BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS 2028 NFL Draft

2028 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.

2028 Defensive Backs ranked by RUN DEFENSE

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

DJ
Pickett

CB
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
63 84 81 87
88.4
2

Braden
Awls

S
Iowa State   Mascot
Iowa State Mascot
70 84 69 69
81.1
3

Bryce
Fitzgerald

S
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
70 80 86 89
86.1
4

Devin
Sanchez

CB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
79 75 65 65
84.8
5

Tae
Harris

S
Georgia Tech   Mascot
Georgia Tech Mascot
69 75 78 75
83.1
6

Kade
Phillips

CB
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
78 74 75 68
87.3
7

Elijah
Green

CB
Tulsa   Mascot
Tulsa Mascot
73 73 73 73
75.0
8

Jayden
Sanders

CB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
55 72 88 87
85.9
9

Tyren
Polley

S
SMU   Mascot
SMU Mascot
73 71 75 75
81.1
10

Na'Eem
Offord

CB
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
54 71 63 60
81.9
11

Rylon
Dillard-Alle...

S
Washington   Mascot
Washington Mascot
63 70 75 73
85.0
12

Shawn
Lee Jr.

CB
Pittsburgh   Mascot
Pittsburgh Mascot
55 69 80 78
82.1
13

Graceson
Littleton

CB
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
65 69 75 70
85.8
14

Messiah
Delhomme

S
Maryland   Mascot
Maryland Mascot
79 68 69 75
80.2
15

Courtland
Guillory

CB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
59 67 70 74
83.0
16

Xavier
Filsaime

S
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
38 66 62 63
64.3
17

Daryus
Dixson

CB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
65 65 90 86
87.1
18

Dylan
Robinson

CB
Washington   Mascot
Washington Mascot
51 62 66 68
83.3
19

Javien
Toviano

S
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
52 58 50 50
60.4
20

A'mon
Lane-Ganus

CB
South Florida   Mascot
South Florida Mascot
0 57 49 0
65.8