Senior Bowl Defensive Back Prospect Rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft after full week of practice
The 2024 Senior Bowl is complete! Where do all the top defensive banks rank in this draft class now that we have had a chance to see them up close and personal? The Senior Bowl was stacked with defensive back talent this cycle, at both cornerback and safety. It's tough to rank the two positions […]
The 2024 Senior Bowl is complete! Where do all the top defensive banks rank in this draft class now that we have had a chance to see them up close and personal?
The Senior Bowl was stacked with defensive back talent this cycle, at both cornerback and safety. It's tough to rank the two positions side by side, but in today's NFL all defensive back roles have begun to blend together. No, true free safeties still don't line up at outside corner that often or vice versa, but there's significant overlap in roles now more than ever. There were some top talents in the 2024 NFL Draft draft pool who weren't at the Senior Bowl, but let's see how the names stack up who were.
Senior Bowl Defensive Back Rankings
- Quinyon Mitchell, CB Toledo
- Kamren Kinchens, S Miami(FL)
- DJ James, CB Auburn
- Kris Abrams-Draine, CB Missouri
- Cam Hart, CB Notre Dame
- Javon Bullard, S Georgia
- Beau Brade, S Maryland
- Cole Bishop, S Utah
- Sione Vaki, S Utah
- Jarvis Brownlee, CB Louisville
There was absolutely zero debate all week long at the Senior Bowl. Quinyon Mitchell was the best defensive back there. It didn't matter who he was lining up against. And surprisingly it didn't matter that he had almost never played press coverage in college. He was just dominant, physical, and always in the hip pocket of defenders. Here he is picking off a pass intended for Brenden Rice with ease.
The only real debate is how early Mitchell be drafted, and it seems that consensus has quickly become late first round. That would almost certainly make him the earliest drafted defensive back from this year's Senior Bowl group.
After Mitchell there were a handful of great cornerbacks who showed out, but tier two among defensive backs is still safety, Kamren Kinchens out of Miami(FL). He didn't make many flashy plays all week, but he was just Mr. Consistent, always in the right place at the right time. He was a joy to interview as well (in the post below), and models his game after Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay's star safety.
Tier three was comprised of three cornerbacks: DJ James (Auburn), Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri), and Cam Hart (Notre Dame). James and Abrams-Draine measured in as the smallest cornerbacks at the Senior Bowl, but they definitely did not play like it.
James consistently mirrored wide receivers closely, and even when he would "lose" he was always right there in the right spot to make a play. He even held his own physically on a few reps against tight ends with over 60-pound weight advantages on him. Abrams-Draine was deadly in the short to intermediate portions of the field all week playing in tight using his hands well for positioning and just nearly missed several interception opportunities.
Cam Hart was in the mix for best player of the first practice sessions. He shut down most wide receivers in one-on-ones, including this beauty of a pick against Devontez Walker.
Tier four was all safeties: Javon Bullard (Georgia), Beau Brade (Maryland), Cole Bishop (Utah), Sione Vaki (Utah).
Bullard showed the most balanced skill set, fitting well against the run, stuffing tight ends in coverage, and showing adequate speed against smaller players. Beau Brade's aggressiveness and closing speed to make plays was impressive but struggled against the shiftiest receivers. Bishop dominated in most every situation, but lost physical battles against tight ends. Vaki posted the highest On-Field Athleticism Score (a custom model based off Zebra Technologies player tracking) and showed off his versatility covering receivers, running backs, and tight ends, but needs to improve technique in man coverage.
Senior Bowl Edge Defender Prospect Rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft
2024 Senior Bowl Edge Defender Prospect Rankings
And lastly, Jarvis Brownlee (Louisville) wasn't supposed to be one of the top cornerbacks at the Senior Bowl, but he just kept making plays. He made a couple picks in practice and then one in the game too. Brownlee will certainly be a fast riser on mock draft boards.
There were a handful of other solid defensive backs at the Senior Bowl, but these top ten stood out above the rest. For more on the top players there, check out this Biggest Winners & Losers video in the A to Z Film Room below.
