2027 Draft: Safety

[mayoclinic]

I would not go 1-2-3 in round 1 unless other options at DT, LB, EDGE and CB are all not available, which is unlikely.

Strong "yes!" to option 3 2nd round or later.

Why I'm less concerned:

1. Unless Kevin Byard has nothing left in the tank, a 1 year deal for 2027 is a distinct possibility.

2. Not listed: Dashawn Spears, Xavier Scott, Jaylen McClain, Terry Moore, Tao Johnson.

 

[manxman2601]

1. Unless Kevin Byard has nothing left in the tank, a 1 year deal for 2027 is a distinct possibility.

I've been thinking this is a possibility.

 

[manxman2601]

Alex McLaughlin, Washington
6-2, 204

Have I found this year's Craig Woodson? His is a name I haven't seen talked about before, I've only just noticed him on the CBB at 109. I swear he's a very recent addition.

Why Craig Woodson? Check out his consistent grades.

2025 (first season at UW).

Run Defense - 76.2
Coverage - 71.3
Missed tackle rate - 8.5%

The run defense and coverage grades are good but not amazing but that's a very good missed tackle rate. However, bear in mind that this was his first season after stepping up from Northern Arizona.

Now check out his grades from his final season at Northern Arizona

Total Defense - 88.5
Run defense - 82.3
Pass rush - 89.8
Coverage - 84.8
Missed tackle rate - 7.9%

Sign me up for someone capable of 80+ grades across the board and a sub 10% missed tackle rate. Just like Craig Woodson. It will be interesting to see if he improves in his second year in the Big 10.

Excellent size for the position? - Check.
Consistent grades against both run and pass? - Check.
Low missed tackle rate? - Check
Intriguing tape? - Check (see below).

My kind of safety.

 

[mayoclinic]

Saw him come up, haven't had a chance to study him. Good find.

 

[Clonamery]

Alex McLaughlin, Washington
6-2, 204

Have I found this year's Craig Woodson? His is a name I haven't seen talked about before, I've only just noticed him on the CBB at 109. I swear he's a very recent addition.

Why Craig Woodson? Check out his consistent grades.

2025 (first season at UW).

Run Defense - 76.2
Coverage - 71.3
Missed tackle rate - 8.5%

The run defense and coverage grades are good but not amazing but that's a very good missed tackle rate. However, bear in mind that this was his first season after stepping up from Northern Arizona.

Now check out his grades from his final season at Northern Arizona

Total Defense - 88.5
Run defense - 82.3
Pass rush - 89.8
Coverage - 84.8
Missed tackle rate - 7.9%

Sign me up for someone capable of 80+ grades across the board and a sub 10% missed tackle rate. Just like Craig Woodson. It will be interesting to see if he improves in his second year in the Big 10.

Excellent size for the position? - Check.
Consistent grades against both run and pass? - Check.
Low missed tackle rate? - Check
Intriguing tape? - Check (see below).

My kind of safety.

d%#*!@t. PFSN has him at 5' 10" so I automatically dismissed him.

 

[manxman2601]

Article on McLaughlin featuring Connor Rogers

"According to Pro Football Focus, McLaughlin has been a jack of all trades for defensive coordinator Ryan Walters this fall. He's taken snaps at outside linebacker, outside cornerback, free safety, box safety, and everywhere in between"


"That performance also put him on some NFL draft radars, as Pro Football Focus draft analyst Connor Rogers highlighted McLaughlin's hot start to the season.

"This guy has ball skills and really puts himself in position to make plays in coverage," Rogers said. "He already has three forced incompletions; he had the two picks, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he's a very physical player in coverage. He's constantly trying to bump guys through their routes, bump guys at the catch point. He's someone who has stepped in seamlessly as a starter as a transfer."

"He doesn't look out of place for a defense that has a lot of talent on the back end...you can't miss him on tape. I've been so impressed with the coverage ability. He does have two tackles for a loss and will play up towards the line of scrimmage, but this is somebody who's a true free safety on the back end."

Washington football safety Alex McLaughlin's stock is rising quickly in the Big Ten

Northern Arizona transfer safety Alex McLaughlin is quicky developing into an impact player in the Big Ten.

uwhuskieswire-eu.usatoday.com

 

[Clonamery]

Alex McLaughlin, Washington
6-2, 204

Have I found this year's Craig Woodson? His is a name I haven't seen talked about before, I've only just noticed him on the CBB at 109. I swear he's a very recent addition.

Why Craig Woodson? Check out his consistent grades.

2025 (first season at UW).

Run Defense - 76.2
Coverage - 71.3
Missed tackle rate - 8.5%

The run defense and coverage grades are good but not amazing but that's a very good missed tackle rate. However, bear in mind that this was his first season after stepping up from Northern Arizona.

Now check out his grades from his final season at Northern Arizona

Total Defense - 88.5
Run defense - 82.3
Pass rush - 89.8
Coverage - 84.8
Missed tackle rate - 7.9%

Sign me up for someone capable of 80+ grades across the board and a sub 10% missed tackle rate. Just like Craig Woodson. It will be interesting to see if he improves in his second year in the Big 10.

Excellent size for the position? - Check.
Consistent grades against both run and pass? - Check.
Low missed tackle rate? - Check
Intriguing tape? - Check (see below).

My kind of safety.

 

[Clonamery]

d%#*!@t. PFSN has him at 5' 10" so I automatically dismissed him.

The interns have him confused with this long snapper from KY:

Alex McLaughlin

ukathletics.com

 

[manxman2601]

He does feel like a Vrabel kind of guy.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't know if he can play CF, but man I love Dashawn Spears. Physical and athletic.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't know if he can play CF, but man I love Dashawn Spears. Physical and athletic.

1. I'm starting to become obsessed with this Dashawn Spears cut up. With his build, athleticism and physicality he just looks like someone you could plop into an NFL team right now.

2. Check out the plays at 0:07 (takes on a pulling RT and wins) and 0:36 where he blows up a RB on a blitz.

3. After being a bit down on safeties last week, revisiting Spears and finding Alex McLaughlin has restored my faith a little in this class. Outside of Bolden and Tae Johnson, give me one of Jelani McDonald, Spears or McLaughlin.

4. I wish Spears wasn't playing STAR. I'd love to see what he can do playing the deep middle. Still, the STAR safety is in vogue right now. See Emmanwori and Kyle Hamilton.

5. Alex McLaughlin had the 3rd most tackles among 2027/28 class safeties last season.

 

[manxman2601]

Jamel Johnson, TCU
6-1, 205

I said above that Alex McLaughlin was 3rd for tackles among returning safeties, well Jamel Johnson was second. I'm not entirely sure what to make of Johnson.

1. Listed as a SS. Meh.
2. Poor coverage grade - 62.7.
3. Sits at 219 on the consensus big board and hasn't had much pre-season buzz.

On the other hand.

1. 88.2 run defense grade. Only 1 of 2 returning safeties with a run defense grade over 80.0
2. 7.1 missed tackle rate.
3. Despite his poor coverage grade, he had 5 INTs although I've just noticed he gave up 7 TDs too which is worse of all returning safeties.

A weird profile that doesn't overly excite me but if he was to improve his coverage, he'd be worth another look with that run defense and number of INTs.

 

[manxman2601]

Jackson Bennee, Utah
6-2, 190

Bennee is so frustrating. I just can't look past his missed tackles. He had 20 overall for a 23.3 missed tackle rate. He only had two games in which he didn't miss a tackle.

But if I was to look past his tackling I would see:

1. An 82.5 coverage grade
2. 4 INTs and 4 PBUs on the year.
3. The most pressures of any returning safety. 16 on only 46 blitz attempts.

And then I found this "highlight video". Very funny. Bennee is #23.

 

[Clonamery]

Jackson Bennee, Utah
6-2, 190

Bennee is so frustrating. I just can't look past his missed tackles. He had 20 overall for a 23.3 missed tackle rate. He only had two games in which he didn't miss a tackle.

But if I was to look past his tackling I would see:

1. An 82.5 coverage grade
2. 4 INTs and 4 PBUs on the year.
3. The most pressures of any returning safety. 16 on only 46 blitz attempts.

And then I found this "highlight video". Very funny. Bennee is #23.

Blocked a punt and a FG, separate games in 2025..

 

[Clonamery]

Jackson Bennee, Utah
6-2, 190

Bennee is so frustrating. I just can't look past his missed tackles. He had 20 overall for a 23.3 missed tackle rate. He only had two games in which he didn't miss a tackle.

But if I was to look past his tackling I would see:

1. An 82.5 coverage grade
2. 4 INTs and 4 PBUs on the year.
3. The most pressures of any returning safety. 16 on only 46 blitz attempts.

And then I found this "highlight video". Very funny. Bennee is #23.

His comp is Jeff Spicoli (Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Hit the weight room not the beach (or weed).

 

[manxman2601]

His comp is Jeff Spicoli (Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Hit the weight room not the beach (or weed).

He does not look like an NFL player to me.

 

[Clonamery]

He does not look like an NFL player to me.

Maybe STs if he put on 15 lbs.

 

[manxman2601]

Maybe STs if he put on 15 lbs.

But he's going to be limited to what special teams he can play because of his tackling.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[mayoclinic]

Mike Renner safety rankings:

Renner's 2027 NFL Draft scouting series: Ranking the top 10 safeties, including the next Kyle Hamilton?

Tae Johnson has drawn comparisons to the All-Pro Hamilton since arriving at Notre Dame in 2024

www.cbssports.com