Run defense grade for a safety scores run support: reading the play from depth, filling the right gap, taking on a lead blocker and making the stop. It is the grade that decides whether a safety can play in the box. Harrison Smith (Notre Dame) and Landon Collins (Alabama) were both run defenders first in college.
The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible safeties by run defense grade, alongside tackling, zone and man coverage grades, and overall rating.
| RANK | Player | Pos | Team | TACKLING | RUN DEFENSE | ZONE | MAN/PRESS | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
S |
|
95 | 92 | 85 | 82 |
87.4
|
|
2 |
|
S |
|
76 | 92 | 68 | 64 |
82.5
|
|
3 |
|
S |
|
79 | 91 | 80 | 73 |
84.2
|
|
4 |
|
S |
|
81 | 90 | 80 | 75 |
85.9
|
|
5 |
|
S |
|
89 | 87 | 77 | 72 |
86.5
|
|
6 |
|
S |
|
77 | 83 | 80 | 79 |
83.6
|
|
7 |
|
S |
|
93 | 83 | 76 | 76 |
84.9
|
|
8 |
|
S |
|
88 | 83 | 87 | 83 |
86.9
|
|
9 |
|
S |
|
77 | 83 | 78 | 88 |
85.8
|
|
10 |
|
S |
|
70 | 82 | 81 | 83 |
85.7
|
|
11 |
|
S |
|
70 | 80 | 63 | 73 |
83.4
|
|
12 |
|
S |
|
73 | 80 | 64 | 68 |
80.7
|
|
13 |
|
S |
|
79 | 80 | 71 | 72 |
80.4
|
|
14 |
|
S |
|
77 | 79 | 89 | 77 |
86.9
|
|
15 |
|
S |
|
81 | 78 | 54 | 61 |
77.1
|
|
16 |
|
S |
|
84 | 75 | 87 | 78 |
84.9
|
|
17 |
|
S |
|
60 | 75 | 79 | 75 |
83.5
|
|
18 |
|
S |
|
81 | 75 | 79 | 80 |
86.2
|
|
19 |
|
S |
|
74 | 74 | 66 | 61 |
78.9
|
|
20 |
|
S |
|
57 | 74 | 81 | 79 |
84.0
|