Davaughn Patterson S Wake Forest |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #5 ROLE: Zone Free Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.53 seconds (63%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #5 | |
| ROLE: Zone Free Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.53 seconds (63%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
64.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 106.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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69% |
| Run Defense: |
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70% |
| Coverage: |
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73% |
| Zone: |
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71% |
| Man/Press: |
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71% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#1067
Position rank:
#108 (DB)
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 2030 | ||
ESPN RATING: 74/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tayler Hawkins - San Diego State |
|
92% |
| Quentin Lake - UCLA |
|
87% |
| Jason Taylor II - Oklahoma State |
|
87% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Davaughn Patterson was born in Miami and played at Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, where he made 64 tackles and two interceptions as a senior while also running for 587 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran track and was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class.Patterson made four appearances and one start as a 2023 freshman before starting every game the following year. His 2025 season brought honorable mention All-ACC recognition and an ACC defensive back of the week award, and he split time between slot corner and strong safety while playing through sports hernias on both sides.
Patterson was named to the Senior Bowl watch list before this season. Head coach Jake Dickert moved him to the star position to get another safety on the field. He made 13 tackles at Purdue, nine against Stanford and seven against Miami, but he has missed eight tackles and surrendered two touchdowns in coverage.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Two-year starter who earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2025
- Versatile defender who has played slot corner, star and safety
- Thirteen tackles when Wake Forest visited Purdue this fall
- Played through two sports hernias during the 2025 season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Eight missed tackles this year, five of them at Purdue
- Gave up touchdowns in coverage against Miami and Louisville
- Louisville gained 83 yards on his five targets
- Twenty more missed tackles combined across 2024 and 2025
- Only two pass breakups and no interceptions in 2026
Scouting Report: Summary
Patterson is a tough, versatile defensive back who has started since 2024 and earned All-ACC recognition. He can line up at safety, star or in the slot, and he played through injury in 2025.However, he has been an unreliable tackler, with eight misses this season, and two touchdowns have been scored on him in coverage. His last interception came in 2024.
Overall, Patterson is a durable, experienced defensive back with tackling concerns. He projects as a priority free agent with special teams value.
How other scouting services rate Davaughn Patterson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
703.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
147.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.