2021 NFL Draft safety rankings: Grant and Moehrig battle for the top spot
By John Blair
10. Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
6-foot, 217 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
A player who only had an average college career but could still hear his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft is Tyree Gillespie of Missouri. Over his career, Gillespie recorded146 tackles and 12 pass deflections but did not get a single interception. He was also not even named an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick.
The main reason Gillespie is given a fifth-round draft grade is his speed. He recorded a 4.42 40-yard dash at Missouri’s pro day. Another positive with him is that he is a physical player who can lay the big hit. The issue that will give him the biggest trouble in the NFL is his lack of great instincts. This makes him slower on the field than his testing speed since he is usually late to react to the play. His ball skills are also a question due to him not having a single interception in college.
11. Talanoa Hufanga, USC
6-foot, 199 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
Last season USC safety Talanoa Hufanga was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after registering 62 tackles, 3 sacks and four interceptions. Despite his college production though he carries a sixth-round grade going into the 2021 NFL Draft. This is due to him lacking the speed and overall agility to hold up in coverage. On top of those concerns, he also has an injury history that includes a broken collarbone in 2018 and missing two games in 2019 due to issues with his shoulder.
12. Shawn Davis, Florida
5-foot-11, 202 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
One of the harder-hitting safeties in the 2021 NFL Draft class is Shawn Davis of Florida. To go along with his powerful tackling he has the speed to hold up in the NFL. A concern with Davis is his injury history as he missed multiple games in both 2018 and 2020 due to injuries. He is also on the shorter side coming in at only 5-foot-11.