Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Draft: Breaking down the safety prospects

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Landon Collins (26). Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports.

Tier One

1. Landon Collins, SS, Alabama (6-0, 228)
2. Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State (5-11, 196)
3. Jaquiski Tartt, SS, Samford (6-1, 221)
4. Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville (6-0, 218)

The Skinny: Collins is hands-down the top safety of this class and the only one with a first-round grade.

He’s nearly the size of a linebacker, and plays like one too. He’s an aggressive downhill player who can fly around the field and demolish ball carriers.

Collins excels playing up in the box, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make plays in coverage as well. He recorded five interceptions and 18 passes defensed as a two-year starter in Alabama’s secondary.

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Damarious Randall (3). Matt Kartozian -USA TODAY Sports

Randall is a speedy, athletic defensive back who’s the ideal fit at free safety in the NFL. He has great closing speed and can break on the ball and make plays in coverage.

He plays with good instincts and can roam the deep center field.

However, Randall is a bit undersized and isn’t overly physical against the run. He’s not a player that would thrive up in the box.

Tartt is lighning in a bottle and may be the most physical safety in this draft. He’s an explosive downhill player that can make plays up at the line of scrimmage.

He’s great in run support and will strike fear in the hearts of receivers crossing over the middle of the field.

Teams may even use him as a nickel or dime linebacker, much in the fashion of Deone Bucannon in the Cardinals defense last year.

Tartt is a mix of Bucannon and Kam Chancellor, and he’ll probably fulfill a similar role in the NFL.

Louisville Cardinals safety Gerod Holliman (8) intercepts a pass. Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Holliman is a polarizing prospect in this draft. Some analysts love him and see him as a true playmaker in the secondary, while others feel he’s overrated and more of a late-rounder.

I see Holliman as a solid player who will live and die by taking risks in coverage. There’s a reason he led college football last season with 14 interceptions. He can break on the ball and make those game-changing plays you look for in an impact player.

However, Holliman doesn’t offer much as a run stopper and can give up just as many big plays as he creates in coverage.

He’d be worth the risk in the third round.

Next: Tier Two