Mike Renner· Jul 31, 2026
Renner ranks the top 10 safeties for the 2027 NFL Draft class, grading each with a projected draft range, and predicts the class is strong enough to produce a couple of first-rounders. He also expects LSU's Dashawn Spears to step into a full-time slot role this fall.
“Even though the position has been devalued throughout the NFL, I could easily see this class producing a couple more first-rounders like we saw in 2026.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 10 mock draft picks, 1 depth chart call and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksJackson BenneeJul 31, 2026
Jackson Bennee to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksTy BenefieldJul 31, 2026
Ty Benefield to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksBray HubbardJul 31, 2026
Bray Hubbard to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDashawn SpearsJul 31, 2026
Dashawn Spears to be 1st on the depth chart
“Dashawn Spears has been a part-time player through his first two seasons and looks like he'll step into a full-time slot role this fall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksZach LutmerJul 31, 2026
Zach Lutmer to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJelani McDonaldJul 31, 2026
Jelani McDonald to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Do-it-all-safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKJ BoldenJul 31, 2026
KJ Bolden to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsJul 31, 2026
“Positional rankings of the 2027 safety class, from Brauntae Johnson (ND) through Jackson Bennee (Utah)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJaylen McClainJul 31, 2026
Jaylen McClain to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksPeyton BowenJul 31, 2026
Peyton Bowen to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Versatile safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksFaletau SatualaJul 31, 2026
Faletau Satuala to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Future LB / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksBrauntae JohnsonJul 31, 2026
Brauntae Johnson to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Versatile chess piece / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · KJ BoldenPendingPreviewing Week 4 college games through a 2027 NFL Draft lens, Campbell projects South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart as a potential top-five pick, tags LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt as a possible first-rounder next year, and labels several Georgia and Alabama defenders as early-round prospects.
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · Ty BenefieldPendingCampbell says LSU safety Ty Benefield's performance against Ole Miss sets him up to be an early-round selection in next April's draft, and that Texas cornerback Bo Mascoe could develop into an early-round prospect this season.
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · Ty BenefieldPendingReviewing Week 3 college games for the 2027 NFL Draft, Campbell pegged Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy and LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green as potential first-round picks, saw Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton as a first-rounder and LSU safety Ty Benefield as an early-round pick, while grading Clemson's Will Heldt and Sammy Brown as Day 2 prospects rather than first-rounders.
- Charlie CampbellCombine Measurements · Peyton BowenPendingCampbell ranks the top 30 safety prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, with Texas' Jelani McDonald first, and assigns each a projected draft round range and a projected 40-yard dash time.
- Josh EdwardsMock Draft Picks · Zach LutmerPendingA CBS Sports 2027 NFL mock draft projecting the full first round plus select second-round picks, headlined by Arch Manning going No. 1 overall to Miami and five quarterbacks in Round 1.
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · Bray HubbardPendingA college football/NFL draft preview of three Week 3 games that flags several prospects as early-round or first-round picks for the upcoming draft, including Alabama's Yhonzae Pierre, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Texas' Cam Coleman going top-10.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WilsonMock Draft Picks · J.J. McCarthyMiss · 37Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.
- Lance ZierleinMock Draft Picks · Jeremiyah LoveHit · 100Zierlein laid out his final mock draft: Jeremiah Love at No. 3 to Arizona, Sonny Styles at No. 4 to Robert Saleh's team, and Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5. He also called Styles the only first-round linebacker in the class and said Ty Simpson is a lock to be a first-round pick, most likely to Arizona.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Max IheanachorHit · 88Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · K.C. ConcepcionClose · 68Rosenthal disagrees most with Casey Concepcion being left out of the first round, arguing he could go as high as the top 15 and certainly won't last past receiver-needy teams in the late twenties.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Keyron CrawfordHit · 81In discussing teams without first-round picks, Jeremiah projected specific Day 2 picks: Clemson WR Antonio Williams to the Falcons at 48, Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts in the second round, Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas to the Packers at 52, and Auburn edge Keiroon Crawford to the Broncos at 62. He also expects Riley Leonard to open as the Colts' starting QB and Travis Hunter to play cornerback full time in Jacksonville.
- Daniel JeremiahMock Draft Picks · Carnell TateHit · 92Jeremiah says Denver, not Kansas City, will be the clear favorite in the AFC West this season; he also puts Carnell Tate sixth and Monroe Freeling twentieth on his prospect board, mocks Tate to Cleveland at No. 6, and expects Georgia receiver Branch to be a Day 2 pick after a strong pro day.