Position Breakdown: Safety

1.  Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (JR) 6'1 208 Alabama
Analysis:  Able to match up with tight ends.  Good blitzer and run defender.  Better as a SS than FS.  Adequate in deep coverage but not elite.
Projection:  1st Round

2.  Calvin Pryor (JR) 5'11 204 Louisville
Analysis:  Game speed is faster than timed.  Plays like a strong safety with the athletic ability of a free safety.  Punishing hitter and good blitzer.  Good instincts are lacking.
Projection:  1st Round

3.  Lamarcus Joyner (SR) 5'8 184 Florida State
Analysis:  Experience playing both corner and safety.  Quickness to cover slot receivers.  Playmaker.  Effective blitzer.   Small size and lack of elite athleticism is a concern.
Projection:  Top 40

4. Jimmie Ward (SR) 5'11 193 Northern Illinois
Analysis: Coverage safety. Above average tackler. Good man cover vs slot WRs. Good speed. Flies to the ball. FS only. Struggles to get off blocks. Doesn't always play up to his speed. Lack of size is an issue.
Projection:  Top 50

5. Deone Buccannon (SR) 6'1 211 Washington State
Analysis: Big bodied safety who can lay the lumber. Average man coverage skills. Best when moving forward. Inconsistent angles to the ball. Not a fluid athlete. More of a SS
Projection: Top 50

6. Terrence Brooks (SR) 5'11 208 Florida State
Analysis:  Good speed and quickness allow him react and fly to the ball.  Good tackler in the open field. Pure FS. Instant starter. Struggles to get off blocks and doesn't offer much in the box.
Projection:  3rd Round

7. Ed Reynolds (SR) 6'1 207 Stanford
Projection: 3rd or 4th Round

8. Dion Bailey (JR) 6'0 201 USC
Projection:  4th Round

9. Antone Exum (SR) 6'0 213 Virginia Tech
Projection: 3rd or 4th Round

10. Jamea Thomas (SR) 5'9 192 Georgia Tech
Projection:  5th or 6th Round

2014 Draft Rankings (Defense)

Defensive End
1.  Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2.  Kony Ealy, Missouri
3.  Scott Crichton, Oregon State
4.  Aaron Lynch, South Florida
5.  Chris Smith, Arkansas

Defensive Tackle
1. Tim Jernigan, Florida State
2. Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
3. Louis Nix, Notre Dame
4. Dominique Easly, Florida
5. Ego Furgeson, LSU

3-4 Defensive End
1.  Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
2.  Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
3.  Ben Gardner, Stanford
4.  Cassius Marsh, UCLA
5.  Josh Mauro, Stanford

Rush Linebacker
1.  Khalil Mack, Buffalo
2.  Anthony Barr, UCLA
3.  Dee Ford, Auburn
4.  Kyle Van Noy, BYU
5.  Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State

Outside Linebacker
1.  Christian Jones, Florida State
2.  Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
3.  Jonathan Brown, Illinois
4.  Telvin Smith, Florida State
5.  Christian Kirksey, Iowa

Middle Linebacker
1.  CJ Mosley, Alabama
2.  Chris Borland, Wisconsin
3.  Yawin Smallwood, UConn
4.  Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky
5.  Max Bullough, Michigan State

Cornerback
1.  Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
2.  Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
3.  Jason Verrett, TCU
4.  Stanley Jean-Baptist, Nebraska
5.  Marcus Roberson, Florida

Safety
1.  Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State
2.  Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama
3.  Calvin Pryor, Louisville
4.  Deone Bucannon, Washington State
5.  Ed Reynolds, Stanford