NFL Draft 2013: Safety Rankings

September 17, 2011; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Johnathan Franklin (23) is brought down by Texas Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro (4) during the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It isn’t very often when two safeties go in the first round, but it might happen this year. Kenny Vaccaro from Texas is the best of the class, and likely wont get past the teens. Mat Elam is the other possible 1st rounder, but I doubt we see him going higher than #28.

The Seahawks really have no need for a safety. Both Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas are entrenched at their positions. It is possible that the Seahawks take one with the idea of that Kam is a free agent next year, but I don’t buy that they’re looking to replace him. The Seahawks also have Winston Guy and Jeron Johnson whom they really like, though neither is irreplaceable.

If the Seahawks take a safety, I expect it will be a free safety with serious speed to back up Earl Thomas. Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of options available. Perhaps the only one is Rashard Hall from Clemson.

Note: Take the FS/SS designations with a grain of salt. Both college and NFL teams have a wide variety of ways they use their safeties. Depending on the college and pro schemes, guys can switch positions in both directions.

RankPlayerPosP RankSchoolHeightWeightKenny VaccaroFS1Texas6/1214*Matt ElamSS1Florida5/10208Jonathan CyprienSS2FIU6/1217*Eric ReidFS2LSU6/1213Phillip ThomasFS3Fresno State6/1208Shamarko ThomasSS3Syracuse5/9213*Tony JeffersonFS4Oklahoma5/11213Bacarri RamboFS5Georgia6/1211Shawn WilliamsSS4Georgia6/1213D.J. SwearingerFS6South Carolina5/11208Robert LesterSS5Alabama6/1220T.J. McDonaldFS7Southern Cal6/3219JJ WilcoxSS6Georgia Southern6/1213Josh EvansFS8Florida6/1207Zeke MottaFS9Notre Dame6/2213Earl WolffSS7North Carolina St.5/11209Bradley McDougaldFS10Kansas6/1215Duke WilliamsSS8Nevada5/11201Rontez MilesFS11California (PA)6/1203Jawanza StarlingSS9Southern Cal6/1202Rashard HallFS12Clemson6/1213Keelan JohnsonSS10Arizona State6/1209Cooper TaylorSS11Richmond6/4229John BoyettFS13Oregon5/10204Ray Ray ArmstrongSS12Miami (Fla.)6/3227Don JonesSS13Arkansas State5/11196Brandan BishopFS14North Carolina St.6/1206Alonzo TweedySS14Virginia Tech6/1195