The 2027 NFL Draft class is starting to take shape at the midway point of the college football season, and a handful of defenders are pushing their way into first-round conversations.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid joined my co-host Joe DeLeone and me on the latest episode of Best Pod Available as part of our expert series. He made a strong case that the defensive side of this class deserves a lot more attention.

Reid has spent the fall scouting players in person across the country. He also released his latest top 50 big board the morning we recorded. One thing is very clear from that conversation: the safety and defensive tackle groups are loaded.

A historic 2027 safety class

Before the season, the safety group looked like a solid position. Now it might be the deepest group in the entire class. Reid said a fellow evaluator had 19 safeties inside his top four rounds, the most he had ever had. Reid has five safeties inside his own top 50.

He even contrasted the safety group with the depth concerns created by the 5-for-5 rule, which could push more mid- and late-round prospects to return to school for another payday.

“Well, safety is one position group I don’t have any questions about right now,” Reid said.

Georgia’s KJ Bolden is the one Reid feels best about. He projects Bolden as a true center fielder at the next level, even with a slighter frame that could check in around 185 pounds. Smaller safeties usually come with durability questions, but Bolden plays well above his size.

“He’s a firecracker coming downhill, man,” Reid explained. “And those Kirby Smart DBs, you know that they’re going to be ready for the NFL.”

Texas’ Jelani McDonald wasn’t in Reid’s top 50 last month, but he has played exceptionally well over the last few weeks. Reid prefers McDonald closer to the line of scrimmage in a box, overhang, or rover role rather than playing a deep third.

Then there’s Kingston Lopa (Cal), the player Reid described as coming out of nowhere. Lopa has an uncommon 6-4 to 6-5 frame and five interceptions early in the year.

“The ball skills are tremendous,” Reid said.

Reid admitted the tackling needs work, calling Lopa a player who launches his body too often. “He’s a little bit of what I call like a shoestring grabber,” Reid offered. Still, he believes Lopa can clean that up, and he expects plenty of NFL teams to fall for that body type.

Reid also gave credit to Tennessee safety Dejuan Lane, a 6-2, 215-pound defender who stood out against Texas. Lane could have finished with two interceptions in that matchup. He dropped one after colliding with a teammate.

Xavier Gilliam leads a talented defensive tackle group

Tennessee’s defense came up again when the conversation shifted to the interior. Reid is extremely high on Volunteers defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam. He views Gilliam as a 3-technique penetrator with a ridiculous first step and strong hands, and the player reminds him of Walter Nolan coming out.

“And I would say his tape against Auburn is the best, like, I’ve seen of any defensive prospect this year,” said Reid.

Reid ranked Gilliam No. 12 in his top 50. He acknowledged that may seem early, but outside of Will Echols, he hasn’t seen an interior defender with film that consistent. The run defense still needs to improve when Gilliam has to hold at the point of attack.

Alabama’s Devan Thompkins brings a completely different style. Reid saw him up close and believes he’s every bit of 6-5 and closer to 300 to 305 pounds than the 290 he weighed in the spring.

“Man, if we were like making a Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, like, D-lineman that wore a half cage and a visor, like, that would be Devin Tompkins,” Reid explained.

The Crimson Tide use Tompkins off the edge, but Reid projects him as a three-down, two-gapping 4i-technique in the NFL. His power to stack and shed jumps off the screen.

Every evaluator has a type

Reid compared defensive tackles to wide receivers in that every evaluator has a preference.

His is the up-the-field penetrator. That’s why he is higher than most on Miami’s Ahmad Moten, whose first-step quickness and hand usage stand out despite inconsistent run defense. Oklahoma’s David Stone offers less as a penetrator, but Reid believes he is the most consistent run defender outside of Will Echoles (Ole Miss).

If you ask me, that range of styles is what makes this defensive tackle group so deep. Add in a safety class that keeps getting stronger, and the 2027 NFL Draft could be a defensive-minded one.

Be sure to check out Reid’s full top 50 at ESPN, and keep an eye on Best Pod Available as our expert series continues.