Drafting a Safety

Here are NFL.com's safety rankings

Malik Hooker
Jamal Adams
Jabrill Peppers
Budda Baker
Josh Jones
Marcus Maye
Marcus Williams
Justin Evans
John Johnson
Obi Melifonwu
Desmond King

It's highly likely that we draft a safety if we don't address the need via free agency. What safety do you prefer for the value?

Pick #11 - Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams
Pick #32/#42 - Jabrill Peppers, Obi Melifonwu, Budda Baker
Pick #76/#103 - Josh Jones, Marcus Williams, Marcus Maye, Desmond King, Josh Johnson, Justin Evans

We need a guy that can cover & we should easily be able to get one in the 3rd round if we wait that long. I didn't include Malik Hooker, b/c we all know about him. These 5 guys seem like our best bets as far as cover guys:

Budda Baker - BOTTOM LINE Undersized free safety with the heart of a linebacker. Baker plays with a competitive desire that leaps off the field when you watch him thanks to elite football character and above-average explosiveness. While he is undersized, he makes up for it with his football instincts and plus play speed. Baker has the talent to become a play-making safety with Pro Bowl potential if he can sustain his health.

Josh Jones(dude weighs 220 pounds & has the speed) - BOTTOM LINE Jones is a height-weight-speed prospect to be sure, but he's not just a traits-based safety. Jones has the appetite for hitting that teams will want around the box and he has the speed and ball skills to range and help against vertical threats from a deep safety spot. The big area of concern will be Jones' ability to play with better discipline in coverage and as a tackler. He has the ability to become a good, long-time starter in the league.

Marcus Williams - BOTTOM LINE Ball-hawking free safety who has outstanding ball skills and has shown a propensity for causing turnovers. He can play from a high centerfield spot and utilizes his instincts to swoop down and challenge throws. He's able to get running backs down, but he’s not physical enough to be a combination safety. NFL teams love defensive backs with athletic traits, instincts and ball skills. If he works out well before the draft, he should move up team boards.

John Johnson - BOTTOM LINE Ascending defender with the experience, athleticism and ball skills to play as a high safety or in man coverage. Johnson is well above average as a ball-tracker and has the soft hands to finish at the catch-point against receivers. He has decent size but won't be a banger as a tackler, however, his ability in coverage has NFL personnel men buzzing as a potential early starter in the league.

Desmond King - BOTTOM LINE Lack of size and speed combined with his ball skills, instincts, and competitiveness all point to a transition to safety. While he can improve as a tackler, he's got the toughness and mentality to take on run-support duties. Can cover in man when asked and has the ball-tracking skills and anticipation that should allow him to thrive in two-deep and single-high situations. A likely second-day (Rounds 2-3) selection and could be targeted as a zone corner or a safety with early starting potential.