Mike Renner#28 of 87 NFL pundits · 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. They also expect LSU's Dashawn Spears to step into a full-time slot role this fall.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Mike Renner said
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.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Renner's 2027 NFL Draft scouting series: Ranking the top 10 safeties, including the next Kyle Hamilton?
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mock Draft Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Top Player Lists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
How each call scored
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 call.
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.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Mock Draft Picks10 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Bray Hubbard to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Late Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zach Lutmer to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Late Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Faletau Satuala to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Future LB / Early grade: Early Day 3”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Peyton Bowen to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Versatile safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jelani McDonald to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Do-it-all-safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaylen McClain to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brauntae Johnson to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Versatile chess piece / Early grade: Early Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
KJ Bolden to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jackson Bennee to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Early Day 3”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ty Benefield to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Day 2”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Top Player Lists1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“Positional rankings of the 2027 safety class, from Brauntae Johnson (ND) through Jackson Bennee (Utah)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Charlie Campbell · Mock Draft Picks · Jelani McDonald · Waiting
Previewing Week 11 college games with an eye to the 2027 NFL Draft, Campbell projects draft ranges for a number of prospects, including first/second-round grades for Emmanuel Oyebadejo, top-20 potential for Jordan Seaton and Colin Simmons, Day 2 for two safeties, and first-round talent for several Georgia and Indiana players.Josh Edwards · Mock Draft Picks · Brauntae Johnson · Waiting
In a 2027 NFL mock draft following Week 7, Edwards projects the full first round, including five quarterbacks in Round 1, with the Jets holding three top-12 picks and landing C.J. Carr, Ashton Hampton and Will Echoles. They also project Day 2 picks for the Colts, Packers and Rams.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Chris Simms · Mock Draft Picks · Malachi Corley · Miss 11
Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; they also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore.Philip Hughes · Mock Draft Picks · Kyle Kennard · Miss 34
Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected them as a Day 2 selection.Blaine Grisak · Mock Draft Picks · Brian Thomas Jr. · Hit 84
Grisak argues the Rams should not trade a second-round pick for Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., calling it too great a risk and too high a cost. In an embedded tweet of their own from the 2024 pre-draft period, they suggested the Rams could select Thomas at pick No. 19.Charlie Campbell · Mock Draft Picks · Xavier Williams · Miss 0
Campbell's draft stock report projects Indiana WR Charlie Becker as a top-10 pick in 2027, Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones as a first-rounder, Tennessee DT Xavier Gilliam as a top-15 pick, and Texas OT Trevor Goosby as a top-10 pick, while suggesting Arch Manning could still be a first-rounder if they declare.