NFL Draft Position Rankings: Safety

1. Mark Barron (SR) 6'2 218 Alabama
1. Mark Barron (SR) 6'2 218 Alabama

Analysis: One of the best safeties that has come out in years. Possesses great instincts that allow him to always be around the ball making plays. He's at his best when he's coming down to make a play in front of him. Will be a starter at SS for years to come.

Projection: Top 25

2. Harrison Smith (SR) 6'2 215 Notre Dame

2. Harrison Smith (SR) 6'2 215 Notre Dame

Analysis: An in the box SS that knows angles and is a sure tackler. Has good speed and range that allows him to cover a deep half in coverage. Has shown good ball skills, 7 INTs as a junior.
Projection: 2nd Round

3. Antonio Allen (SR) 6'2 200 South Carolina

Analysis: Hard hitting safety who goes for the knock out blow. Played a hybrid S/LB position and excels when at or near the line of scrimmage. But his hips are tight and he struggles in coverage.

Projection: 3rd Round

4. Phillip Thomas (JR) 5'11 190 Syracuse

Analysis: One of the few true FS prospects in the draft, so that raises his value. He has good range and a knack for creating turnovers. However he declared for the draft because he was going to be suspended for the entire 2012 season.

Projection: 3rd - 5th Round

5. Brandon Taylor (SR) 6'0 195 LSU

Analysis: Very underrated player who gets lost in the hype of all his teammates. Has good speed that allows him to cover a lot of ground in pass coverage. Ball skills are decent, but not great. Really flies to the ball and hits with a lot of violence.

Projection: 3rd Round

6. George Iloka (SR) 6'3 216 Boise State

Analysis: Very good run defender who is built like a linebacker. Has good speed for the position, but struggles in pass coverage due to his tightness and lack of body control.

Projection: 3rd - 4th Round

7. Markelle Martin (SR) 6'1 207 Oklahoma State

Analysis: A very aggressive safety who flies to the ball. Has the ability to cover a lot of ground in coverage, but struggles matching up man to man. Needs to improve his tackling.
Projection: 4th Round

8. Jerrell Young (SR) 6'1 205 South Florida

Analysis: Raw athlete with good size and speed. He has a ton of potential. However has been inconsistent over his collegiate career.
Projection: 4th - 5th Round

9. Matt Daniels (SR) 6'1 210 Duke

Analysis: Underrated prospect who isn't getting a lot of attention. Shows good range and the ability to cover the deep half. Should be a good fit in a Cover 2 system.

Projection: 4th - 6th Round

10. Janzen Jackson (SR) 6'0 185 McNeese State

Analysis: Standard boom or bust player. Has the physical skills to be successful, but is undersized for the position. Has fluid hips and can change directions easily, but off the field issues will scare teams away.
Projection: 3rd - 6th Round