Top Safeties In 2020 Draft

1. Alabama S Xavier McKinney – Junior – 6-1, 200 – 4.63

McKinney brings versatility to a defense in the way that he can be used in many different roles on the field. He can play in the box as an extra linebacker or as a traditional safety. He was a third team All-American player and first team All-SEC in his junior year, racking up 95 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and a defensive score. McKinney is a strong player that has great agility. He has no issues hitting a gap and shedding through defenders to stop a play. His football I.Q. is very high as he’ll often anticipate where a playing is going after correctly making the right read. It looks like McKinney will be the first safety off the board in this year’s draft as a late first-round pick or an early second-rounder.

2. Minnesota S Antoine Winfield – Redshirt Soph. – 5-10, 195 – 4.45 

Minnesota S Antoine Winfield – Photo courtesy of Minnesota

Winfield comes from a football family as his father, Antoine Winfield, Sr., played 14 seasons for the Bills and Vikings. Winfield had a strong start to his football career as a freshman recording 52 tackles and a pick-six, but consecutive season-ending foot injuries in 2017 and 2018 cost him to miss all but eight games over two seasons. Winfield ended up medically red-shirting those two years, but came back in 2019 with a bang. Winfield wound up with 83 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven interceptions and defensive touchdown and two forced fumbles in a very good senior year. He was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski award for the best defensive player in college. Winfield has terrific instincts on the football field and gives out punishing hits. He’s got a nice combo of a high football I.Q. and good physical traits.

3. LSU S Grant Delpit – Senior – 6-3, 201 – N/A

Delpit joined a long line of Tiger greats to don the infamous No. 7, which brought along a lot of fanfare. Delpit did not disappoint as he was a two-time consensus All-American and two-time All-SEC selection while also winning the Jim Thorpe Award that’s given to the best defensive back in college football. He’s got excellent coverage skills that should help his success at the next level, and he was utilized for many different roles. Delpit does have a tackling issue that will need to get fixed. Delpit finished his college career with 199 tackles, seven sacks, 24 passes defended and eight interceptions.

4. Lenoir-Rhyne S Kyle Dugger – Senior – 6-1, 217 – 4.49

Dugger went from the best kept secret to someone that every football analyst has been talking about. Dugger made the best of his during the week of Senior Bowl practices as he put on a show with his aggressive nature, good speed and ball hawking abilities. Dugger is a go-getter out on the field who is always looking to make something happen and be a part of the play. In 42 games played, Dugger had 237 tackles, 36 passes defended, six forced fumbles, 10 interceptions and one defensive touchdown. He also had another six touchdowns on punt return. You obviously had to see how he would look playing against better competition, and he passed that test with flying colors.

5. California S Ashytn Davis – Senior, 6-1, 195 – N/A

Cal FS Ashtyn Davis – Photo courtesy of Cal

Davis has worked all the way up to this point starting out his career as a walk-on at school before earning a second team All-PAC 12 nomination as a senior. Davis would work better as a free safety for his capabilities in coverage. He’s mentally tough player that plays his heart out. This was  highlighted by winning his team’s Joe Roth Award, which awards the player with the most courage and attitude on the roster. Davis had 55 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended and a forced fumble as a senior. He had a career-best four interceptions in his junior season.

6. Southern Illinois S Jeremy Chinn – Senior – 6-3, 219 – 4.45

Another small school player, Chinn is great closer to the line of scrimmage shutting down run plays. His tackling ability is very good, but don’t sleep on his coverage skills either, particularly in zone. Chinn is a playmaker that is always going after the ball, with a total of 13 interceptions and six forced fumbles in his career. He was a first-team All-American as a senior, having a personal best 71 tackles and four picks.

7. Texas S Brandon Jones – Senior – 6-0, 205 – N/A

Jones is a four-year starter that improved year to year, including a very nice senior season. He’s a relentless player that plays with high energy all the time. Jones has a good first step at the snap and does well at the line of scrimmage tracking down running backs. He brings attitude to a defense and is helpful stopping the run, but needs work in pass coverage. Jones led his team in tackles as a senior with 86, and overall in his career had 232 tackles, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. 

8. Utah S Terrell Burgess – Senior – 5-11, 192 – 4.46

Burgess is a good cover corner that can play both man and zone. Burgess lacks size, so he has to make up for it somewhere, and he does that with his football I.Q. and anticipation. You can trust Burgess on the field when it comes to knowing where to be and what to do, but he doesn’t have the best hands when trying to pick the ball off. He had one career interception that came in his best year as a senior when he recorded 81 tackles, nine passes defended and two fumble recoveries as well. 

9. Iowa S Geno Stone – Senior – 5-10, 210 – 4.62

This safety has been linked to the Bucs as a mid-round pick in a number of mock drafts. Stone played a lot of zone coverage at school and played well in it to the point that he can be a starter in the NFL if that’s your defense’s base coverage. Stone is a good reactor to the ball when it’s in the air, he plays aggressively and hits just as hard to match it. Stone had a breakout junior year highlighted by a career best four interceptions, good for second in the Big-10. He followed that up with a solid year with a career best 71 tackles along with one interception and four passes defended. 

10. Clemson S K’Von Wallace – Senior – 5-11, 199 – 4.53

Wallace increased the amount of tackles by 20 in his senior year, going from 72 to 52, while also improving with three sacks, 10 passes defended two interceptions, with one of them being a pick-six. He’s a player that can be used as a nickel if it’s needed, though he’s at his best when he’s blitzing from the box. Wallace brings a physicality to the game and it’s made present in each game. 

Best Of The Rest

11. Utah Julian Blackmon – Senior – 6-1, 204 – N/A

Blackmon moved from cornerback to safety so he is still going through a transition and a learning curve. He’s a very good tackler who’s strong against both opposing blockers and those running with the ball. He’ll need to work on some coverage skills especially down the field, but if he’s asked to cover a tight end or take on intermediate routes, he’s solid. Blackmon is a two-time first team All-PAC 12 player, and was the MVP of the Heart Of Dallas Bowl as a sophomore. Blackmon had 158 tackles, nine interceptions, 1.5 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, 20 passes defended and two forced fumbles in 43 games over his four years.

12. Georgia S J.R. Reed – Senior – 6-1, 194 – 4.54

Georgia S J.R. Reed – Photo courtesy of Georgia

Reed burst onto the scene as a sophomore with a career best 79 tackles and 1.5 sacks, along with two interceptions and a defensive score. He remained consistent over the next two seasons recording three more interceptions in that time and another touchdown. Reed is a durable player that played in 42 straight games until missing the Sugar Bowl. Reed was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski Awards. He’s at his best in the box stopping the run and relying on a strong tackling ability and hard nosed hitting.   

13. Maryland S Antoine Brooks – Senior – 5-11, 213 – 4.64

Brooks is another hard-hitting safety that opponents need to know where his all the time on the field. He was second team All-Big Ten as a senior after putting up 87 tackles, one interception, five passes defended and a forced fumble. Brook is solid at stopping the run due to his physicality as he breaks everything up during run plays. He’s going all out all the time with his effort. 

14. Michigan S Khaleke Hudson – Senior – 5-11, 218 – N/A

Hudson is a very aggressive player that will look to jump routes and make a play on the ball. He’s is a go-getter that is constantly ready to flip the field in the game. Sometimes he jumps a little too much, but he’s also a versatile safety that can play different positions.  Hudson recorded a career high 101 tackles as a senior, but his break out year came as a sophomore when he had 7.5 sacks, two interceptions nine passes defended and two forced fumbles. All of those except the tackles were personal bests. 

15. Notre Dame S Alohi Gillman – Senior – 5-11, 202 – 4.60 

Gilman played a year for the Navy before transfering. He recorded 74 tackles over three seasons and had one sack, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, and five forced fumbles. Gillman works best by using his quickness when tracking a ball carrier. He lacks ideal speed, but does have good savvy and a nose for the football.

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