NFL Draft — Safeties

Athlon Sports’ 2008 NFL Mock Draft and Top 100 prospect database will be unveiled on Friday, Feb. 15. Until then, we will be taking a look back at the past five NFL Drafts — with a position-by-position breakdown of the players taken in the Top 100 and first round, along with a sneak preview of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

Safety First

With teams looking for more flexibility schematically, the safety spot has become en vogue over the past several seasons. Blitzers like Steelers head-hunter Troy Polamalu and center fielders like Ravens ball-hawk Ed Reed allow coordinators more freedom, serving as mistake “erasers” in the secondary. In 2007, Colts strong safety Bob Sanders was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2008 NFL Draft safety class is headlined by Miami free safety Kenny Phillips. The latest in a long line of Hurricane safeties, Phillips will likely join Brandon Meriweather (No. 24 overall pick in 2007) Sean Taylor (No. 5 in 2004) and Reed (No. 24 in 2002) as recent first rounders from the “U.”

The lanky playmaker from Carol City HS in Miami did not produce the statistics that his predecessors Taylor and Reed did while in Coral Gables. But the 6’2”, 210-pounder has the raw talent to be considered ahead of Oklahoma’s Reggie Smith as the top safety in the Class of 2008.

Besides Phillips and Smith, there are several big name safety prospects with a chance to make Athlon Sports’ Top 100 prospect database. LSU national champ Craig Steltz, Texas twin Marcus Griffin (brother of 2007 first-rounder Michael) and Notre Dame golden boy prize fighter Tom Zbikowski will hear their names called on Draft Day (April 26-27) — the question is when?

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
1st Round	4	3	0	1	1
Top 100	8	9	4	7	7

Over the past five years, an average of seven safeties have been selected in the Top 100 picks — which is roughly the first three rounds — of the NFL Draft. Of those, an average of two safeties have been first-round draft choices. But judging by the past two drafts, the safety position is becoming more valued across the league.

2007	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Rd	LaRon Landry, LSU Michael Griffin, Texas Reggie Nelson, Florida Bra. Meriweather, Miami	Redskins (6) Titans (19) Jaguars (21) Patriots (24)
Top 100	Eric Weddle, Utah Gerald Alexander, Boise Sabby Piscitelli, Ore. St. Aaron Rouse, Va. Tech	Chargers (37) Lions (61) Bucs (64) Packers (89)

The first and last top picks of Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs’ second term in Washington — Landry and Taylor — were also the highest-drafted safeties of the past five years. Following the tragic death of Taylor, the selection of Landry seems even more valuable to the Skins. Meanwhile, Griffin, Nelson, Meriweather and Weddle were all major contributors to playoff teams as rookies and appear to be on their way to starting for contenders next season.

2006	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Michael Huff, Texas Donte Whitner, Ohio State Jason Allen, Tennessee	Raiders (7) Bills (8) Dolphins (16)
Top 100	Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian Roman Harper, Alabama Bernard Pollard, Purdue Anthony Smith, Syracuse Eric Smith, Mich. State	Lions (40) Bears (42) Saints (43) Chiefs (54) Steelers (83) Jets (97)

The speedy and versatile Huff fell into Oakland’s Black Hole after winning a national championship in the Rose Bowl as a member of the Longhorns. One pick later, Whitner was the first player taken in Marv Levy’s first draft back with the Bills. Both Huff and Whitner became instant starters and vocal leaders on young teams. First-round risk Allen, who was coming off of a serious hip injury, looked like a bust as a rookie but developed into a player for the 1–15 Dolphins in his second year.

2005	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	—	—
Top 100	Brodney Pool, Oklahoma Josh Bullocks, Nebraska Nick Collins, Bethune-Cookman Oshiomogho Atogwe, Stanford	Browns (34) Saints (40) Packers (51) Rams (66)

Easily the weakest safety class (by numbers) and arguably the worst (in terms of talent) of the past five seasons. Bullocks — whose brother Daniel went to the Lions in 2006 — has made his fair share of big plays in New Orleans, while Collins has started every game of his three-year career in Green Bay. But the 2005 class lacks the type of Pro Bowl standout that each of the past five year has produced.

2004	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Sean Taylor, Miami	Redskins (5)
Top 100	Bob Sanders, Iowa Madieu Williams, Maryland Sean Jones, Georgia Stuart Schweigert, Purdue Matt Ware, UCLA Guss Scott, Florida	Colts (44) Bengals (56) Browns (59) Raiders (67) Eagles (89) Patriots (95)

Sanders was the defensive leader of the Super Bowl XLI champion Colts last year and earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors following this season. Before being shot to death in his Miami home in November, Taylor had earned a reputation as one of the most feared hitters and top all-around defenders in the league. Sadly, the NFL will never see Taylor in his prime. Regardless, Sanders and Taylor make this top-heavy class the best of the past five years — until the deep Class of 2007 proves otherwise.

2003	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Rd	Troy Polamalu, USC	Steelers (16)
Top 100	Ken Hamlin, Arkansas Bryan Scott, Penn State Mike Doss, Ohio State Terrence Kiel, TX A&M Chris Crocker, Marshall Todd Johnson, Florida	Seahawks (42) Falcons (55) Colts (58) Chargers (62) Browns (84) Bears (100)

After serving as one of the foundation pieces to coach Pete Carroll’s rebuilding effort at USC, the long-haired Trojan wrecking ball known as Polamalu became Dick LeBeau’s favorite player in Pittsburgh. The Super Bowl XL champ has become one of the most respected players in the game, known for his physical yet cerebral style and innate ability to make big plays when they matter most. His closest 2003 peer is Hamlin, who has produced five seasons of solid production for the Seahawks and Cowboys.

Keep checking AthlonSports.com for ongoing NFL Draft coverage:

Safeties Cornerbacks Linebackers Defensive Ends Defensive Tackles Offensive Linemen Tight Ends Wide Receivers Running Backs Quarterbacks 2008 NFL Mock Draft

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