Early-March Top 10 Rookie DB Rankings

Footballguys is committed to giving you the best foot to stand on possible when it comes to drafting your fantasy rosters. For us, there is zero off-season. The 2023 NFL Draft is looming and it is time to start learning about the top upcoming IDP prospects. My compadre Kyle Bellefeuil and I are committed to covering these prospects and helping you get a leg up on the competition. I will be covering the top 10 defensive backs in this article, Kyle has covered the top 10 linebackers, and my top 10 defensive linemen have already been dropped.

Concluding the draft, Kyle and I will review the prospects, draft capital, and landing spot and go back over our rankings to create a Top 40 IDP Big Board so you can be best prepped for your IDP rookie drafts. Here are my top 10 pre-combine draft-eligible defensive backs.

1) S Brian Branch, Alabama

Career Stats: 35 games played, 172 tackles (111 solos), 19.5 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 23 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.

Branch can play any scheme you throw at him; Cover 2, Single High, in the box, slot corner…everything. Branch is probably the best tackling safety in the entire class. Add the fact that he is easily the best cover safety, and the potential is through the roof. His press coverage is tight and mirrors the best. He has a smooth hip transition from pedal to running with the receiver. Branch understands routes with an uncanny ability to get his hands on the ball. Don't let Branch's leaner frame fool you. He more than makes up for it in strength.

2) S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M

Career Stats: 25 games played, 164 tackles (96 solos), 14 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 7 passes defended, 1 interception, and 4 forced fumbles.

Antonio Johnson is a strong tackler with terrific box potential. His 14 tackles for a loss are great numbers for a safety, and he shows terrific technique wrapping up. He can definitely tackle. But he can also cover. His ability to mirror underneath is proven, and he plays strong press coverage. Johnson is primed to play in the box and cover tight ends at the next level.

3) S J.L. Skinner, Boise State

Career Stats: 38 games played, 208 tackles (133 solos), 9.5 tackles for a loss, 12 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumbles recoveries.

J.L. Skinner has improved every season. Whether it's been creating turnovers, minimizing missed tackles, or dropping his passer rate when targeted to sub-40, he keeps getting better. He is a natural cover defender with terrific length at 6-foot-4. Skinner is great at getting his head around. This helps minimize penalties while also making plays on the ball. In general, his ball skills are fantastic, with six interceptions over the last two seasons. In all, Skinner has great size, cover skills, and ball skills, traits that are a terrific building block for a strong NFL career.

4) S Jordan Battle, Alabama

Career Stats: 52 games played, 252 tackles (143 solos), 6.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 10 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 touchdowns.

Battle looks to be one of the better box safeties in the draft. He has linebacker-like skills in run defense filling lanes, and he instills fear in any receiver coming across the middle – he packs a mean pop. Battle is fluid in coverage with smooth and shifty helps, easily changing direction. He is aggressive and physical and is a leader on defense. Battle always seems to be in position no matter what his assignment is. GMs will love this trait.

5) S Sydney Brown, Illinois

Career Stats: 50 games played, 320 tackles (187 solos), 10 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 16 passes defended, 10 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 touchdowns.

Brown possesses some excellent ball skills from the safety position. He has 10 career interceptions, including six as a senior. Brown is best to line up either in the box, in a Cover 2, or as a single high safety. He does a great job baiting quarterbacks into making bad throws and using quick closing speed to make plays on the football. His tackling needs to be cleaned up, but he is always around the ball. His 81 tackles as a junior led Illinois on the season. Brown is a bit suspect in man coverage; he needs to clean up his footwork and pedal. When he aligns in press, though, his violent hands knock opposing receivers off course, killing the timing with the quarterback. Brown could see starting snaps if he lands in the right spot.

6) S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame

Career Stats: 32 games played, 159 tackles (99 solos), 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 7 passes defended, 10 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 touchdown.

Brandon Joseph is a great fit for today's NFL. So many teams are running a Cover 2 base defense which is a scheme Joseph can truly thrive in. He has shown true ball-hawking ability with 10 career interceptions (6 in 2020). Joseph also has shown the ability to be active in the run game after producing 79 tackles in 2021. Joseph always seems to be in the right place on defense, showing a great football IQ. His coverage skills are great. His ball tracking is excellent, and he does a great time getting his head around, limiting penalties, and locating the ball. Joseph has terrific ball skills as well, winning 50/50 balls and attacking the ball in the air. In all, Joseph is a versatile safety that could have the opportunity to start right away if he lands in the right situation.

7) S Ji'ayir Brown, Penn State

Career Stats: 32 games played, 153 tackles (122 solos), 9 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 9 passes defended, 10 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 touchdown.

Brown reminds me of Bob Sanders - a short, stout frame with good ball skills and incredible strength. He is an athletic monster, and it shows up all over the field. His closing speed is remarkable, helping him be a reliable blitzer, as well as making breaks on the football to come up with turnovers. Brown is quick coming downhill in run support and packs plenty of strength in his upper body to make one-on-one tackles. He splays the screen game well and rarely misses open-field tackles. Brown is best suited for box safety duties, but he has the speed and physicality to play some slot corner if necessary.

8) S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State

Career Stats: 28 games played, 157 tackles (82 solos), 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 7 passes defended, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 touchdown.

Hickman has the ability to quietly rise up the board leading up to the NFL draft. Though his stat line in college was not as gaudy as other prospects, his gameplay surely was. He possesses all the necessary traits to be a successful NFL safety; size, speed, strength, physicality, and IQ. Hickman is a fluid athlete that can flip his hips and easily mirror and match tight ends, as well as big slot receivers. He comes downhill in a flash filling gaps in run defense and has incredible closing speed in zone coverage, as well as in the screen game. During his time in Ohio State, Hickman has shown to be versatile in where he lines up. He played 379 snaps in the box in 2022, 203 snaps at free safety, and 164 snaps as a slot corner. Hickman's acumen and versatility could see him rise up draft boards.

9) CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Career Stats: 41 games played, 157 tackles (115 solos), 11.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 25 passes defended, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 3 fumble recoveries

Yes, this is the second Illinois defensive back in the top 10. The Fighting Illini are starting to build a solid football program, and the prospects show for it. Witherspoon is ultra-competitive. It shows in how he attacks the football in the air, how he jams in press coverage, and how he attacks the backfield. Witherspoon may be one of the best press corners entering the NFL Draft. He has an aggressive and pinpoint jam at the line throwing receivers off of their routes. His foot speed and hip fluidity then allow him to mirror and match receivers in man coverage. Witherspoon also has fantastic route recognition and could be able to become a turnover machine playing zone coverage. Cornerbacks are becoming more and more relevant in IDP, and Witherspoon could be the most productive rookie cornerback.

10) CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Career Stats: 29 games played, 76 tackles (63 solos), 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 15 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 1 touchdown.

Ringo can be a star in the NFL...see what I did there, Beatles fans? He has an unbelievably strong frame at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds. Ringo is an explosive athlete with speed for days showcasing sub-4.40 40-yard dash speed. He is a fluid athlete with a smooth hip-flip transition and speed to match any player in chase. His size and speed combination will be coveted to match tight ends in the NFL and Ringo could be a productive slot corner in his first year. Slot corners can put up some big IDP numbers in the NFL, as we have seen with the likes of players like Kenny Moore of the Colts. It will be interesting to see where Ringo lands.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading my article profiling some of my top rookies. Be sure to check out the following articles by Kyle and me covering the other position designations. Following the draft, we will have a top 40 IDP Big Board that should help you with pre-rookie draft rankings. These rankings are bound to change after the draft, but this should give you a good start on your research. Good luck in 2023!