By Charlie Campbell.
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This page was last updated April 4, 2022. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Position Review: Safeties
Safety Class
Early-round talent: B+
Mid-round: B-
Late-round: B-
Overall grade: B-
Merging the 2022 and 2021 prospects
Kyle Hamilton
Daxton Hill
Lewis Cine
Jevon Holland
Richie Grant
Trevon Moehrig
Jaquan Brisker
Andre Cisco
Bryan Cook
Yusuf Corker
Camryn Bynum
Verone McKinley III
Kerby Joseph
Tyler Gillespie
Jamien Sherwood
Caden Sterns
Just to be clear this article and series is all my opinion based off my own study and information I’ve gotten from general managers, directors of college scouting, national scouts, area scouts, and NFL coaches who know way more than I do.
Last year was not a strong class of safety talent, with zero taken selected in the first round. The 2021 NFL Draft, however, did have a quality group for Day 2 that extended into the mid-rounds. There is more talent for the first round this year with the 2022 NFL Draft, including one definite first-rounder in Hamilton and two potential first-rounders in Hill and Cine. This class, however, is not as strong on Day 2 and in the mid-rounds.
Kyle Hamilton is, by far the best safety prospect over the past many years, and you could include the 2020 NFL Draft, when that class did not have a safety selected in the first round either. Hamilton is on a par with other top-16 prospects from the last five years like Jamal Adams, Malik Hooker and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Daxton Hill and Lewis Cine are similar caliber prospects to Jevon Holland. Jaquan Brisker is not as good of prospect as 2021 second-rounders Holland, Richie Grant Trevon Moehrig. Brisker is comparable to Andre Cisco. Bryan Cook and Yusuf Corker are better than fourth-round pick Camryn Bynum. Vernon McKinley and Kerby Joseph are similar to Bynum and Gillespie as potential fourth-round prospects.
Safest Pick: Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Previous Picks:
2021: Jevon Holland
2020: Xavier McKinney
2019: Johnathan Abram
2018: Minkah Fitzpatrick
2017: Malik Hooker
2016: Jalen Ramsey
2015: Landon Collins
2014: HaHa Clinton-Dix
2013: Kenny Vacarro
My track record here is pretty good as none of these safeties has been a true bust, but some of them did not live up the billing of their draft status. This year was not a difficult choice because Hamilton is a rare safety prospect. He has excellent speed to go along with size and strength. Hamilton can be an in-the-box safety who helps defend the run and plays some linebacker in the sub package. With his ball skills, Hamilton could be a real threat to produce a lot of game-changing plays. He has the potential to be one of the better strong safeties in the NFL.
Biggest Bust Potential: Vernon McKinley III, Oregon
Previous Picks:
2021: Caden Sterns
2020: Ashtyn Davis
2019: Deionte Thompson
2018: Ronnie Harrison
2017: Jabrill Peppers
2016: Darian Thompson
2015: Gerod Holliman
2014: Ed Reynolds
2013: Eric Reid
My track record here is good since none of the safeties above panned out. A lot of them, however, slid in their drafts and didn’t stick in the NFL. Some in the media are projecting McKinley to the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft in large because he was a ball hawk for Oregon in 2021. McKinley is very undersized for safety in the NFL however. Not only is he short at 5-foot-10, he is very underweight at 196 pounds. His size is going to be problematic for tackling running backs and tight ends at the second level along with positioning against big receivers. Given his limitations, McKinley is more of a backup and mid-rounder.
Safety Rankings by Attributes
Man Coverage:
NFL prototype: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers
- Daxton Hill
- Lewis Cine
- Bryan Cook
- Jaquan Brisker
- Kyle Hamilton
- Verone McKinley III
- Kerby Joseph
- Yusuf Corker
Recap: The NFL is a passing-driven league, and safeties with the ability to play some man coverage are a hot commodity. Many safeties are too stiff to match up against a slot receiver, a tight end or a receiving running back. Offenses seek out those mismatches, so good safeties have some man-coverage ability.
Hill is the top-rated prospect here because he could end up being a cornerback in the NFL. His best trait for the next level is his ability to line up and cover slot receivers. Hill’s quickness, flexibility and fluid athleticism let his team position him at the line of scrimmage or pick up receivers in off-man coverage. Hill will be a real asset to his defense when going against dangerous slot receivers. For nickel, he is a phenomenal cover corner to run the route and prevent separation. He shows good instincts to play the ball and is very active in the middle of the field.
Team sources like Cine’s ability to play man coverage on tight ends, and that fits with strong safety duties. He could contribute on slot receivers because he is a smooth athlete with speed and intelligence.
In 2021, Cook some showed man-coverage ability to defend pass-receiving tight ends who presented a mismatch problems for most teams – see his game against Notre Dame in 2021. Cook does a nice job of running the route with tight ends to prevent separation and has the size and speed to maintain close coverage. After some further development, Cook could man up on the receiving tight ends and should be an asset at neutralizing them.
Brisker is similar to Cine. Brisker’s speed and athleticism give him the ability to play man coverage on tight ends, but Brisker would probably not be as effective playing in man on slot receivers.
Hamilton has some pass-coverage limitations that are common with large safeties, so Hamilton does not project to being able to play man coverage on NFL receivers or mismatch receiving tight ends because he will have a hard time of running with them out of breaks. Hamilton struggled in man on slot receivers in 2021. He could be able to handle man coverage on the average tight end, but he would not be a good fit to use in man on a someone like Travis Kelce, Darren Waller or Kyle Pitts.
McKinley showed some man-coverage ability in 2021, doing a nice job of running with slot receivers and covering up wideouts in the deep part of the field. McKinley displays good speed and instincts, which together lets him do a nice job of preventing separation. He is very undersized for the NFL, however, so receivers making catches over him is going to be problematic along with getting boxed out and struggling to find good position. McKinley’s size already saw him get pushed around on occasion in college.
Joseph could play some man coverage on an average tight end, but he could struggle with tackling big receivers and tight ends after the catch. Corker has physical talent, but he needs to develop his coverage technique.
Zone Coverage:
NFL prototype: Marcus Williams, Ravens
- Lewis Cine
- Kerby Joseph
- Bryan Cook
- Jaquan Brisker
- Kyle Hamilton
- Verone McKinley III
- Yusuf Corker
- Daxton Hill
Recap: The ability to play well in zone coverage is a must in the NFL, although there are teams that weigh this more heavily than others due to scheme. Zone safeties need to be intelligent and cover a lot of ground while playing disciplined and instinctive football. They have to be able to pick up receivers who work through the short and intermediate part of the field. None of these safeties looked bad in zone, and in general were good at it.
This group is divided in that most of these safeties are better in zone in the strong safety role, but some are better in the free safety spot in zone coverage. Cine is reliable in zone coverage against the pass. He covers ground well and is adept at picking up receivers who come into his area. Cine displays some coverage ability with movement skills, but he is not as natural as the deep single-high free safety.
Joseph is excellent in deep zone as a single-high free safety. That’s what he does best, and he was very good in that role for the Illini in 2021. He covers a ton of ground and uses his length to disrupt passing lanes. Joseph has good recognition skills to see coverage busts and close on receivers who could break open downfield. Following some more development, Joseph could be a good deep free safety in the NFL.
Cook has the potential to be a pass-coverage asset in the NFL. He has the speed, size, and ball skills to play some free safety while also being a natural fit for strong safety. As the deep center fielder, Cook can break on the ball well and is dangerous to pick it off or slap it away. He covers a lot of ground in the deep part of the field and has the size to battle big wideouts and tight ends. For the next level, Cook needs to improve his eye discipline and cease biting on double moves. He can be prone to fall for some fakes through his natural aggressiveness.
In pass coverage, Brisker shows a lot of talent. He covers a lot of ground with the ability to play deep free safety or be a zone strong safety in the intermediate portion. He reads plays and routes well while staying in good position to cover up receivers. Brisker is versatile, but looks more natural playing zone in a strong safety role.
With his lack of instincts on the back end, Hamilton is not a fit for playing as a deep free safety, but he could play zone as strong safety in the intermediate part of the field. In the sub package, Hamilton would be better off being moved to linebacker and playing zone coverage in shallow portion.
McKinley shows good instincts and quality route-recognition in zone coverage. He has good vision to read the eyes of the quarterback and sees receivers well to pick them up coming into his area. McKinley uses his speed, vision, and instincts to be a rangy safety in zone coverage who covers a lot of ground in the middle of the field. He has a burst to close on receivers and eat up space in a blur. His size, however, limits him to playing free safety beacuse he does not have the weight and strength to play zone as a strong safety.
Corker is better in zone coverage in the short to intermediate part of the field. He has the speed to cover ground there, but doesn’t have great range to be a deep centerfielder as a free safety. In the middle of the field, Corker is a real enforcer who will punish receivers for coming across the middle.
The tape of Hill as a safety is not as impressive compared to when he played nickel corner. Hill was decent at safety, but he is a tweener. He has the mentality of an aggressive strong safety in the body of a deep free safety. For the NFL, Hill is not a true rangy deep safety and lacks the size to be a strong safety.
Run Defense:
NFL prototype: Jamal Adams, Seahawks
- Lewis Cine
- Bryan Cook
- Yusuf Corker
- Kyle Hamilton
- Daxton Hill
- Jaquan Brisker
- Verone McKinley III
- Kerby Joseph
Recap: The NFL doesn’t have as large of a need for the big, physical safeties of the ’80s and ’90s who were mini-linebackers. Still, coaches want safeties who are good tacklers and run defenders who are capable of playing in the box. All of these players showed some solid run defense during their collegiate career.
In the ground game, Cine is a physical safety who can function well as the eighth man in the box. He is a reliable tackler and willing to take on any back. While Cine is a tad undersized, he could play sometimes as the eighth man in the box because he is very natural near the line of scrimmage. Cine is a lightning bolt coming downhill and very consistent at making tackles in the ground game. With a superb football I.Q., Cine is always in good position and makes a lot of clutch tackles in the open field.
Against the run, Cook can be a tough defender, helped by having the size to tackle, and he will make some clutch open field stops. Cook is very strong and clearly spends a lot of time in the weight room. He is physical and packs a punch as a tackler. In run defense and pass coverage, Cook will dish out some rattling hits with force. Cook has the size and instincts to serve as a strong safety who shift up to play as the eighth man in the box to defend ground games.
Corker is a tough run defender who he will deliver some hard hits and make plays downhill on which he is looking to knock ball-carriers into next week. With his size and strength, Corker could contribute as the eighth man in the box and serve as a red-zone/goal-line run defender. He does a nice job of dodging blocks and getting to the ball-carrier while working through trash. Cook can also take poor angles at times and be overly aggressive.
In the ground game, Hamilton is a contributor, but misses too many open-field tackles. He has good size and strength to tackle NFL running backs. Hamilton explodes coming downhill and eats up space in a blur. Chasing after running backs and being an eighth man in the box could be his calling card in the NFL. As a run defender, Hamilton should be a good enforcer and able to function as the eighth man in the box. He needs, hoewver, to both improve his tackling in space and reduce the number of missed tackles.
Hill was a good run defender in college, as his tackle totals suggest. He brings down runners well and does a nice job of weaving of through blockers. Hill is smart about how he tackles by taking the legs out from underneath his targets. Hill is undersized, however, so he could have some issues with power backs. While is tough and aggressive, Hill’s slight build could lead to injuries in the NFL.
Brisker contributed as a run defender in 2021, showing excellent closing speed and coming downhill quickly to make tackles in support. He is able to get off blocks and shows impressive tackling technique with hard hits and an ability to wrap up. With his toughness and tackling skills, Brisker can function as the eighth man in the box.
McKinley is a willing run defender who uses his speed to come downhill and get in on tackles. While he is not the biggest of safeties, he does not hesitate to get physical and will seek to deliver some hard hits. He totaled 77 tackles last year at Oregon, and he does not shy away from contributing to run defense.
As a run defender, Joseph is a contributor, but not special. He can be late to get in on tackles downfield and is not a safety who delivers hard contact. Adding more strength to tackle NFL backs would not be a bad idea for Joseph, and adding strength is something that he will probably do as a result of aging while working out in a pro strength and conditioning program.
Ball Skills:
NFL prototype: Eddie Jackson, Bears
- Kyle Hamilton
- Kerby Joseph
- Verone McKinley III
- Daxton Hill
- Lewis Cine
- Bryan Cook
- Yusuf Corker
- Jaquan Brisker
Recap: The NFL is always on the look out for safeties with a knack for picking off passes. Safeties with the ball skills to catch errant throws or slap passes away from receivers are a great asset. Elite safeties have a knack for creating turnovers.
This year’s class has a few ballhawks, led by Hamilton. There is no doubt that Hamilton has serious ball skills. He has soft hands and uses his speed to eat up ground when he breaks on the ball. Hamilton high points the ball well and tracks passes extremely well downfield. His career total of eight interceptions is good, but even better when you consider the 2020 season was shortened and he missed a large part of the 2021 season with an injury. Hamilton has phenomenal ball skills for the NFL.
Joseph has very good ball skills and is a dangerous threat to pick off passes. Last year, he had five interceptions, and he has upside to develop as he gains more experience. Joseph possesses the potential to be a dangerous ball hawk on the back end.
There is no doubt that McKinley has good ball skills and is dangerous to snatch the pass away. He collected six interceptions and six passes broken up in 2021. McKinley plays the ball well and has sticky hands.
Hill, Cine and Cook showed solid ball skills last season. They are all threats to take the ball away, but none of them was as prolific as Hamilton, Joseph or McKinley.
Corker and Brisker did not show a lot of ball skills in college, but they weren’t horrible.
Tight End Defense:
NFL prototype: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers
- Lewis Cine
- Bryan Cook
- Kyle Hamilton
- Daxton Hill
- Kerby Joseph
- Jaquan Brisker
- Yusuf Corker
- Verone McKinley III
Recap: Coaches are looking for safeties who can match up against the dangerous receiving tight ends who have become the rage in the NFL. Starting with the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, there is currently a pursuit of receiving tight ends. Ron Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Tracis Kelce and Darren Waller have been so effective that defensive coordinators have to come up with game plans to defend them. Safeties who can cover tight ends are one of the best ways to defend those playmakers.
According to team sources, Cine is a good coverage safety for playing man on tight ends. That was clear last year at Georgia, as he rans with them well and prevented separation. Cine also has enough height and physicality to compete with them for contested catches. As a pro, Cine should be an asset to help defend receiving tight ends.
In 2021, Cook showed some man-coverage ability against pass-receiving tight ends who cause mismatch problems for most teams – particularly against Notre Dame. Cook does a nice job of running the route with tight ends to prevent separation and has the size and speed to maintain close coverage. After some development, Cook could man up on them and should be an asset for neutralizing those kind of weapons.
Team sources say they do not believe Hamilton is a safety who you would want to play in man coverage on slot receivers or good tight ends. Against a team that does not have special players at those positions, a defense could use Hamilton in nab on them, but against dangerous receivers or tight ends, it would be a poor matchup for Hamilton.
Hill is a good nickel corner who can help on tight ends, but he is better off lining up in man against slot receivers. Joseph, Brisker and Corker could contribute somewhat in man coverage, but they should not go against elite tight ends. McKinley has the speed and athleticism to help cover tight ends, but his size is a mismatch problem that teams will be able to exploit.
Tackling & Hitting Ability:
NFL prototype: Derwin James, Chargers
- Lewis Cine
- Bryan Cook
- Kyle Hamilton
- Yusuf Corker
- Jaquan Brisker
- Daxton Hill
- Kerby Joseph
- Verone McKinley III
Recap: Even though the NFL is trying to reduce the knockout shots that put some safeties in the Hall of Fame, a safety who is a hard hitter and can separate the ball is loved by coaches. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that tackling is getting worse considering how much players are restricted on hitting. It seems that tackling is getting worse in the NFL. It isn’t hard to see why as players don’t get to practice tackling very often. Even in the rare padded practice, players very rarely take a ball-carrier to the ground. The union has restricted contact, while teams want to avoid injuries. Tackling is becoming a lost art.
Cine and Cook are excellent form tacklers who show steady technique to get ball-carriers on the ground. Hamilton is a bit of feast-or-famine in this regard. He can dish out some hard hits and punish ball-carriers, but he also misses too many open-field tackles. Hamilton has good size and strength to tackle NFL running backs, tight ends and wide receivers.
Corker and Brisker are always looking for contact and have the physicality to lay out ball-carriers. All of them can be a bit scattered at times and need to improve on wrapping up.
Hill, Joseph and McKinley all could stand to get stronger for tackling in the NFL. Hill was willing, but he has more of a cornerback body. Joseph needs to get stronger. McKinley is tough and willing, but is undersized for tackling at the next level.
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