NFL Draft: Comparing top safeties to current recruits
The NFL Draft begins Thursday, so today we continue our final look at the top players by position, finishing with safety, along with a comparison to a class of 2020 or 2021 prospect.
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NFL DRAFT: Comparing top QBs with current recruits | RBs | WRs | TEs | OL | DTs | DEs | LBs | CBs
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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Recruiting: The high four-star prospect had been committed to Alabama early in his recruitment but he backed off that pledge. At the Under Armour Game, the Crimson Tide and Clemson were his finalists and McKinney chose Alabama again.
College stats: Over three seasons, McKinney finished with 175 tackles (including 95 this past season) along with five interceptions, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Projection: McKinney is expected to be a mid- to late first-round draft pick.
Comparison: Avantae Williams, 2020
Farrell’s take: McKinney was a little bigger and more athletic than Williams at the same stage, but they both are instinctual ball hawks. McKinney was in the five-star discussion, and Williams was always a high four-star.
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Recruiting: Delpit committed to LSU during the summer prior to his senior season. With a coaching transition for the Tigers, Delpit vocalized his support for then-interim coach Ed Orgeron. USC, Florida, Texas A&M and others got involved, but Delpit stuck with LSU.
College stats: Delpit finished with 199 tackles, eight interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over three seasons with the Tigers.
Projection: Delpit is considered to be a late first-round draft pick and could move into the second round.
Comparison: Corey Collier, 2021
Farrell’s take: Delpit was a guy I thought should be ranked a bit higher and he played like a five-star at times. Collier could play corner or safety at the next level and has similar instincts around the ball.
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Recruiting: His father played in the NFL, but Winfield Jr. was ranked as a two-star prospect. After multiple visits to Minnesota, he chose the Golden Gophers over Purdue, Missouri, Northwestern and others.
College stats: In just 30 games over four seasons, Winfield totaled 172 tackles, four sacks and nine interceptions, seven coming this past year. He missed significant amounts of time in two seasons because of foot and hamstring injuries.
Projection: Winfield is expected to go somewhere in the second round, but he could fall into the third.
Comparison: Kamren Kinchens, 2021
Farrell’s take: Winfield had good bloodlines but was small and a lot of schools didn’t take the chance. Kinchens isn’t the biggest defensive back, but he plays much bigger than he is and has some Winfield traits.
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Recruiting: Davis went to Cal on a track scholarship and walked on to the football team. He does not appear in the Rivals database.
College stats: Over a four-year playing career, Davis finished with 166 tackles, seven interceptions, 12 pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Projection: Davis could go as early as the second round or he could fall into the third round.
Comparison: Keshawn Lawrence, 2020
Farrell’s take: Lawrence isn’t as fast as Davis was coming out of high school and Davis ended up as a football standout after trying to also make it in track. Lawrence has similar size and is more polished at the same stage and plays fast.
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Recruiting: Chinn was injured in his junior season and then earned All-Metro status in his senior year as Southern Illinois was one of the only teams involved in his recruitment. He had no Power Five offers.
College stats: Over four seasons, Chinn recorded 243 tackles and 13 interceptions and had no less than three picks in each of his years at Southern Illinois. He also tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine leading up to the draft.
Projection: Chinn is expected to go somewhere in the mid-second to third round.
Comparison: Brian Branch, 2020
Farrell’s take: Chinn and Branch play similar games as they are excellent tacklers and good around the line of scrimmage. Branch is much more polished as a defensive back at the same stage.