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We’ve made it! The last final grades article of the 2022 draft cycle, and most importantly- WELCOME TO DRAFT WEEK! If you missed yesterday’s article, as always, you know how to find it.
Let’s talk about safeties. This year’s class has some studs at the top and you can find quality players in the top three rounds. There’s something for everyone; unicorns, single high options, slot options, box safeties, the whole works. Let’s get going.
First Round Grades:
1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame Red Flags: None Player Comp: Derwin James
Ideal Role: It doesn’t matter. I’m being completely serious.
Permission to drop a hot take? Of course, I have permission, it’s my article- Kyle Hamilton is tied for my highest graded safety I’ve ever evaluated with Jamal Adams (only a hair above Jalen Ramsey and Derwin James). The guy’s an absolute unicorn. You don’t see safeties that are 6’4 220 with the ability to drop in coverage that Hamilton has while also being able to play sideline to sideline and lay the wood. Spoiler alert for tomorrow’s final big board article, Kyle Hamilton is the best player in this class and one of the few players I think could be a superstar to come out of this class.
Second Round Grades:
2. Lewis Cine, Georgia Red Flags: None Player Comp: Jevon Holland
Ideal Role: Free Safety, scheme diverse
Have you ever had a player where no matter who you’re watching, catches your attention making plays, and you just slowly see that player creep up your board? That’s exactly how we got here with Lewis Cine. Every time I had to watch someone on Georgia’s defense or any player against Georgia’s defense, I just kept gravitating to Cine and what started as a third-round grade on film once the season ended became an early second-round grade. I wouldn’t be at all shocked given the smoke around the league if a team in need of safety help takes Cine at the back end of the first round. He’s well-rounded and is very similar to Jevon Holland who I really liked last year and the NFL will value his versatility.
3. Daxton Hill, Michigan Red Flags: none Player Comp: Devin McCourty
Ideal Role: Safety who plays a lot in the slot
Daxton Hill’s versatility is going to make him highly sought after by NFL teams and I’d have no problem with him going in the first round. He fits best in a cover 1 or a cover 3 system where he can play a blend of single-high safety and in the slot. Hill may also be the best nickel defender in this class.
4. Jaquan Brisker, Penn St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Free Safety
Brisker would have a shot at being the top safety in most classes, but due to the dearth of talent, he finds himself slotted as the 4th player at the position. Don’t let that fool you, he’s still in the early second round. He saw significant growth in 2021 with his ability to read the field. He was more instinctive in 2021 whereas he was mostly a reactive player early on in his career. He’s still got plenty of room to grow at the position and he could still learn and develop if he lands on a team looking at his potential that doesn’t need to rush him on to the field in year one.
5. Jalen Pitre, Baylor Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Strong Safety/Box safety on running downs
I’ve written Pitre’s full report that’s available on the site and you can find that here, but the TLDR version is that he is what JaCoby Stevens was for LSU’s defense, but he’s a supercharged version of that.
Third Round Grades:
6. Bryan Cook, Cincinnati Red Flags: 1-year wonder? Player Comp: Morgan Burnett
Ideal Role: Developmental starting safety
7. Nick Cross, Maryland Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental Free Safety
Fourth Round Grades
8. Kerby Joseph, Illinois Red Flags: None Player Comp: Andre Cisco
Ideal Role: Developmental free safety
9. Verone McKinley, Oregon Red Flags: Athletic limitations Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Split zone safety and special teamer
10. J.T. Woods, Baylor Red Flags: None Player Comp: L’Jarius Sneed/ Malik Hooker
Ideal Role: Ballhawking safety/ third safety until his tackling is improved
11. Sterling Weatherford, Miami (OH) Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Box Safety & Sub-Package LB
Fifth Round Grades:
12. Leon O’Neal Jr, Texas A&M Red Flags: Athletic Limitations, turns 24 as a rookie Player Comp: Jeremy Cash
Ideal Role: Box Safety & Sub-Package LB
Seventh Round Grades:
13. Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Depth and special teams
14. Percy Butler, Louisiana-Lafayette Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Backup safety