On April 25, the 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit. The opportunity to present the different prospects in more detail through new thematic articles, the “Prototype”. The idea is simple: identify the perfect prospect, with the main quality of each player entered in the draft. Today, it’s time for the best safeties on the board.
Speed: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
Long known for its offensive players, Texas Tech University tends to produce some rather confusing athletes on defense. A year after Tyree Wilson, it was Dadrion Taylor-Demerson who made an impression at the 2024 Combine, with his incredible time of 4.41 seconds, the best mark in the position.
If he must learn to better use this speed, particularly on cornering and changes of support, the Red Raider has produced at the university level, and in many areas, as evidenced by his 147 tackles, 13 passes defended and 7 interceptions over the last two seasons of College Football.
Power: Malik Mustapha
He is undoubtedly not the fastest or most productive player in this vintage, but make no mistake: Malik Mustapha knows how to get messages across. Expected as an exclusive box safety, as well as a formidable special team player, the Wake Forest defender was able to highlight his athletic profile and his intensity to be feared within the ACC conference.
His combination of physicality and explosiveness allows him to enter the opposing pocket, with 13 tackles for loss and 4 sacks accumulated over the last two exercises.
Fluidity / change of direction: Calen Bullock
The Californian is a very polarizing profile, and for good reason. If his shortcomings in the ground game are still glaring at the moment, Calen Bullock knows how to be a real control tower in aerial coverage. Beyond his effective reading of the quarterback, it is his support and his fluidity of movement that make him an eminently valuable player in today's NFL.
Extremely fast and capable of sudden changes of direction, the Trojan knows how to cover a large part of the defensive backfield to provide much-needed support to his cornerbacks. To his credit: 9 interceptions recorded between 2022 and 2023.
Vision / Anticipation: Tyler Nubin
The brains of the gang is undoubtedly him. In a Big Ten conference primarily known for its ground game, Tyler Nubin took care to demonstrate that he was as comfortable in the air as he was on the ground. run stop. Endowed with excellent reading of the game, the Minnesota player also has strong instincts and a sense of anticipation which make him formidable when stealing balls.
Best interceptor of his team since 2021, he asserts himself as the most complete profile of this class, and should, barring any surprises, be the first safety called up during this 2024 NFL Draft thanks to his intrinsic qualities.
Safe hands: Kamren Kinchens
Kamren Kinchens' journey has been more tortuous, mainly due to repeated injuries. If his pure speed raises questions, and his discipline on the run stop is perfectible, we cannot criticize much about its ability to make differences.
Since 2022, the Floridian has collected 11 interceptions in 22 matches, relying on solid changes of direction and a constant flair to return the ball to his team. As with Bullock, the team that chooses him during this 2024 NFL Draft will know what to expect, with the undeniable qualities that are his.
Run stop: Cole Bishop
Some universities are known for their knowledge of fundamentals, such as technique or tackling. It is therefore no coincidence that Cole Bishop, defector from Utah, is familiar with this discipline. A jack of all trades on the Utes' final curtain, the person concerned was able to rectify his initial shortcomings on the ground game to harass the ball carrier in 2023.
Dynamic, instinctive, powerful in duels to clear a path and reach his target, Bishop is also diligent until the whistle and knows how to finish actions. A true leader on the field who is reminiscent of what another former Ute, Eric Weddle, was in his time.
Versatility: Javon Bullard
If we had to determine a “joker” in this position, we would undoubtedly have to look at Georgia. Recruited as a safety for the Bulldogs, Javon Bullard gradually became a chameleon in the defensive system of those who were double national champions in 2021 and 2022.
Physical, intelligent, reactive, and involved in the run stop, number 22 oscillated between the position of free safety and slot cornerback, the last position where he really excelled. So much so that franchises are wondering about its preferential position at the higher level. They will be able, whatever happens, to count on a locker room leader and a player clutchlike his two interceptions in the 2022 college final.