BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS 2027 NFL Draft

2027 BEST RUN DEFENDING DEFENSIVE BACKS

Run defense grade for a defensive back scores run support: filling from depth, taking on a receiver’s block on the edge, and making the stop. It matters most for safeties who will play in the box and for corners in defenses that ask them to force the run. Landon Collins (Alabama) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) both graded out as run defenders first.

The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible defensive backs by run defense grade, alongside tackling, zone and man coverage grades, and overall rating.

2027 Defensive Backs ranked by RUN DEFENSE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING RUN DEFENSE ZONE MAN/PRESS Rating
1

John
Nestor

CB
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
71 93 89 90
84.5
2

Marcus
Neal Jr.

S
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
83 92 82 79
83.4
3

Jaylen
McClain

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
97 88 75 81
84.8
4

Kylin
Jackson

CB
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
59 87 59 68
63.6
5

Jalen
Mayo

CB
Houston   Mascot
Houston Mascot
65 86 79 76
84.6
6

Robert
Fitzgerald

S
Northwestern   Mascot
Northwestern Mascot
72 85 82 73
81.0
7

Eli
Bowen

CB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
69 85 77 70
81.4
8

Peyton
Bowen

S
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
75 85 79 85
84.6
9

Corey
Myrick

S
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
74 84 67 71
84.6
10

Jordan
Castell

S
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
84 84 70 69
78.0
11

KJ
Bolden

S
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
74 83 79 80
87.8
12

Jay'Vion
Cole

CB
Arizona   Mascot
Arizona Mascot
70 83 79 76
81.1
13

Tae
Johnson

S
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
88 83 87 83
86.3
14

Bray
Hubbard

S
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
75 83 72 69
84.8
15

Koi
Perich

S
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
91 83 71 75
84.7
16

Jamel
Johnson

S
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
84 83 67 75
67.4
17

Zach
Lutmer

S
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
71 82 71 71
84.8
18

Ty
Benefield

S
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
82 82 74 66
84.9
19

Chris
Bracy

S
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
63 81 66 58
66.5
20

Terry
Moore

S
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
71 81 78 79
83.3