2016 class · 19 prospects

Safety S

Tackles + PBUs + speed + Senior Bowl. The bust model is weakest at safety — treat predictions as directional.

Likeliest career, by the outcome model.

How many safeties land in each career bucket as the model's single most likely finish. This is a different question from the board grades below — a prospect can be a Day 3 grade and still have “starter” as his likeliest outcome. The tails (elite, bust) are where the model separates; the middle two buckets sit close to a coin flip.

Elite
0
None in this class — the top is thin
Starter
11
Multi-year NFL starter
Role
8
Rotational / depth
Bust
0
Nobody here busts as his likeliest outcome — individual risk still varies, see the rows below
Likeliest career across the S class
Elite
0
Starter
11
Role
8
Bust
0

The board.

All 19 safeties with a draftable grade on Draftanomics's 2016 board, tier by tier.

Blue Chip0 players

No blue-chip safety this cycle — Darian Thompson is the class's best, and he carries the next grade down.

1st Round1 player

Darian Thompson out of Boise St. is the first-round tier by himself, projected No. 25 overall. After Thompson the board breathes — Justin Simmons projects 19 picks later. Inside the tier, the model's fight is Darian Thompson: it says No. 25, the room says No. 70.

25
Darian Thompson
Boise St.· 6'2" · 208 lb· consensus #70
A first-round grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 70.
1st Round
bust risk 5%
Day 210 players

The Day 2 tier runs 10 deep, opening with Justin Simmons out of Boston Col. at No. 44 and closing with Derrick Kindred at No. 100. After Kindred the board breathes — Miles Killebrew projects 13 picks later. Inside the tier, the model's fight is Justin Simmons: it says No. 44, the room says No. 165.

44
Justin Simmons
Boston Col.· 6'2" · 202 lb· consensus #165
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 165.
Day 2
bust risk 2%
56
Vonn Bell
Ohio St.· 5'11" · 199 lb· consensus #53
A Day 2 grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 53.
Day 2
bust risk 2%
58
Keanu Neal
Florida· 6'0" · 211 lb· consensus #95
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 95.
Day 2
bust risk 7%
62
Karl Joseph
West Virginia· 5'10" · 205 lb· consensus #52
A Day 2 grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 52.
Day 2
bust risk 2%
77
Jalen Mills
LSU· 6'0" · 191 lb· consensus #88
A Day 2 grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 88.
Day 2
bust risk 7%
84
Jayron Kearse
Clemson· 6'4" · 216 lb· consensus #48
A Day 2 grade, though the room is higher on him — consensus No. 48.
Day 2
bust risk 5%
93
T.J. Green
Clemson· 6'2" · 209 lb· consensus #170
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 170.
Day 2
bust risk 2%
94
Kevin Byard
Middle Tenn. St.· consensus #118
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 118.
Day 2
bust risk 0%
97
Clayton Fejedelem
Illinois
A Day 2 grade, No. 97 on our board.
Day 2
bust risk 7%
Day 38 players

This is where the class lives: 8 safetys carry a Day 3 grade, with Miles Killebrew out of Southern Utah at the front of the line at No. 113 overall. One split worth knowing: consensus puts Deon Bush at No. 113, 116 spots above our call.