BEST ZONE COVERAGE SAFETIES 2028 NFL Draft

2028 BEST ZONE COVERAGE SAFETIES

Zone coverage is the safety’s core job: reading the quarterback from the deep half or the middle of the field, driving on the ball, and not giving up the throw over the top. The grade scores every zone snap. Earl Thomas (Texas) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) were both exceptional here, and it is the trait that made them first-round picks.

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

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

Bryce
Fitzgerald

S
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
70 80 86 89
86.1
2

Tae
Harris

S
Georgia Tech   Mascot
Georgia Tech Mascot
69 75 78 75
83.1
3

Tyren
Polley

S
SMU   Mascot
SMU Mascot
73 71 75 75
81.1
4

Rylon
Dillard-Alle...

S
Washington   Mascot
Washington Mascot
63 70 75 73
85.0
5

Messiah
Delhomme

S
Maryland   Mascot
Maryland Mascot
79 68 69 75
80.2
6

Braden
Awls

S
Iowa State   Mascot
Iowa State Mascot
70 84 69 69
81.1
7

Edrees
Farooq

S
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
48 56 65 66
74.0
8

Xavier
Filsaime

S
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
38 66 62 63
64.3
9

Jaydan
Hardy

S
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
37 52 58 63
66.1
10

Javien
Toviano

S
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
52 58 50 50
60.4