The 2017 NFL Draft safety class has NFL teams excited, as it’s considered one of if not the deepest position group in this year's draft.
Led by two safeties who deserve to be drafted in the top 10 (rare for the position), this class features safeties of all flavors, including a former Heisman contender, one of the best athletes in recent Combine history and a Kam Chancellor clone.
MORE: 50 best prospects | Mock Draft
NFL Draft: Top 10 safety prospects in 2017 class
10. Marcus Maye, Florida
Maye is an NFL-ready safety who has nimble enough feet to nickel back, too. He offers great field awareness and is a ball hawk who flashes impressive range with above-average closing speed to the ball.
Maybe is very reactive and has some suddenness that causes him to bite on combo routes and sudden head fakes by receivers. He is more effective in the mid-range, where he can use his speed and hitting ability. He offers Pro Bowl potential, and his versatility allows him to play deep, box safety or nickel.
9. Josh Jones, N.C. State
Jones looks the part of a strong safety and has experience as a single high free safety, where he has showed enough range and top-speed to sheriff over the top. He does, however, lack the type of burst and awareness to line up there full-time. A safety-linebacker hybrid, he plays a physical brand of football and loves throwing his body around in clean-up duty in the box.
His competitiveness and hand use in the red zone is an asset. When playing off, he'll need to be more disciplined in his route recognition and in keeping his eyes out of the backfield to prevent getting sucked in by play action. Overall, Jones has the size, athleticism and physicality teams seek in today's safety/linebacker hybrids.
8. Budda Baker, Washington
Baker does not meet the preferred stature of an NFL safety, but his intense style of play pushes that aside. His instincts to attack all areas of the field, combined with his athleticism, makes him an effective playmaker. The small-but-mighty moniker fits Baker’s style of play.
While his aggression and hit power is surprising for his size, he sometimes needs to settle down and wrap up as a tackler instead of relying on big hits to knock down ball carriers. His game speed is similar to that of NFL players like Tyrann Mathieu and retired Bob Sanders.
7. Marcus Williams, Utah
Williams defines the role of a true free safety, as he shows off impressive range and can make tackles from any location on the field. He’s an effective run stopper, but he could use some refining as a tackler. He displays above-average vision in the passing game with noticeable instincts and intelligence to quickly break on balls with great timing.
Williams may not be a physical specimen, but he is a ball-hawking defensive back with above-average ball skills and overall sound athleticism to contribute.
6. Obi Melifonwu, UConn
At almost 6-4 and with freakish athleticism, Melifonwu could surpass former UConn athletic freak Byron Jones in terms of upside as a defensive back. He's remarkably explosive from a standstill and is able to get to his top speed quickly.
Frequently on film (and not for good reason), Melifonwu adjusted from a delayed read or a misstep to violently attack from the perimeter. That type of make-up athleticism allows his technical flaws to be overlooked. Melifonwu is able to drive toward the backfield and dominate as a strong safety, but his best position might be as a Cover 2 or even free safety.
5. Josh Harvey-Clemons, Louisville
A legit 6-4 safety who also can play linebacker, Harvey-Clemons is a versatile athlete. He’s able to generate explosiveness in transitions and violence as a tackler. His hip fluidity and overall short-area change of direction isn't ideal, but it seems much of his hesitation is mental processing rather than a lack of the fluidity to develop as a quick-twitch defensive back.
Harvey-Clemons oozes with developmental value. He doesn’t turn with his hips as well as one would like for a potential two-way safety, but his limitations there aren't as drastic as those of Pro Bowler Kam Chancellor. Harvey-Clemons’ skill set is worth tapping into by the right defensive coach.
4. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Peppers' best position in the NFL is better left undetermined — putting him solely at weakside linebacker or safety would not make him worth a high draft selection. His value lies in how willing a defensive coordinator is to use him less as a position player and more as a chess piece.
His lack of great bulk inhibits him on interior gap shooting and against bigger tight ends, and his lack of top-tier hip fluidity can make him a liability in vertical coverage. But Peppers’ lateral control and quickness puts him in the upper echelon of short- and mid-range coverage players. His draft grade also gets a bump from his ability to return punts.
3. Justin Evans, Texas A&M
Evans is a piece of clay for an NFL defensive backs coach to mold. In a league where size and athleticism are increasingly important for DBs due to bigger and more athletic receivers, He's a perfect fit. He also has ideal athleticism and speed that gives him great range on the back end.
Evans also does a good job high pointing the ball and tracking the throw. He’s a reliable and physical tackler who can lay the hammer on ball carriers, as well. He has the athleticism and versatility to line up either at free or strong safety, which is good considering the line between the two spots has become more blurred in recent years.
2. Malik Hooker, Ohio State
Hooker has very little experience in football, but it's easy to see why he’s a top prospect. He’s an ideal Cover 3 centerfielder who wins with vision and timing, as well as functional athleticism. Hooker is not a versatile coverage piece, and he should not be asked to roll down and play man coverage. As a run defender, Hooker is hit or miss, reckless in his approach and without the discipline to tackle well.
It might take him a little time in the NFL to re-calibrate his angles and timing to the speed of the pros, but he'll be able to play early and often. In time, he can develop into an Ed Reed-like impact player.
1. Jamal Adams, LSU
With his insane closing speed, Adams loves to run into the box against rushing attempts and lay the boom. In coverage, he shows impressive ball skills and can mirror tight ends across the middle with incredible balance and agility to switch on routes. He also can destroy screen passes and cause trouble for receivers who try to block him.
Even with his aggressiveness, Adams didn’t commit a single penalty as a junior. But his style of play sometimes can get him caught in bad situations, like leaving his responsibility or biting on fakes. Regardless, Adams is a rare, all-around safety prospect who should be drafted in the top 10 and have immediate impact in the NFL.