Dejuan Lane S Tennessee |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #10 ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #10 | |
| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.48 seconds (79%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
79.9 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 78.4 | |
| Tackling: |
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55% |
| Run Defense: |
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65% |
| Coverage: |
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78% |
| Zone: |
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78% |
| Man/Press: |
|
76% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#237
Position rank:
#51 (DB)
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 917 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Scott - California |
|
81% |
| Jordan Hancock - Ohio State |
|
78% |
| Genesis Smith - Arizona |
|
75% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A consensus four-star prospect, Dejuan Lane played cornerback, safety, receiver and wildcat quarterback at Gilman School in Baltimore and helped set the school record in the 4x100 relay. Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin also offered before he picked Penn State. His brother, Rayuan Lane III, was a safety at Navy and a sixth-round pick in 2025.Lane played in all 16 games as a true freshman in 2024, returning an interception 54 yards against Maryland. He made three starts in 2025, finishing with 30 tackles and a sack, then transferred to Tennessee in January 2026.
He has started every game at safety for the Volunteers. He took an interception back for a touchdown against Georgia Tech, was named Walter Camp national defensive player of the week after another interception in the win over Auburn, and picked off Alabama's Keelon Russell in the 26-10 win on 17 October.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Takes the ball away, with interceptions against Georgia Tech, Auburn and Alabama
- Good range from the deep middle, closing on throws with a cornerback's footwork
- Versatile enough to play deep, in the box and over the slot
- Keeps everything in front of him, allowing 98 yards on 12 targets all season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tackling is inconsistent, with 10 missed tackles in eight games
- Two missed tackles each against Arkansas and South Carolina show poor angles in space
- Run fits from the box are late, and blockers can wall him off at the second level
- Only one season as a starter, after two years as a rotation player at Penn State
- Has eligibility left as a junior, so he could return to Tennessee in 2027
Scouting Report: Summary
Lane has given Tennessee exactly what it needed from the transfer portal, a rangy safety who takes the ball away. He covers ground from the deep middle, reads the quarterback well and has three interceptions, including a pick-six against Georgia Tech and a takeaway against Alabama.However, his tackling lags behind his coverage. He has missed 10 tackles this season, and his run fits from the box can be late. This is also his first year as a full-time starter, so the sample is short.
Overall, Lane has good size, good speed and real ball skills in the deep middle. He projects as a priority free agent with upside, and with eligibility left he could build on this season with another year at Tennessee.
How other scouting services rate Dejuan Lane (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
192.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
46.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.