Projecting a 2023 NFL draft prospect to the NFL isn’t simply about looking at production from the 2022 season, as measurables and career bodies of work also come into play.
Still, it’s interesting to see when some of the best players in the draft had their best season in college football. Here, we look at the top 10 safeties on PFF’s big board and highlight their best season by PFF grade, adding some stats for context.
Brian Branch, Alabama
- Big board rank: 14/S1
- Best PFF grade: 89.5, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 86.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 90.7
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 79.6
Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
- Big board rank: 47/S2
- Best PFF grade: 87.4, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 88.7
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 89.5
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 71.1
Sydney Brown, Illinois
- Big board rank: 57/S3
- Best PFF grade: 78.4, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 89.4
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 67.8
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 76.6
Jammie Robinson, Florida State
- Big board rank: 63/S4
- Best PFF grade: 80.1, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 78.0
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 80.1
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 69.0
Jordan Battle, Alabama
- Big board rank: 73/S5
- Best PFF grade: 88.0, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 89.7
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 77.1
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 62.7
Christopher Smith, Georgia
- Big board rank: 94/S6
- Best PFF grade: 71.5, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 81.6
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 64.5
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 57.4
JL Skinner, Boise State
- Big board rank: 110/S7
- Best PFF grade: 75.1, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 80.2
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 68.1
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 54.2
Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
- Big board rank: 116/S8
- Best PFF grade: 84.8, 2022
- 2022 Coverage grade: 88.9
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 75.3
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 64.0
Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
- Big board rank: 123/S9
- Best PFF grade: 78.7, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 77.0
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 66.5
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 90.6
Quindell Johnson, Memphis
- Big board rank: 157/S10
- Best PFF grade: 83.2, 2021
- 2021 Coverage grade: 83.2
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 78.1
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 72.6
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