Run defense grade for a safety scores run support: reading the play from depth, filling the right gap, taking on a lead blocker and making the stop. It is the grade that decides whether a safety can play in the box. Harrison Smith (Notre Dame) and Landon Collins (Alabama) were both run defenders first in college.
The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible safeties by run defense grade, alongside tackling, zone and man coverage grades, and overall rating.
| RANK | Player | Pos | Team | TACKLING | RUN DEFENSE | ZONE | MAN/PRESS | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
S |
|
98 | 93 | 86 | 82 |
88.8
|
|
2 |
|
S |
|
79 | 92 | 87 | 82 |
87.1
|
|
3 |
|
S |
|
93 | 88 | 72 | 66 |
83.3
|
|
4 |
|
S |
|
64 | 87 | 77 | 81 |
76.5
|
|
5 |
|
S |
|
83 | 85 | 68 | 64 |
79.6
|
|
6 |
|
S |
|
95 | 83 | 83 | 76 |
85.0
|
|
7 |
|
S |
|
69 | 82 | 77 | 75 |
83.7
|
|
8 |
|
LB /ED |
|
78 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
75.0
|
|
9 |
|
S |
|
78 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
75.0
|
|
10 |
|
S |
|
70 | 77 | 81 | 86 |
83.5
|
|
11 |
|
S |
|
73 | 77 | 87 | 85 |
81.5
|
|
12 |
|
S |
|
84 | 76 | 63 | 69 |
74.0
|
|
13 |
|
S |
|
82 | 76 | 70 | 64 |
63.4
|
|
14 |
|
S |
|
73 | 75 | 87 | 84 |
76.0
|
|
15 |
|
S |
|
59 | 74 | 72 | 67 |
70.6
|
|
16 |
|
S |
|
66 | 73 | 72 | 70 |
71.0
|
|
17 |
|
S |
|
40 | 73 | 70 | 60 |
77.0
|
|
18 |
|
S |
|
73 | 71 | 60 | 57 |
57.0
|
|
19 |
|
S |
|
55 | 71 | 54 | 58 |
78.0
|
|
20 |
|
S |
|
54 | 71 | 56 | 57 |
62.0
|