The Denver Broncos have three safetie worthy of a spot in the rotation, but can they trust them?
Brandon Jones, 26, has flashed high-level play, but he didn’t hold a starting job in Miami last year.
PJ Locke, 27, broke out in place of Kareem Jackson. He’ll have an inside track to retain a starting job.
Caden Sterns, 24, has proven that his athleticism is NFL-worthy, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to produce.
A couple of youngsters, Delarrin Turner-Yell, 24, and JL Skinner, 23, both have an outside chance of cracking the rotation.
Here are five safeties the Broncos should consider adding to the group…
Tyler Nubin
Range: Day 2
Nubin is the most well-rounded safety in this year’s class.
He can sit back in deep zone coverage and make plays on the ball. He can play underneath quarterback and use his burst to break on the ball after he reads the quarterback’s eyes. He has 12 interceptions and 21 pass breakups in the past three years.
At 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, Nubin is also a very clean run defender. He’s productive as a blitzer thanks to his burst. He plays instinctively and physically.
Jaden Hicks
Range: Day 2
Hicks is at his best near the line of scrimmage, where his closing speed can impact the running game and his quick reactions help him in the passing game. He’s capable of lining up across from tight ends and taking them out of the game.
But Hicks is more than capable of playing deep, too. He isn’t the ballhawk that others in this class have become, but his size and speed combination makes him a loud player on the football field
Calen Bullock
Range: Day 2 or 3
At 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, Bullock is a lean deep safety.
Bullock served as an eraser in the deep middle safety for USC’s defense. He’s rangy enough to make plays on the ball all over the field. He picked off nine passes in his three seasons.
Bullock also has a quick trigger to fly downhill, but he doesn’t always hit his target cleanly.
With Justin Simmons out of the picture, Bullock could make sense in the Broncos’ secondary.
Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Range: Day 3
Kinchens is a tough fit in the NFL.
He’s at his best as a deep safety, but he might not be fast enough to be an impact player in the deep portions of the field in the NFL. I’m willing to take that risk, because he brings so much to the table.
Kinchens plays with great instincts. He picked off 11 passes in his two seasons as a starter. He earned first-team All-America honors in one of them.
He’s also a force to be reckoned with in the running game. He’s a powerful hitter. He has the mindset you want from a safety.
If the cover skills translate to the NFL, the sky is the limit for Kinchens.
James Williams, Miami
Range: Day 3
You could make the case that Williams will have to move to linebacker in the NFL, but I see him as a safety.
At 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, Williams is massive for the safety positon. He’s also only 21 years old.
Williams probably won’t be able to play deep in the NFL, thanks to his lackluster speed and burst. That’s the downside of being so big.
But he can hang out in the slot or in the box and make plays. He can handle underneath zones and dominate in the running game. His physical presence woule be very welcome in Denver.
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