The safety prospects in the 2023 NFL draft are reviewed below from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed previously:
Offense:
Running Backs, which is found here.
Wide Receivers, which can be found here.
Interior Offensive Linemen, which can be found here.
Defense:
Edge Linebacker, which is located here.
Cornerbacks, which is found here.
Defensive Linemen, which is found here.
The Ravens Current Safety Situation and Needs
The Ravens still have a need at safety. With Chuck Clark gone, Kyle Hamilton takes over, and you’re left with Geno Stone and Ar’Darius Washington as backups. And potentially Brandon Stephens, who knows. There’s a need here, particularly if Hamilton, playing more traditional safety roles, doesn’t develop in those roles the way the Ravens hope. Hamilton has a lot of improvement to do back there, notwithstanding Pro Football Focus’ ridiculously high grade for him at safety. A position he played on only 82 snaps all of last year.
I’m assuming it’s relatively safe to say the Ravens won’t be fishing in safety waters until the fourth round at the earliest. I’m making that leap of faith. Therefore, the prospects review below does not include the top of the safety class.
The Safety Prospects
Jordan Battle
Battle is 6’1 and 209 lbs. from Alabama. He ran an average 4.55 forty and does not have special athletic talents. The flaws hit me before the assets. Battle is not a great tackler. His range is more limited than I like. I can’t see him covering from one side of the field to the other. And he lacks true closing speed. But he’s very smart, and he’s willing against the run. He plays physical. Battle is just not the type of player you can leave at the top on single high safety looks. Nor can he cover slot receivers in the NFL. He simply lacks an elite trait. Now, the Ravens don’t need a single high safety; when it’s called Marcus Williams will handle it. But with my questions concerning Kyle Hamilton’s limited range, I don’t think Battle offers much of an answer if Hamilton falls short. For the Ravens, pass. I’m lower on Battle than most others. Round 4.
Jammie Robinson
Robinson is 5’10 and 191 lbs. from Florida State. He ran a 4.59 forty and, other than his bench press, tested poor athletically. And he has a very small wingspan. It’s going to be a real challenge for the small-framed Robinson to handle tight ends down the field. You’re not going to see him win often playing press coverage.
What Robinson brings is an ability to tackle and excellent position versatility, with lots of experience in the slot. This undoubtedly has helped Robinson recognize what he sees and react with suddenness and determination. He has good quickness and very good reaction skills. However, whether he has enough quicks to stay with top-end slot receivers is a bit suspect. But Robinson will drive on the throw.
Robinson brings the heat on every play. He never missed a game in college. That 4.59 speed, however, makes me wonder how much range he’ll show in the NFL. I don’t see enough with Robinson to be confident that he can give the Ravens what they need. Round 4.
Sydney Brown
Brown is 5’10 and 211 lbs. from Illinois. Now here’s a super athlete. Brown ran a 4.47 forty, and that very good time was the worst of his athletic testing. He was elite at the bench press, the vertical jump and the broad jump. He also brings very big mitts. Brown is a safety with range. His hips are loose enough to allow him to turn and run. His flaw? He’s been a miserable tackler, with a 15% miss rate throughout his career. Why? Because he tackles with his shoulders, which I simply hate. There’s no reason for it, but that’s who he is too often. To this point, it’s hard to see him playing in the box. Strangely, Illinois played him more in the box last year than anywhere else. I don’t see that in the NFL, not until his tackling technique radically improves.
Now he’s a bit shorter for a safety looking to handle NFL tight ends, but that leaping ability puts me more at ease with him in that role. Brown gives his all. He’s tough, competitive, and was a team captain last year. He’s smart and efficient. Can he cover slot receivers in the NFL? I think that will be a bit of a challenge. His best fit is probably on the back end. Now if Kyle Hamilton doesn’t succeed there, Brown could have a role. Round 4.
Ji’Ayir Brown
Brown is 5’11 and 203 lbs. from Penn State. He is very slow, having run a 4.65 forty (though not as slow as Kyle Hamilton). His other athletic testing was poor; the man has no explosion according to the testing. He’s an in-the-box safety; hard to see him hanging on the back end. Yet, he brought fantastic ball production, with 10 interceptions over the past two seasons. Brown is so eager to perform that he has attacked without thinking; he’s got to get that out of his system or he’ll get abused in the NFL.
Brown is said to be a coaches dream. He’ll bring it on special teams. He wants to get downhill as fast as possible to attack and is a good tackler in the open field, although he won’t always wrap tackle the way he should. He can match up with tight ends. Brown lacks the turn and run elite skill that you need to compete against slot receivers. He’s better suited for zone coverages than man packages. Brown brings a lot of good things to the table, but he is not the complete package. The Ravens gave a Top 30 visit to Brown, so they have interest. Round 3-4.
J.L. Skinner
Skinner is 6’4 and 209 lbs. from Boise State and brings a nice wingspan to the table. He did not do any athletic testing due to a pectoral injury. Skinner is unusually tall for a safety. He brings the type of skillset that might allow him to take the role that Kyle Hamilton was assigned last year, although I’m not sure he has a clear cut role. Skinner can play adequately in the box though he lacks the lower body strength to consistently take on bigger blockers. He could certainly stand to add some power and mass. Skinner can cover bigger tight ends down the field but I’m not sure he has the foot quickness or loose enough hips to regularly cover pure slot receivers. He brings good range but needs to play with much more discipline. Skinner can be slow recognizing routes. He has played a lot of special teams.
Skinner brings some versatility. He can be effective in short spaces, and brings good ball skills. He can play off the ball and close on receivers. And Skinner brings a physical style attacking runners. He needs to develop more patience and a better diagnosing ability. Coach him up. His size should make him effective near the line of scrimmage in getting in passing lanes. Round 3-4.
Christopher Smith II
Smith is 5’11 and 192 lbs. from Georgia. He ran a poor 4.62 forty and otherwise tested poorly. Smith understands what he sees, allowing him to be decisive. He’s best used as a traditional free safety on the back end. Although he was an attacker at Georgia, his smallish size will be an impediment in the NFL. He has reasonably good ball skills. His body size just scares me off, and it keeps him off my board. Pass. Others will like him more. Round 5.
Daniel Scott
Scott is 6’1 and 208 lbs. from California. He ran a great 4.45 forty and otherwise tested outstandingly athletically (best 3-cone and short shuttle times for a safety). He’s an older player who will be 25 this season. Scott proved to be very versatile at California, demonstrating excellent range down the field and playing aggressively in the box and against the run. He only played two real seasons and needs more seasoning to better trust what he sees. He has some natural ball skills. Scott has also played a lot on special teams, which should appeal to the Ravens. As a tackler, Scott has a lot of work to do. He misses too often because of bad mechanics, and could stand to add some strength in order to better shed tight end blocks.
Scott has a lot of traits that you love. More of that needs to transition onto the field. If he were younger, you’d feel more comfortable with investing time to maximize his skillset and traits. But he’s 25. Scott was a team captain. As, say, a sixth rounder he might be worth the plunge. Round 5-6.
Marte Mapu
Mapu is 6’3 and 217 lbs. from Sacramento State. Some have Mapu as a linebacker. I think he’s too small for that. He played all over the field at the small school though most frequently at nickel safety, and the question is where does he fit at the next level. Mapu states that his favorite position is extra safety in third-down packages. Mapu had an excellent Senior Bowl week, making numerous plays flying downhill from the inside linebacker position. He was explosive to be sure, and showed a knack for playing in the box.
The Ravens hosted Mapu for a visit so we know there is interest there. Mapu has a very good read and react ability. He will run to the ball. Although he was unable to test athletically due to a pectoral injury, he’s known to be explosive and fast. His position versatility is a real asset and he figures to be an asset on special teams. Mapu has a good understanding of zone coverage assignments and demonstrated an ability to mirror backs in coverage at the Senior Bowl practices. He’s also an effective and smart blitzer. There’s a lot to like about Mapu. I could also see him playing in the weakside linebacker position. Round 3-4.
Anthony Johnson Jr.
Johnson is 5’11 and 205 lbs. from Iowa State. He converted from four years playing corner to safety last year. Johnson ran a 4.54 forty. He tested well athletically. Johnson brings real physicality to the table, though he doesn’t always finish the job. He has a solid frame, excellent change of direction ability and good awareness. He’s made to be a safety. Johnson played equal snaps between the box and at the slot, and little on the back end. Johnson mirrors very well and understands zone concepts. He is a very high character player. Johnson’s ball production was very disappointing. He doesn’t have the loosest of hips and those quick slot receivers can make him struggle. There’s likely a role for Johnson in the NFL, but I don’t see anything compelling about him. Round 6.
Brandon Hill
Hill is 5’10 and 193 lbs. from Pittsburgh. He tested well athletically and ran an excellent 4.43 forty (fastest for the safeties). Hill brings good range and physicality. He is aggressive tackling and brings good power. Unfortunately he often comes in way too hot, taking poor tackling angles. Hill has some very good press coverage skills and is naturally twitchy. He struggles more with zone concepts to this point. There’s not much ball production history. His smallish frame makes you wonder how he can match up with NFL tight ends. I see Hill as a bullpen prospect. Round 5-6.
Jason Taylor II
Taylor is 5’11 and 204 lbs. from Oklahoma State. He ran a solid 4.50 forty. He is not the most agile athlete, but plays very instinctively. He’s been a playmaker. Taylor brings the wood like a linebacker, but he missed a bit too much in the open field.. And he’s not twitchy and doesn’t show the type of recovery speed you look for. He’s susceptible to being moved with eyes at the NFL level. Taylor is a mixed bag to me. Round 5.
Other Safety Prospects
There are a group of other safeties who offer special teams capabilities but not likely starter capabilities. These include:
Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
