Defensive Back Rankings 2027 NFL Draft

126 defensive backs ranked

DEFENSIVE BACK RANKINGS 2027 NFL DRAFT

The secondary is one of the strongest parts of this class. Three defensive backs sit inside our top fifteen and five inside the top thirty-two, in line with the stronger years we have graded, and corner and safety are both well stocked.

Notre Dame's Leonard Moore leads it, a corner who took five interceptions and added seven pass breakups in ten games. Georgia safety KJ Bolden is immediately behind him, the top-ranked safety of his recruiting class who posted 78 tackles with only four misses across single-high, box and slot alignments. Ellis Robinson IV tied for the SEC lead among defensive players with four interceptions in his first year of starts, and Alabama's Zabien Brown, a five-star who started all thirteen games as a true freshman, has returned takeaways for scores in both his seasons.

Between corner and safety this is the largest group in the class, and the one where a team can wait longest and still find a starter.
LAST UPDATED: 11/03/2026

Player Rankings - Defensive Back

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
44

CB
John
Curry

6-2 235lbs 4.75
CB
Texas Tech   Mascot
Texas Tech Mascot
235lbs 6-2 4.75 59 277.5
81.1
Curry is a box-and-slot defender listed at corner who plays more like a hybrid safety or nickel, and his calling cards are excellent...
97

CB
Antonio
Watts

6-2 225lbs 4.67
CB
Louisville   Mascot
Louisville Mascot
225lbs 6-2 4.67 85 430.5
66.8
Watts is a big, versatile hybrid defender who was a productive starter at Louisville. He finds the football, with three interceptions and...
66

S
Matthew
Bailey

6-2 225lbs 4.56
S
Illinois   Mascot
Illinois Mascot
225lbs 6-2 4.56 60 284
77.0
Bailey is a physical, productive safety who does his best work near the line. He arrives with force against the run, adds value as a...
65

S
Isaac
Smith

6-0 220lbs 4.60
S
Mississippi State   Mascot
Mississippi State Mascot
220lbs 6-0 4.60 58 277
77.0
Smith's film tells the story of a defender who belongs in the box but has just enough coverage skills to handle himself when...
62

S
Randon
Fontenette

6-2 220lbs 4.50
S
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
220lbs 6-2 4.50 74 341.5
78.0
Fontenette is a 220-pound STAR defender listed at corner who plays more like a box safety or nickel linebacker, and his calling cards are...
31

S
Marcus
Neal Jr.

6-1 216lbs 4.44
S
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
216lbs 6-1 4.44 32 120
83.4
Neal is a fast, physical safety who broke out as a run defender at Iowa State. He has rare speed for the position, and in 2025 he made 33...
108

S
Davaughn
Patterson

6-1 215lbs 4.53
S
Wake Forest   Mascot
Wake Forest Mascot
215lbs 6-1 4.53 148 703
64.0
Patterson is a tough, versatile defensive back who has started since 2024 and earned All-ACC recognition. He can line up at safety, star or...
67

S
Mason
Curtis

6-4 215lbs 4.52
S
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
215lbs 6-4 4.52 84 423.5
77.0
Curtis is a tall, physical safety whose 77-inch frame and comfortable in both man and zone give him an unusual coverage profile, a young...
51

S
Dejuan
Lane

6-2 215lbs 4.48
S
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
215lbs 6-2 4.48 46 191.5
79.9
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...
29

S
Faletau
Satuala

6-4 215lbs 4.60
S
BYU   Mascot
BYU Mascot
215lbs 6-4 4.60 39 131.8
84.3
Satuala is a big, physical safety who ranks among the Big 12's most productive defenders. He led BYU in tackles in 2025, intercepted three...
14

S
Bray
Hubbard

6-2 215lbs 4.60
S
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
215lbs 6-2 4.60 19 83.3
84.8
Hubbard is an instinctive, physical safety who takes the ball away. A former Mississippi Mr. Football at quarterback, he reads routes and...
80

S
Reggie
Powers III

6-0 212lbs 4.57
S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
212lbs 6-0 4.57 86 431
70.4
Powers is a physical hybrid defender who now anchors the Cheetah spot in Oklahoma's defense. He plays downhill, finishes as a blitzer and...

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Back

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Back

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.