Draft prospects for the Dallas Cowboys: safeties

The most important part of free agency is behind us. Dallas did a great job in that period, but now comes the instance on which he usually bases his roster construction. In this series we’ll look at some prospects who could help the Cowboys at each position. Today: safeties.

The safety job doesn’t appear on the priority list for the draft this year. The work done by the front office in free agency in recent years to transform the positional group into a very solid part of the roster was important from the influence of Dan Quinn. With the defensive coordinator job there is now a very reliable rotation.

Dallas was right to extend Donovan Wilson in the offseason. In coverage he could have some problems, although the utilization he has on defense is perfect. Wilson is the one who sets the tone for the unit in terms of how hard everyone competes on that side of the ball. The $21 million he received for a three-year contract might sound excessive, but his role is essential.

Supplementing him with productive veterans like Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse has been great. That trio of experienced players adds tremendous strength to the secondary defense. However, the presence of Israel Mukuamu also helps with depth. Considering the defense almost always uses three safeties, it’s not impossible for front office to pick someone young to add complements to their best unit.

We use the term “ball-hawk” a lot on defense but Donovan Wilson is definitely around the ball. In 2022, he was the only NFL safety with 75+ tackles, 5 sacks, a fumble recovery, forced fumble and an interception.

— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) March 14, 2023

Brian Branch – Alabama – 21 years old

Branch is hands down the best safety in the draft. He’s a pretty well-rounded prospect with almost no weaknesses. His physical build could be the main negative point regarding what is sought in the league at 1.81m and weighing 86kg. That’s something that works against him especially since he tends to line up near the line of scrimmage. Speed ​​is something that does not favor it either.

Although this player has many virtues to highlight. He possesses enormous versatility made possible by his fluidity of movement. With that ability he can be good at coverage in a sector like midfield where acceleration is essential because everything happens so fast. His main role in the Crimson Tide was as Nickel taking on various tasks. He has big-play potential, finishing with 27 tackle-for-loss in three seasons.

Blessing the timeline with some Brian Branch highlights. Baller. pic.twitter.com/DMqieHgLA5

— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) April 1, 2023

Antonio Johnson – Texas A&M – 21 years old

Johnson is an interesting prospect mostly because he suits the physical preferences of scouts. The former Aggie meets the measurable elements the Cowboys typically look for. The 1.88m of him with 90 kg. they give him great build for a player in his position. As for his athletic ability, he stands out more for having strength than speed. With that characteristic, he is very effective near the line of scrimmage. He can cover big tights in that zone, but wide receivers who have speed could make it very difficult.

Jartavius ​​Martin – Illinois – 23 years old

Martin is another player who developed primarily as a nickel in his later years at the college level. In his case, the speed to react or change direction are his greatest strengths. Despite being at safety for most of his career, the experience he has as a cornerback could serve any franchise well. The element that works against him is his strength. Being 1.80m tall and weighing just 88kg will probably drop you several places. He could be exposed covering tight ends or wide receivers with an imposing build.