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 |
|
83 | 92 | 82 | 79 |
83.4
|
|
2 |
|
S |
|
97 | 88 | 75 | 81 |
84.8
|
|
3 |
|
S |
|
72 | 85 | 82 | 73 |
81.0
|
|
4 |
|
S |
|
75 | 85 | 79 | 85 |
84.6
|
|
5 |
|
S |
|
74 | 84 | 67 | 71 |
84.6
|
|
6 |
|
S |
|
84 | 84 | 70 | 69 |
78.0
|
|
7 |
|
S |
|
74 | 83 | 79 | 80 |
87.8
|
|
8 |
|
S |
|
88 | 83 | 87 | 83 |
86.3
|
|
9 |
|
S |
|
75 | 83 | 72 | 69 |
84.8
|
|
10 |
|
S |
|
91 | 83 | 71 | 75 |
84.7
|
|
11 |
|
S |
|
84 | 83 | 67 | 75 |
67.4
|
|
12 |
|
S |
|
71 | 82 | 71 | 71 |
84.8
|
|
13 |
|
S |
|
82 | 82 | 74 | 66 |
84.9
|
|
14 |
|
S |
|
63 | 81 | 66 | 58 |
66.5
|
|
15 |
|
S |
|
71 | 81 | 78 | 79 |
83.3
|
|
16 |
|
S |
|
80 | 80 | 71 | 78 |
77.0
|
|
17 |
|
S |
|
80 | 79 | 79 | 76 |
84.4
|
|
18 |
|
S |
|
83 | 79 | 82 | 84 |
85.1
|
|
19 |
|
S |
|
78 | 79 | 67 | 73 |
77.0
|
|
20 |
|
S |
|
78 | 78 | 78 | 78 |
75.0
|