NFL Draft: Breaking Down the Top Safety Prospects
By Dan Dahlke
Baylor Bears safety Ahmad Dixon (6). Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
TIER THREE
7. Ahmad Dixon, SS, Baylor: 6-0, 212 (4.64)
There isn’t a safety in this draft class that hits harder than Dixon. He is a violent player that loves contact. As a converted linebacker, Dixon is an excellent tackler and really excels against the run, recording nearly 300 tackles during his time at Baylor.
Dixon is a downhill safety that reads and reacts to plays well. He keeps the action in front of him and closes in on the ball. He can drop back in coverage, but he’s a bit of a gambler. He’ll either make a game-changing play or give up a big play to the offense.
Dixon also lacks top-end speed and is inconsistent in coverage, which hurts his draft stock significantly. Some have their doubts on whether or not he can hold up guarding a tight end or slot receiver in the NFL.
Dixon is an exciting player, but he has a lot of room to grow and will need to develop further before seeing a lot of playing time at the next level.
(Draft Projection: Rounds 3-4)
Southern California Trojans linebacker Dion Bailey (18). Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
8. Dion Bailey, SS, USC: 6-0, 201 (4.66)
Bailey is a bit of a project at safety. In 2012, he played as an undersized linebacker in USC’s defense. Bailey is still relatively new to the safety position, and on film, that shows at times.
In coverage, Bailey can be out of place and still seems to be working on moving fluidly in space. Having said that, Bailey seems to have a nose for the ball.
He recorded five interceptions as a first-year safety (2013) and four as a linebacker in 2012. He also recorded 16.5 tackles for loss and 13 pass breakups in his three years at USC.
It is this type of production that has some excited about the potential of the USC product in the NFL. With some time and patience, Bailey could be one of the better safeties to come out of this draft class.
(Draft Projection: Rounds 3-4)
LSU Tigers safety Craig Loston (6) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Jacob Hillyer (17). Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
9. Craig Loston, SS, LSU: 6-0, 214 (4.65)
Loston may be the most overlooked safety prospect in this year’s draft, at least by the media. If you want a sleeper at the position, Loston just may be it.
The former LSU Tiger is a tough, physical safety with tremendous size and field awareness. He was often responsible for making calls and adjustments in LSU’s secondary, and proved to be a vocal leader on the Tigers defense.
Loston is a great open-field tackler who also has the quickness and short-area burst to track ball carriers down. He is solid in coverage and gave up very few big plays in his time at LSU.
Loston’s biggest knock seems to be his stiffness in space, which could hinder him in man coverage at the next level.
(Draft Projection: Round 4)
North Carolina Tar Heels safety Tre Boston (10). Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
10. Tre Boston, SS, North Carolina: 6-0, 204 (4.59)
Boston is a defensive back who likes to fly around and make plays. He seems apt for playing either free or strong safety, and is a high-risk, high-reward type of player.
During his time with the Tar Heels, Boston recorded 13 interceptions and 20 pass breakups, demonstrating his ability to make a play on the ball.
Boston also reads and reacts well on the field when the play is in front of him; however, he can be out of place at times in coverage and can take poor angles to the ball carrier when trying to deliver a big hit.
(Draft Projection: Round 4)
Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Dezmen Southward (12) tackles Stanford Cardinal fullback Ryan Hewitt (85). Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
11. Dezmen Southward, FS, Wisconsin: 6-0, 211 (4.37)
Southward is a raw safety prospect with tremendous athleticism and speed. His football instincts and field awareness still need to improve, but this may come with more experience at the position.
Southward lacked impact plays while at Wisconsin, and at times, disappeared from the action. But the former Badger does offer versatility.
Southward has experience at cornerback and playing nickel and is a player a team may draft in a middle round because of his potential impact down the road.