2027 Draft: Safety

[mayoclinic]

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

Both very high on Jelani

 

[manxman2601]

Davaughn Patterson, Wake Forest
6-0, 217

Ryan Roberts has him ranked as his #8 safety - he's a newish name for me.

2025 grades

Coverage - 71.5 (0 INTs, 4 PBUs)
Run Defense - 72.1 (12.2% missed tackle rate)

Played as a slot corner and strong safety last year.

 

[manxman2601]

Ty Bryant, Kentucky
6-0, 196

Joe Deleone has him as his 4th ranked safety, Ryan Roberts as his 6th. Bryant isn't even on the consensus big board so a good name out of nowhere.

78.5 coverage grade in '25 with 4 INTs
73.6 run defense grade with 10.5% mtr

Good grades but a tad undersized.

 

[mayoclinic]

I like this. New names.

Ty Benefield shows up once, Zach Lutmer and Dashawn Spears not at all.

Bolden, Tae Johnson, McDonald and McClain are my top 4 for now, but the field is wide open. Which is very good, as I'm hoping to grab a S round 4 next year.

 

[manxman2601]

I have a new name for safety consideration.

Brice Pollock, Texas Tech.

Yes he's a cornerback but he's pretty much a zone only CB (88 snaps only in man coverage last year). However, he has outstanding ball skills in zone and is an excellent tackler and run defender.

Funnily enough, after coming up with this idea, I went to the Daft on Draft podcast discussion and the first thing Cory Kinnen had to say about him was "I left Brice Pollock's evaluation thinking are we sure this guy's not a safety".

More from Cory on Pollock

"I do think the instincts and the eyes and discipline in zone coverage are really, really good man"

James:

"his ball skills in zone coverage, yeah"

Cory:

"I don't want this guy in man coverage even for a snap"

.....

Cory:

"He'll tackle his ass off, his ball skills are top notch and his zone instincts are really strong"

 

[Clonamery]

I have a new name for safety consideration.

Brice Pollock, Texas Tech.

Yes he's a cornerback but he's pretty much a zone only CB (88 snaps only in man coverage last year). However, he has outstanding ball skills in zone and is an excellent tackler and run defender.

Funnily enough, after coming up with this idea, I went to the Daft on Draft podcast discussion and the first thing Cory Kinnen had to say about him was "I left Brice Pollock's evaluation thinking are we sure this guy's not a safety".

More from Cory on Pollock

"I do think the instincts and the eyes and discipline in zone coverage are really, really good man"

James:

"his ball skills in zone coverage, yeah"

Cory:

"I don't want this guy in man coverage even for a snap"

.....

Cory:

"He'll tackle his ass off, his ball skills are top notch and his zone instincts are really strong"

Is it any different than moving College OTs to IOL because of arm length, physical ability, etc.? Makes too much sense.

 

[manxman2601]

Is it any different than moving College OTs to IOL because of arm length, physical ability, etc.? Makes too much sense.

I don't think he's quite as smooth a conversion candidate as Stukes was but there are some similarities to Devin McCourty. Both sub 6', 200 and both run in the mid 4.4s in the forty.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

McClain S4 for me right now, but I'm a big fan.

 

[manxman2601]

KJ Bolden, Tae Johnson and Jelani McDonald. Spoiler alert. They really like them.

 

[mayoclinic]

They are the "big 3". Up there with Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman and Treydan Stukes.

I think Jaylen McClain could make a run at joining them.

And then there's Dashawn Spears, Zach Lutmer, Ty Benefield and Koi Perich, and a few others, all with potential.

 

[manxman2601]

They are the "big 3". Up there with Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman and Treydan Stukes.

I think Jaylen McClain could make a run at joining them.

And then there's Dashawn Spears, Zach Lutmer, Ty Benefield and Koi Perich, and a few others, all with potential.

Both James and Cory had Tae Johnson as safety 1 and Cory thinks he can be 'blue-chip'. both liked Bolden plenty and while Cory had Mcdonald at 33, James wasn't quite so keen. Thinks he's a good strong safety though. Neither think he's a single high free safety.

Both were high on the safety class as a whole.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think McDonald can play any combo, including single high. But Jaylen McClain has the best range of anyone.

Bolden is a very fluently lesser version of Caleb Downs, does everything well and makes the entire defense better.

 

[manxman2601]

But Jaylen McClain has the best range of anyone.

We'll see who Ohio State play in the FS role, Terry Moore or Mcclain. I think Moore's getting the nod there with Mcclain in the slot. i'm sure they'll rotate however. Two nice options for the Buckeyes there.