Amos has been the leagues best-graded safety over the past two seasons. Jevon Holland, Oregon (third round) 5. Hes one of the best tackling defensive backs PFF has charted in college. Thats Branchs game. Jordan Battle, Alabama, Sr, 6-2, 210 2. Buffalo runs a scheme that puts them in position to succeed, but they take advantage of it extremely well on their own. 2021 NFL draft rankings: Safety. Please check your email for a confirmation. This most recent season saw him post career-low marks in overall grade (65.8) and coverage grade (61.5), which drags him outside of the top 10, such is the strength of competition. The best days of Devin McCourty may be in the past. Now, those players. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Collins hasnt been the same player in Washington as he was at his best with the Giants, but he has never had a better defense around him than he will have in 2021. Will Cam Smith and Devon Witherspoon pass the speed test? Athletic testing and measurements at the NFL combine this week will either confirm what was seen on tape or inspire a second look. Winfield is a playmaker and exceptionally good in coverage, where his ability to read the play quickly really comes to the fore. The issue for James has been injuries. Since entering the league, Jeremy Chinn may have had the most unique deployment of any safety, to the point that he breaks a lot of position designations and really is operating in a one-man role. A few years ago, this meant Earl Thomas-type players who occupied the single-high zone in defenses playing almost exclusively Cover 3 or Cover 1. 2023 NFL Draft Strong Safety Rankings John Vogel October 27, 2022 in 2023 Rankings - 9 Minutes 1. Bates tallied a ridiculous 12 pass breakups to go along with three interceptions on the season despite playing the bulk of his snaps in the middle of the field, where those plays are hard to come by. Thats a tremendous rate for a player often working out in space. His ability to adjust on the fly and break laterally is arguably the best in the draft class. 1, 2023 NFL mock draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. What was concerning about last season was how badly he was exposed in coverage within the Seahawks defense. Derwin James, S, Florida State: Round 1, 2. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State (third round) 6. One player who seems to sit atop big boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. Some team sources said they graded Davis in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Live picks, grades and reaction to the 2023 NFL Draft. Metcalf to prevent a defensive touchdown, but Baker is a big-hitting safety who has always excelled against the run but has improved in coverage throughout his NFL career. Christian Gonzalez will certainly check the height, weight and speed boxes, and the same is true of Kelee Ringo. Similarly, Justin Simmons 90.7 PFF grade from 2019 represents his career-high by more than 10 grading points. That season brought forth his best career PFF grade by more than 10 grading points, although the campaigns on either side of it might be why the Bengals have seemed reluctant to hand him a monster new contract. Kyle Hamilton can do it all -- he has the perfect size and agility for the position combined with nice coverage skills, hard tack Jaquan Brisker is a great athlete with an elite combination of speed, size, tackling, and natural coverage ability to be a pro-bow Hill has played all over the secondary for the Wolverines, and this versatility is always in demand in the NFL especially when pa Kyler Gordon has been shooting up draft boards lately - at the end of 2020 he was a likely late-round pick, but after an elite yea Cine is an athletic hard-hitting college safety who will likely be looked at as a box player at the next level. That recklessness shows up a bit too often in coverage, but if that can be coached out of him, a drafting team is getting a heck of a player. Willis now has 54 defensive stops in two seasons in which he has a little over 1,500 snaps of play. If Byard can bounce back to his best, he is a top-10 safety in this league. Over the past two seasons, he has 177 pass-rushing snaps on the blitz and has racked up 27 total pressures on those rushes. Sanders, an Alabama transfer, has spot edge rusher potential in addition to having the size necessary to hold up at the point of attack. Jamar Johnson, Indiana (fourth round) 8. Here are the top 10 safeties in this year's draft class, per PFF's NFL Draft Guide. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 9 of 11. Thats because, at 205 pounds, hes more than willing to mix it up. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Branch missed only four of his 173 career tackle attempts. 1. He was far more consistent in Year 2, giving up half as many touchdowns in primary coverage (three to six) as his rookie year while his coverage grade jumped 10 points. Get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NFL DRAFT GUIDE FOR AS LOW AS Production often translates and Anderson has the height, weight and speed to be a top-10 edge rusher in the NFL. Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders will almost certainly be the first two linebackers off the board. His range is average at best, and his change-of-direction ability doesn't come close to that of others on this list. 2023 NFL Draft Eligible Safety Prospects 1. Notre Dame s Hamilton has long been hyped as the top safety in the draft, and he tops Brooks latest top five at the safety position. Rankings 2024 NFL Draft S Rankings (Shane) 2024 NFL Draft Rankings 2024 NFL Draft S Rankings (Shane) by Shane Hallam August 18, 2021 0 1184 2024 NFL Draft Safety Rankings are updated weekly. On average, the league has been very consistent, drafting approximately 20 safeties per year over the past decade. Over the past two seasons, he has 10 picks and four pass breakups. 2023 NFL Draft Free Safety Rankings John Vogel October 31, 2022 in 2023 Rankings - 6 Minutes 1. By: CollegeFootballNews.com. He racked up 10 picks over the course of his career and allowed only 80 yards on 17 targets with Notre Dame this past season. Antonio Johnson's season was not as inspiring as the 2021 campaign, but he has a versatile skill set. Jackson is still just 26 and has too much talent to never find elite play again, but he needs to find a solution this offseason. His in-season tape is clear evidence, but you can also watch the practice/training camp footage that emerges every year of James going one on one with, Tyrann Mathieu is such a matchup weapon that for several years of his career he was a pure slot cornerback more than he was a safety. The 2023 Senior Bowl is officially in the books, and after another revelatory week of action in Mobile, its time to update our prospect rankings for each position group in the 2023 NFL draft class. Byards play has dropped off recently after two seasons of spectacular PFF grades above 85.0. WebSafety Rankings 2022 NFL Draft Home Positions S ALL QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK WIDE RECEIVER TIGHT END OFFENSIVE LINE DEFENSIVE LINE EDGE LINEBACKER DEFENSIVE BACK #1 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT 14 Kyle Hamilton POSITION RANK #1 OUR RATING 91.6 S All Scouts Average Overall Rank 4.8 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet Hes been instinctual ever since he stepped on the field at Alabama for 290 snaps as a true freshman. This site is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these schools or teams. And then his relatively long wingspan for a safety affords him leeway as a tackler. 40 Time: 4.45. Weight: 205. Savage recorded four picks and seven pass breakups and made several critical hits last year. Some of that play is built off the back of a couple of exceptional games, but he now has nine picks and 11 pass breakups over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. You'll now receive the top The Draft Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Brian Branch is a flex defender capable of playing safety, fulfilling the nickel-back role and even playing on the boundary in a pinch. A seventh-round rookie, Kamren Curl was one of the steals of the draft a year ago, one of the standout rookies of the season. See his 2024 Rankings as well! Tyrann Mathieu is such a matchup weapon that for several years of his career he was a pure slot cornerback more than he was a safety. Henry To'o'To'o had a higher grade last year than his teammate, Christian Harris, who went No. Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M: Round Last season saw him earn a career-high PFF coverage grade (68.9). 2,909 career snaps to his name, Robinson has been an excellent tackler. His in-season tape is clear evidence, but you can also watch the practice/training camp footage that emerges every year of James going one on one with Keenan Allen one of the best route-runners in the game and covering him like a blanket. Christopher Smith, Georgia HT: 5111 WT: 190 Year: Super Senior High School: Hapeville Charter (Atlanta, GA) Rating: 4-star (0.8991) Even with that tremendous speed, though, it may surprise you to know that Brown was almost entirely a box safety this past fall (only 60 of his 742 snaps came deep). Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports. Kyle Hamilton can do it all -- he has the perfect size and agility for the position combined with nice coverage skills, hard tackling, and Jaquan Brisker is a great athlete with an elite combination of speed, size, tackling, and natural coverage ability to be a pro-bowl level sa Hill has played all over the secondary for the Wolverines, and this versatility is always in demand in the NFL especially when paired with Aspiring college or profootball journalist? Simpson will be one of the top performers at the NFL combine this week. He possesses the skill set that suggests he can be a productive pass rusher, but is likely to be unrefined as a run defender early in his career. Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: See the prospects invited, by position, NBC Sports EDGE's 2023 NFL Draft Content Hub, 2023 NFL scouting combine: List of draft prospects, workout schedule, TV and streaming info. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-rankings-safety-brian-branch-antonio-johnson-jordan-battle/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Felix Anudike-Uzomah has 19.5 sacks over the past two years, but more impressive is the ball production. With the rise of two-high safety looks in the NFL, the slot position has evolved into an integral part of so many defenses around the league. He collected 16 stops in the run game this past fall and proved to have one of the more versatile skill sets in the draft class. New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Phillip Brooks (8) runs the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Brian Branch (14) during the first half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Hes extremely steady and rarely caught out of control. This past season, he allowed only 17 catches on 32 targets for 176 yards with four picks and three pass breakups. The NFL combine will be important in sorting through the top of the cornerback group. Battle is going to put that theory to the test, as he made four starts as a freshman back in 2019 before playing full-time the past three seasons. Willis has back-to-back impressive seasons for the Colts since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick. They feel he is not strong or physical enough for the NFL because he missed a Harrison Smith has long been the prototype for this group of safeties. Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M: Round Hes proven to be exceedingly versatile, playing 510 snaps in the box, 682 deep and 259 from the slot for his career. The only worry is thats just about the only role weve ever seen him play. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Amos is often underrated and overlooked because he doesnt make as many spectacular plays as other safeties he has just nine interceptions in six years but he produced the highest PFF coverage grade among all safeties in 2020 (91.5), with seven pass breakups and three picks on the year. He also forced two fumbles, making five in total over the last two seasons. Hes extremely fluid for a 220-pounder and can easily be a tight end eraser at the next level. Hes been starting since he was a true freshman at South Carolina in 2019 and now has 2,909 career snaps to his name. The 2023 Senior Bowl is officially in the books, and after another revelatory week of action in Mobile, its time to update our prospect rankings for each position group in the 2023 NFL draft class. College Senior Penn State. The 2023 NFL Draft safety class should provide a deep talent pool throughout Day 2 of the draft. The biggest thing preventing him from being the consensus best safety in the NFL is health. 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. But when the team traded Adams to Seattle, Maye was able to step into that role and show that he can also do a bit of everything well. Keeanu Benton is a proven run stopper who showed a bit more pass-rush potential at the Senior Bowl. April 14, 2021 10:50 am ET. As we look ahead to the next big mile marker in the predraft process, the NFL Scouting Combine, heres an updated look at how we rank the top safety prospects in this years draft: Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. His ability to line up in any safety position within any coverage shell allowed the rest of the pieces to fall into place around him. Marcus Maye was the deep-lying free safety who allowed Jamal Adams to be the do-it-all star in the Jets secondary. You wont find many true freshman starters on defense at Alabama for head coach Nick Saban. Hand: 9.50. Keilahn Harris, Oklahoma Baptist, rJr, 5096, 179, 4.45e, No.33 ranked WR. Visit CBSSports.com for an aggregate look at the2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings! While lacking splash plays, he is consistently in the right place at the right time and grades very well in all facets of the game. Safety in the NFL is, in truth, several different positions with wildly different responsibilities, and comparing them directly is tricky. Clark is good enough at everything to be the kind of versatility player the Ravens covet in their secondary. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer each fit into this category for the Buffalo Bills and together may form the best safety duo in the league. See his 2022 and 2023 Rankings as well! Which prospects should boost their draft stock at the NFL Scouting Combine? Trevon Moehrig, TCU (second round) 3. Rankings the 2023 NFL Draft safety prospects with all of their scouting reports linked to their draft profile. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports. Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: Round 1, 4. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas: Round 1, 3. Kyzir White, S, West Virginia: Round 2, 6. All the while, hes been an outstanding tackler (7.3% career missed tackle rate) and developed into a difference-maker in coverage. Thats because, at 205 pounds, hes more than willing to mix it up. Each can line up anywhere they are needed within the scheme and playing next to one another is clearly a force multiplier for their success. Alabama head coach Nick Saban entrusted Branch with a significant share of the responsibility in that scheme. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers trade up for their QB, NFL combine burning questions: Young's size and more, NFL combine 2023 snubs and how other non-invites fared, Young-Richardson: Debate between production, potential, NFL combine 2023: Dates, times, how to watch, prospects, 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Colts, Bucs trade up for QBs, NFL Draft: Defensive positional rankings pre-combine, Seven burning questions for the NFL combine, Top DL prospect Carter tied to crash that killed teammate, Report: PGA Tour trimming some fields, ending cuts, Seahawks hint at drafting QB while talking deal with Smith, Kane trade grades: Rangers ace deal for former MVP, Detroit's Davis closing in on Maravich NCAA scoring mark, Trade tracker: Kings' Quick era ends with deal to Jackets. Even the players on this list need to have more strings to their bow than simply stuffing the run from heavy formations. After ranking the best players at every position as a part of PFF's 2021 NFL season preview, we Tuli Tuipulotu was used as an edge rusher in Los Angeles, but projects to the inside. He has lined up in the slot on more than 200 snaps in a season for the past seven years and should get the chance to replace Malcolm Jenkins in that matchup role within New Orleans' defense this year. Clark is a player the Baltimore Ravens love to deploy all over the formation and can use him in pretty much every way, including rushing the passer. Much of that is because of the Vikings' Mike Zimmer-led defense, but Smith was the player who made all of those coverage shells work. Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. He has a thinner build that brings questions about his sustainability in the run game, but there is no doubt about his immediate upside as a pass rusher. Web90.6. He is a tall, high-waisted player capable of flashing downhill or impacting pass lanes. Savage is moving in the right direction but is still a little more flash than substance. In a four-year career, he has played just over 2,000 snaps, which is essentially half of the available playing time. 2023 NFL Draft Safety Rankings includes a prospect ranking, a breakdown of scouting for the position, key questions about the position, and a link to learn more.. 2023 NFL Mock Draft Safety Rankings: Brian Branch, Alabama; Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M; Jordan Battle, Alabama; Jammie Robinson, Florida State Andre Cisco, Syracuse (second round) 4. 3: With 2,909 career snaps to his name, Robinson has been an excellent tackler. Its the 2022 NFL Drafts most underappreciated group at maybe the most In 2021, Harrison should be surrounded by a dramatically improved supporting cast and able to build on the overall PFF grade of 76.6 he posted in limited snaps last year. He has three 80.0-plus PFF run-defense grades in his first five seasons, and his versatility allows him to move around the defense, playing plenty as a free safety and in the slot. Jessie Bates III is only a year removed from a 90.1 PFF grade and a truly elite season for the Bengals. Ranking safeties in todays NFL is becoming increasingly complex because of defensive evolutions and the various roles the position encompasses. 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Before that, Harris generated 10 picks and an overall PFF grade of 90.6 over the previous two seasons combined. Brown may very well have the best movement skills of any safety in the draft class. Similar to his twin brother Chase, Sydney can flat-out fly. Hes reportedly reached over 22 mph on the GPS readings, and if you watch his tape from any point this past season, its very believable. Even with that tremendous speed, though, it may surprise you to know that Brown was almost entirely a. safety this past fall (only 60 of his 742 snaps came deep). He can get a little wild as a tackler, although when he does catch a ball carrier cleanly, they stop in their tracks. A former cornerback, Jackson has transitioned to safety and enjoyed a second career once he moved past the age of 30. Thats obviously not as big a deal in a deep role, but the team drafting him may have to accept some role limitations. The safety He made a lot of spectacular plays as a rookie yet was also on the wrong end of some big gains for the offense. Often forgotten men of the team, safeties can make a major difference to the quality of a defense and a secondary. Theres nobody better at this than Derwin James. The obvious name missing is Penn State's Joey Porter Jr. Smith may be declining from his elite best (his past two seasons have earned PFF grades of 74.3 and 77.9, down from 90.0-plus), but he still ranked 12th at the position in 2021 for a defense that lost a lot of talent. Hyde is often put in a good position by the defensive scheme in Buffalo, but he responds by making the plays he is given the opportunity to make. Safety in the NFL Find out where your favorite Safeties stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. 2018 NFL Draft Safety Rankings - DraftUtopia.com S Rankings 2017 NFL Safety Rankings Projected Rounds: 1. The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of months away, so its time to update our prospect rankings for every position In many schemes, a switch to linebacker may even be in the cards. Jaquan Brisker is a SS prospect in the 2022 draft class. Your inbox approves See the data Golfweek's top news 's best, via Another rookie who was far from overawed by the step up to the NFL, Antoine Winfield Jr. was a significant role player in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl campaign. Dax Hill | Michigan. Most importantly, though, Branch finishes plays. Harris hit free agency coming off a season in which he graded at just 63.6 in coverage, and it meant he could only manage a cheap, one-year contract with Philadelphia. at Yet, Joseph makes this list because of how adeptly he sees the game. But. Adams has PFF coverage grades of 53.1 and 47.4 since joining the Seahawks but has maintained a strong run-defense grade while continuing to shine when rushing the passer. His biggest weakness has been a lack of plays on the football, with just two picks and 25 pass breakups across seven years of play. Kelee Ringo, Georgia HT: 6105 WT: 205 Year: Super Sophomore High School: Saguaro (Scottsdale, AZ) Rating: 5-star (0.9976) Kelee Ringo has all of the makings of an elite safety prospect, perhaps even generational. Joseph is able to read route combinations and anticipate breaks in his sleep. It offers one of the best groups of slot cornerbacks in recent memory along with some size-speed freaks and versatile safeties. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. It is difficult to find quality interior pass rushers so that makes a player with Carter's skill set even more valuable. 2024 Rankings Chinn lined up all over the formation and was more of a matchup weapon than just a safety he played at least 20 snaps at free safety, in the box, covering the slot, lined up as a wide cornerback covering tight ends or backs and even stacked up at the line of scrimmage looking to threaten as part of the pressure package. Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame, Sr, 6-1, 192 4. Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his safety rankings for the 2023 NFL draft following Senior Bowl week 2023 NFL draft: Post-Senior Bowl safety rankings Teams Between being a former first-round pick, used in a debatable way early in his career and then used as a makeweight in the trade for Odell Beckham Jr., it would be easy to dismiss Jabrill Peppers as a bust, but he is far from a bad player. The worry is what happens when he cant play around the line of scrimmage. Mathieu hasnt been at his best for a few years now, but his alignment versatility makes him incredibly valuable to any defense. section: | slug: nfl-draft-2023-jalen-carter-will-anderson-jr-atop-pre-combine-list-of-best-defensive-prospects-by-position | sport: football | route: article_single_special | Four! Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Jamal Adams was thought to be this matchup weapon on defense, a player capable of lining up anywhere and doing his job well, But in Seattle, he has been struggling badly in any role other than one close to the line of scrimmage as more of a classic strong safety. S. All Scouts Average Overall Rank 42.9. We dont particularly know how hell fare if asked to expand his horizons in the NFL. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Maye earned a career-high PFF grade of 82.9 last season, also notching career highs in snaps from the slot and in the box. As part of Athlon Sports' 2020 NFL Draft Guide, we have ranked each position, including 45 total safeties. Jackson has earned three of the best five overall PFF grades of his career since turning 30 and is coming off back-to-back years with a mark north of 80.0 overall. He scored an unofficial 9.11 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. The fact that Martin also has 851 snaps at outside cornerback in his career most coming as a freshman and sophomore is icing on the cake for his pro projection. John Johnson III backed up his fine play in Los Angeles with a solid year in Cleveland. 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There's Bryan Cook was a distinctly unremarkable playing heading into 2021 and looked like a probable UDFA prospect, however, following an Cam Taylor Britt is a good NFL prospect who really elevated his stock with an impressive combine and senior bowl performance. Alabama's Brian Branch takes top spot: The slot position has evolved into an integral part of an NFL defense a role Branch can handle with ease. Theres nobody better at this than Derwin James. Reid was dragged down by the unit as a whole in 2020, and his coverage grade of 67.2 was the lowest of his career, but his previous two seasons had been flirting with an 80.0 grade, and he has increased the number of defensive stops he has made each season. From a testing perspective, theres a chance he puts up the most lackluster numbers at the combine of any player on this list. 15. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Gipson missed just seven tackles from 80 attempts in 2020. He has lined up in the slot on more than 200 snaps in a season for the past seven years and should get the chance to replace. Here are the top safety prospects. No player has the production of Ji'Ayir Brown over the past two seasons. Lets take a look at the future enforcers in the NFL that have entered their name into the 2021 draft. Johnson has earned overall PFF and coverage grades of at least 80.0 in every healthy season he has played in the NFL, and now he gets the opportunity to show he can stay at that incredible level with a new team after his offseason move to Cleveland. Lets dive into PFF's top 32 safeties entering the 2021 NFL season. Coverage is king in todays NFL, and the safety position is pivoting toward players who excel deep downfield. Fast forward a year and Carter is on the doorstep of making good on that claim. Please check your email for a confirmation. His 90.7 run-defense grade led all safeties in college football, while his 24 run stops ranked fifth most in the FBS. Maintaining high-level play in the secondary over time is an extremely difficult task, yet Simmons has had back-to-back excellent years for the Broncos. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. Draft: New 2-round projections for Senior Bowl week, your California Privacy Rights/Privacy.... Above average in every facet of play lets dive into PFF 's NFL Draft Strong Rankings! Big boards around the league is Brian Branch of Alabama coach Nick Saban Branch... To succeed, but more impressive is the ball production Drew Sanders almost... ' o'To ' o had a higher grade last year what happens when he cant around! Than willing to mix it up against the 2023 NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and.... Since coming into the 2021 Draft he has played nfl draft safety rankings over 2,000 snaps, is! 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To subscribe felix Anudike-Uzomah has 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons NFL season Sydney can flat-out fly Anudike-Uzomah 19.5! Willis has back-to-back impressive seasons for the Broncos in their secondary highs in snaps from slot. A difference-maker in coverage, where his ability to read the play really! Racked up 27 total pressures on those rushes you would like to.... Comparing them directly is tricky horizons in the NFL combine will be one of the available playing time the of. Entrusted Branch with a significant share of the cornerback group graded Davis the.