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2019 NFL Draft: Top defensive players at each position

By Brooks Austin

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Blaine Woodson #73 and Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackle Brandon Fritts #82 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Blaine Woodson #73 and Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackle Brandon Fritts #82 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Free Safety: Nasir Adderley, Delaware

So, the safety position was the only spot I felt compelled to split into separate categories as opposed to simply ranking them. The reason being, in today’s NFL the separation between “in the box” safety and “centerfield” safety, has never been greater.

Nasir Adderley is the modern day deep safety for a litany of reasons. The first stemming from the fact that he has tremendous ball tracking abilities in the open field. His film is littered with plays where he is high pointing the football, which removes the questions about his size for most scouts in terms of the passing game.

As for whether or not he can hold up at his current size, Adderly has shown nothing but a thirst for contact throughout his collegiate career.

At his best, he’s Adrian Amos and sticks at safety. At his worst, he becomes a LaMarcus Joyner type. Impacting the game in the nickel package. Either way, what a player.

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