BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS 2027 NFL Draft

2027 BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS

Run defense grade for a defensive back scores run support: filling from depth, taking on a receiver’s block on the edge, and making the stop. It matters most for safeties who will play in the box and for corners in defenses that ask them to force the run. Landon Collins (Alabama) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) both graded out as run defenders first.

The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible defensive backs by run defense grade, alongside tackling, zone and man coverage grades, and overall rating.

2027 Defensive Backs ranked by RUN DEFENSE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING RUN DEFENSE ZONE MAN/PRESS Rating
1

John
Nestor

CB
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
69 94 89 90
84.5
2

Marcus
Neal Jr.

S
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
83 92 82 79
83.4
3

Kylin
Jackson

CB
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
62 90 63 64
63.6
4

Jaylen
McClain

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
97 90 72 80
84.8
5

Jalen
Mayo

CB
Houston   Mascot
Houston Mascot
68 90 78 74
84.6
6

Corey
Myrick

S
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
77 86 67 69
84.6
7

Peyton
Bowen

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
73 86 85 85
84.6
8

Eli
Bowen

CB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
72 86 76 70
81.4
9

Robert
Fitzgerald

S
Northwestern   Mascot
Northwestern Mascot
70 85 84 75
81.0
10

Bryce
West

CB
Wisconsin   Mascot
Wisconsin Mascot
60 84 69 64
68.5
11

Jay'Vion
Cole

CB
Arizona   Mascot
Arizona Mascot
70 83 79 76
81.1
12

Tae
Johnson

S
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
88 83 87 83
86.3
13

Jyaire
Hill

CB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
63 82 79 77
84.7
14

Ty
Benefield

S
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
84 82 75 65
84.9
15

Bray
Hubbard

S
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
79 82 74 71
84.8
16

Earl
Little Jr.

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
80 82 82 77
84.4
17

KJ
Bolden

S
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
73 81 80 80
87.8
18

Chris
Bracy

S
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
68 81 63 57
66.5
19

Jelani
McDonald

S
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
79 81 83 83
85.1
20

Zach
Lutmer

S
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
72 81 76 73
84.8