2022 NFL Draft Best Fits: Defensive Backs
We are almost done with the best fits series, and now we move on to the secondary. To make life a little easier, corners and safeties are going to be grouped together for this article. Some DB prospects that come out have the ability to do a little bit of everything. In most cases, they focus on one thing when they get to the NFL. Take Jabril Peppers for example. He played virtually everywhere for Michigan as a hybrid linebacker and defensive back. He even played on offense. When he got to the NFL, he said he was strictly going to be a safety. Isaiah Simmons is someone else who did it all and has settled into being a linebacker. This is an exciting group. Let’s break it all down.
Derek Stingley Jr
If the last name sounds familiar to you, this might be why. His grandfather Darryl Stingley was an NFL receiver before suffering an injury that left him paralyzed age at 26. Stingley Jr is the best corner in the draft and will be off the board in the top ten. LSU calls themselves “DB U” because of the great players at that position they produce. Hard to argue with them when you see a guy like this. He’s fast first and foremost running a 40 yard dash in the 4.2s. He is at his best in man coverage and he’ll play a lot of press man coverage in the NFL. He’s aggressive and a great tackler. His zone coverage is good, but not great. Injuries are also a concern with him. He was healthy for his amazing freshman year that helped get LSU a National Championship, but has been hurt for the last two.
His best fit is the New York Jets. Let’s face it, they need help everywhere. But, it makes a ton of sense. The secondary, specifically a shutdown corner is a huge need. Don’t forget that Darrelle Revis was once the person in that role for the Jets. Since he’s been gone, they have not found anyone to come remotely close to fill those shoes. Stingley Jr is no Revis, but he’s the next best thing.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
If Stingley Jr is the best corner available, Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner is easily number two. He was absolutely shut down for the Bearcats. He’s athletic, tall, and has a good quickness. Gardner’s burst makes him dangerous and like Stingley, he is at his best as a press man corner. He’s also good against the run and has really good instincts. Oh and one more thing, he hasn’t allowed a touchdown since 2019. He also lacks experience in zone coverage and takes a lot of penalties
His best fit is the Denver Broncos. They already drafted Pat Surtain last year. This would be the best cornerback tandem in the division, and maybe in the league. In a division where the opposing quarterbacks are Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, you need some shut down guys on both sides. Gardner could cover someone like Travis Kelce or Mike Williams and that would leave Surtain to cover Tyreek Hill or Keenan Allen. This could be the start of the No Fly Zone 2.0.
Kyle Hamilton
Time to get into some safety talk. Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame is considered the best safety in the class overall, and the best free safety available. He can play deep, on the edge as a linebacker, or corner in an emergency siltation. Hamilton is smart and does a good job against the run. Any team that picks him up will have the ability to send him on a free safety blitz. He hasn’t been consistent and can be susceptible to play action and other types of fakes.
His best fit may surprise you, but it’s actually the Baltimore Ravens. They were not good at defending the deep pass in 2021. At one point in the season, the Ravens had only caused an incomplete pass 4.1% of the time, third lowest in the NFL. Additionally, QBs had a 131.9 passer rating when targeting Ravens safeties, which was also third worst in the league at that time. The Ravens are one of the only teams that really need help at that spot, and should be able to scoop up Hamilton with the pick that they have in round one.
Jaquan Brisker
Penn State’s Jaquan Brisker could be the best strong safety in the draft. He can play in both safety spots and has great size and speed. He acts as a coach on the field and is especially good in zone coverage against a tight end. Brisker is a big hitter and good tackler, and is good against the run. Sometimes he is slow to diagnose the play and also tends to bite on fakes.
The Detroit Lions also need help at safety and will have either pick 31 or 32 because of the Stafford trade with the Rams. The pick makes perfect sense. They’ll take one of the best defensive players in the draft at pick two, and then they can pick up some more defensive help at the end of round one. The cornerback position overall is in decent shape, so the next step in improving the secondary is to bolster the backend. The Lions pass defense was among the worst in the league.
Trent McDuffie
Okay, back to the corners. Trent McDuffie had a lot of options but chose to play at Washington. He’s someone else who brings a lot of explosiveness and speed to the table. McDuffie is a former receiver and that gives him an edge. He’ll need to bulk up and overall refine his discipline since he can be over aggressive.
His best fit is the Indianapolis Colts. The secondary in Indy has become a problem and Kenny Moore played out of position at times. He’s at his best in the slot. Outside corner is one of the biggest needs, if not the biggest. McDuffie would instantly make an impact.
Kaiir Elam
Florida is another school that has produced some good DB’s lately. Kaiir Elam was one of the best corners in the SEC. He is also a former receiver with good quickness. His discipline and instincts are very good. He is inconsistent and needs to settle down to do well as a pro.
His best fit is the San Francisco 49ers. They need someone opposite Emmanuel Mosley, who has done very well. Four corners are set to hit free agency and regardless of who they keep, they need more players at the position. Elam will probably survive the first round unless a team absolutely loves him. The Niners should be able to scoop him up in rounds two or three.
Daxton Hill
Daxton Hill is ranked as the second best safety overall in the draft. Listed as a free safety, he was tremendous for the Michigan Wolverines. He’s crazy athletic and runs a 40 yard dash in the 4.2s. He could play corner if he needed to. Hill does a good job playing the ball with good instincts and anticipation. Scouts feel there is not a lot of tape on him and would like to see him prove himself more.
His best fit is the Philadelphia Eagles. They don’t have a lot of depth at the free safety position. Both starters are set to be free agents and the defense was one of the worst against the pass in the league. Hill seems like a no brainer for the Eagles as a day two pick or they could opt to use the last of three first round picks on him.
Roger McCreary
Auburn’s Roger McCreary is another name to watch. He became a very good corner and he has played safety in the past. He’s a disciplined player with good ball skills. McCreary’s coverage technique is really good and he handles the deep the ball well. Sometimes he struggled with zone coverage and can be over aggressive.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately need help in the secondary and it showed in 2021. All of the injuries tested depth at the position and they failed miserably. McCreary right now looks to be a nickel/slot corner at the NFL level since he is scrappy, a willing tackler, and covers well. Tampa Bay could use him since corner is a trouble spot for them right now. McCreary could be picked in the first round.
Final Thoughts
While we tend to hear a lot of about corners up and coming in the draft, we don’t always hear about the safeties. Secondaries are becoming more centric on the nickel formation. Don’t minimize the importance of the safety position because of that. It’s always nice to see an old school enforcer, and maybe that’s what some of these guys will become.
Still to come:
Wrapping up the best fits
Rebuilding the SEC and ACC
Another transfer QB set to make an impact
WNBA free agency recap
Checking in on the Bruins prospects, and is time up for Jack Studnicka?
More on the way!