010, 215, 4.55, NIC, Rd2 | REPORT

4. *Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State, Jr, 6006, 209, 4.45e, 0900, 3248, 7738, SRB, NIC, Rd3 | REPORT

5. *JL Skinner, Boise State, Sr, 6042, 211, 4.44e, 0838, 3248, 7778, SRB, NIC, Rd3 | REPORT

6. *Kaevon Merriweather, Iowa, Sr, 6001, 207, 4.59e, 0938, 3168, 7648, SRB, Rd3 | REPORT

7. *Rashad Torrence II, Florida, Jr, 6-0, 205, 4.50, Rd3 | REPORT

8. *Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Sr, 6006, 195, 4.50, NIC, Rd4 | REPORT

9. Jartavius Martin, Illinois, Sr, 5110, 193, 4.52e, 0968, 3148, 7728, NIC, SRB, Rd4 | REPORT

10. Demani Richardson, Texas A&M, Sr, 6005, 215, 4.55, Rd4 | REPORT

11. *Jay Ward, LSU, Sr, 6010, 186, 4.55e, 0848, 3200, 7700, SRB, NIC, Rd5 | REPORT

12. DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama, Sr, 6005, 213, 4.59e, 0838, 3148, 7448, SRB, NIC, Rd5 | REPORT

13. Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech, rSr, 6000, 205, 4.62e, 0900, 3100, 7628, SRB, NIC, Rd6 | REPORT

14. Keidron Smith, Kentucky, Sr, 6015, 203, 4.52e, 0948, 3200, 7668, SRB/NFLPA, Rd6 | REPORT

15. Quindell Johnson, Memphis, rSr, 5117, 206, 4.50e, 0948, 3268, 7600, NFLPA, Rd7 | REPORT

16. *Carrington Valentine, Kentucky, Jr, 6000, 194, 4.62, NIC, Rd7 | REPORT

17. *AJ Finley, Mississippi, Sr, 6021, 202, 4.53e, 0968, 3248, 7818, EWS, PFA | REPORT

18. Avery Young, Rutgers, Sr, 5114, 207, 4.49e, 0900, 3178, 7648, HULA, PFA | REPORT

19. Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State, rSr, 6021, 203, 4.54e, 0868, 3228, 7548, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

20. Jalen Green, Mississippi State, rSr, 6002, 203, 4.50e, 0900, 3328, 7728, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

21. Art Green, Houston, Sr, 6012, 201, 4.55e, 0928, 3100, 7700, EWS/HULA, PFA | REPORT

22. Kendall Williamson, Stanford, Sr, 6003, 205, 4.60e, 0938, 3200, 7838, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

23. *Erick Hallett, Pittsburgh, Sr, 5094, 191, 4.55e, 0928, 3000, 7438, HULA, UDFA | REPORT

24. *Divaad Wilson, UCF, rSr, 5112, 189, 4.52e, 0900, 3068, 7618, HULA, UDFA | REPORT

25. Bennett Williams, Oregon, Sr, 5117, 205, 4.60e, 1000, 3038, 7558, EWS | REPORT

26. Darius Joiner, Duke, Sr, 6005, 201, 4.50e, 0878, 3138, 7738, HULA, PFA

27. *Benny Sapp, Northern Iowa, rSr, 5112, 203, 4.44e, 0928, 3038, 7438, HULA, PFA

28. Kenderick Duncan, Louisville, rSr, 6010, 211, 4.60e, 1000, 3368, 7958, HULA, PFA

29. Tanner McCalister, Ohio State, rSr, 5105, 192, 4.44e, 0878, 2968, 7300, HULA, PFA

30. Jaydon Grant, Oregon State, Sr, 5116, 181, 4.60e, 0918, 2948, 7168, HULA, PFA

31. Bralen Trahan, Louisiana-Lafayette, rSr, 5105, 197, 4.60e, 0900, 3148, 7328, CGS, UDFA

32. Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr, 5103, 187, 4.70e, 0900, 3128, 7348, CGS, UDFA

33. Alex Cook, Washington, Sr, 6003, 194, 0948, 3048, 7400, HULA, UDFA

34. Christian Morgan, Baylor, Sr, 5116, 203, 4.50e, 0968, 3128, 7400, CGS, UDFA

35. Javon Scruggs, Liberty, Sr, 5105, 178, 4.65e, 0868, 3148, 7400, CGS, UDFA

36. Tre Wortham, UConn, Sr, 6000, 197, 4.55e, 0938, 3128, 7538, HULA, UDFA

37. Grayson Cash, UAB, Sr, 5114, 190, 4.50e, 0838, 2968, 7200, CGS, UDFA

38. Maxwell Worship, Vanderbilt, Sr, 6003, 201, 4.56e, 0938, 3048, 7548, CGS, UDFA

39. Hunter Reynolds, Utah State, Sr, 5104, 179, 4.54e, 0858, 3048, 7100, CGS, UDFA

40. BJ Foster, Sam Houston State, Sr, 6010, 205, 4.55e, 0800, 3228, 7448, CGS, UDFA

2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: STRONG SAFETY (2/28/23)

RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | YR | HT | WT | FORTY | HAND | ARM | WING | AS | COMBINE | PROJECTION | PROFILE

1. *Brian Branch, Alabama, Jr, 6000, 195, 4.50, NIC, Rd1 | REPORT

2. Sydney Brown, Illinois, rSr, 5100, 213, 4.56e, 1028, 3158, 7518, SRB, NIC, Rd2 | REPORT

3. *Jammie Robinson, Florida State, rJr, 5106, 194, 4.55e, 0878, 2958, 7218, SRB, Rd3 | REPORT

4. Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State, rSr, 5114, 212, 4.62, NIC, Rd4 | REPORT

5. Trey Dean III, Florida, rSr, 6025, 211, 4.54e, 0948, 3228, 7668, EWS, NIC, Rd4 | REPORT

6. Marte Mapu, Sacramento State, rSr, 6025, 217, 4.60e, 0938, 3338, 8000, SRB/NFLPA, Rd5 | REPORT

7. Daniel Scott, California, rSr, 6004, 210, 4.57e, 1000, 3028, 7448, SRB, NIC, Rd6 | REPORT

8. *Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh, NIC, Jr, 5095, 195, 4.45e, Rd6 | REPORT

9. Nico Bolden, Kent State, rSr, 6033, 210, 4.57e, 0968, 3128, 7448, NFLPA/CGS, Rd7 | REPORT

10. *Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State, rSr, 5117, 208, 4.58e, 0958, 3328, 7728, SRB/NFLPA, NIC, Rd7 | REPORT

11. *Otis Reese, Mississippi, rSr, 6022, 224, 4.55, PFA | REPORT

12. Gervarrius Owens, Sr, Houston, 6004, 200, 4.55e, 0928, 3228, 7848, EWS, NIC, PFA | REPORT

13. Jordan Howden, Minnesota, Sr, 5115, 206, 4.50e, 0958, 3218, 7728, EWS, NIC, PFA | REPORT

14. Jaiden Woodbey, Boston College, rSr, 6004, 231, 4.64e, 0958, 3200, 7968, EWS, PFA | REPORT

15. Tyreque Jones, Boise State, rSr, 6015, 194, 4.59e, 0948, 3378, 8118, EWS, NIC, PFA | REPORT

16. *Collin Duncan, Mississippi State, rSr, 6002, 200, 4.65e, 0900, 3200, 7738, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

17. Xavier Henderson, Michigan State, rSr, 6002, 210, 4.58e, PFA | REPORT

18. Macon Clark, Tulane, Sr, 6003, 205, 4.50e, 0948, 3200, 7468, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

19. Jonathan Sutherland, Penn State, Sr, 5114, 209, 4.50e, 0900, 3128, 7428, CGS, PFA | REPORT

20 *John Torchio, Wisconsin, rSr, 6007, 209, 4.54e, 1000, 3068, 7148, CGS, PFA | REPORT

21. *Christian Young, Arizona, 6010, 228, 4.60e, 0918, 3128, 7768, NFLPA, PFA | REPORT

22. Latavious Brini, Arkansas, rSr, 6016, 213, 4.52e, 0878, 3178, 7558, HULA, PFA | REPORT

23. *Christian Izien, Rutgers, rSr, 5084, 197, 4.50e, 0928, 3078, 7348, EWS/HULA, PFA | REPORT

24. *Martez Manuel, Missouri, Sr, 5103, 210, 4.60e | REPORT

25. *Jackie Matthews, rSr, 5112, 190, 4.54e, PFA, Mississippi State | REPORT

26. Shea Pitts, UCLA, Sr, 5112, 207, 4.50e, 0848, 3200, 7648, UDFA, CGS

27. Larry Brooks, Tulane, 5114, 204, 4.60e, 0848, 3200, 7628, CGS, UDFA

28. Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware, Sr, 5096, 194, 4.50e, 0948, 2900, 6900, CGS, UDFA

29. Jaquan Amos, Ball State, Sr, 5116, 193, 4.55e, 0958, 3068, 7348, CGS, UDFA

30. Xavier Bell, Portland State, Sr, 6011, 194, 4.60e, 0948, 3248, 7900, CGS, UDFA

2024 NFL DRAFT BIBLE S BIG BOARD (2/28/23)

RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | YR | HT | WT | FORTY

1. Lathan Ransom, Ohio State, Sr, 6000, 209, 4.54e

2. Andrew Mukuba, Clemson, Jr, 6000, 195, 4.55e

3. Malachi Moore, Alabama, Sr, 6000, 190, 4.42e

4. Kamren Kinchens, Miami, Jr, 5095, 202, 4.45e

5. Cole Bishop, Utah, Jr, 6016, 205, 4.44e

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