2020 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Safeties

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theScore's Mike Alessandrini and Dan Wilkins break down the top safeties in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft as part of a position-by-position series.

Top 50
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

1. Xavier McKinney

School: Alabama
Height: 6-0
Weight: 201 lbs

Positives

• Versatility to line up all over the field
• Outstanding processing ability
• Solid instincts and understands route combinations in zone
• Fluid in man against tight ends and slot receivers
• Patient approach, and can mirror at the top of a route
• Quick to get downhill and get involved in run game
• Good angles to the ball in pursuit
• Comes to balance and makes physical tackles
• Good blitzer from a variety of alignments

Negatives

• Lacks ideal size for physical player
• Below-average speed for the position
• Average range for single-high role
• Size could be an issue against big-bodied tight ends

Bottom line

McKinney is the ultimate chess piece for a defensive backfield. With his incredibly well-rounded skill set, there just really isn't anything he can't do. The Alabama standout shows his intelligence while reading and diagnosing as a pass defender, and he's athletic enough to play in coverage in the box, up high, or over the slot. He's similarly smart in the running game, with the physicality and sound tackling ability to be a reliable finisher. McKinney is a Day 1 difference-maker at the next level.

Grade: 1st round

2. Antoine Winfield Jr.

School: Minnesota
Height: 5-9
Weight: 203 lbs

Positives

• Elite instincts with a natural feel for the game
• Quickly processes route combinations and makes early breaks on the ball
• Enough athleticism and fluidity for man coverage in the slot
• Coverage range to play deep center field safety role
• Great tracking ability and ball skills at the catch point
• Turnover machine with knack for making a big play (seven INTs in 2019)
• Aggressive coming downhill in run support
• Good pursuit speed and angles to the ball
• Physical tackler with good success rate

Negatives

• Size will be an issue against big targets downfield
• Frame limits tackle radius in space
• Durability a concern at the next level
• Played eight games over 2017 and 2018 seasons due to foot and hamstring injuries

Bottom line

Winfield faces questions about his injury history, as missing all but four games in two consecutive seasons significantly limited the 21-year-old's opportunities to put his skills on tape. However, he showed his talent once healthy in 2019. The son of a former Pro Bowl cornerback, Winfield makes his impact primarily through instincts and processing speed. He possesses the coverage range to play deep up the middle, and he's an aggressive and physical player when attacking in run support. His size will give him some issues against tight ends in man coverage, but there's just so much to love about the rest of Winfield's game.

Grade: 1st round

3. Grant Delpit

School: LSU
Height: 6-2
Weight: 213 lbs

Positives

• Versatility to play up high, in the box, or in the slot
• Athleticism and fluidity to play man coverage
• Excellent instincts in zone up high and underneath
• Good range as deep safety
• Ball skills to make a play at the catch point
• Aggressive flying downhill in the run game
• Willing to mix it up with linemen and sheds blocks
• Physical approach to tackling
• Effective blitzer from the second level

Negatives

• Major issues with missed tackles
• Inconsistent angles to the ball in pursuit
• Doesn't come to balance for ideal tackle approach

Bottom line

Delpit could be the most polished and versatile coverage player in this draft. Able to lock down the opposition at all levels of the field with a combination of football intelligence and athleticism, the LSU standout can be moved all over the field. He's also a physical tone-setter on the back end, and his explosiveness can be utilized in a pass-rush role. The lone concern about his game is some not insignificant issues with missed tackles. Delpit's coverage value gives him a high ceiling regardless, but cleaning up his pursuit angles and finishing ability could make him a perennial Pro Bowler.

Grade: Rounds 1-2

4. Kyle Dugger

School: Lenoir-Rhyne
Height: 6-1
Weight: 217 lbs

Positives

• Explosive athlete with outstanding raw traits
• Physical player vs. run game in the box
• Incredible pursuit speed with good angles to ball
• Foot and hip fluidity for smooth transitions in coverage
• Athleticism for range as deep safety
• Ball skills to make plays at the catch point
• Added upside as returner

Negatives

• Transition from Division II competition will be significant
• Still developing processing ability in coverage
• Overall defensive instincts will be a work in progress
• Needs to improve balance as tackler

Bottom line

Dugger is one of the most impressive athletes in this class. He'll be making a major transition from Division-II Lenoir-Rhyne to the NFL, so patience will be required for him to reach his full potential. But the traits he brings just don't come around all the time. Dugger is an explosive talent who flies around the field as a run defender and drops the hammer when he gets to the ball carrier. Coverage will be the biggest challenge he faces early, but his athleticism gives him sideline-to-sideline range on the back end.

Grade: 2nd round

5. Jeremy Chinn

School: Southern Illinois
Height: 6-3
Weight: 221 lbs

Positives

• Intriguing combination of size and explosiveness
• Athletic versatility for either safety or slot reps
• Great closing speed in pursuit of the ball
• No issue taking on and disengaging from blocks
• Comes to balance and makes strong tackles
• Has fluidity required for man coverage
• Athleticism leads to great coverage range
• Matches up well against athletic tight ends

Negatives

• Must improve processing ability in coverage
• Doesn't possess requisite awareness in zone drops
• Jump in competition will present challenge
• Needs time to develop instincts

Bottom line

Chinn is an athletic-upside prospect with the potential to be a versatile playmaker. His movement ability and explosiveness are rare for his size, and Chinn's fluidity makes him effective in man-to-man coverage. He'll be strong against the run early, and developing his coverage instincts - particularly when dropping into a zone - could make him an impact player. Chinn could then play safety on early downs before taking on a dime linebacker role to shut down tight ends in passing situations.

Grade: 2nd round

Other notable prospects

Terrell Burgess (Utah)
Ashtyn Davis (California)
Geno Stone (Iowa)
K'Von Wallace (Clemson)
Antoine Brooks Jr. (Maryland)

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