# Mike Renner: 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. **Claimed:** Jul 31, 2026 **Pundit:** Mike Renner — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-renner **Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2027-nfl-draft-safety-rankings/ 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. > 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. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Bray Hubbard to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Bray Hubbard - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zach Lutmer to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Zach Lutmer - Verdict: not settled yet - **Faletau Satuala to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Faletau Satuala - Verdict: not settled yet - **Peyton Bowen to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Peyton Bowen - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jelani McDonald to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jelani McDonald - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen McClain to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jaylen McClain - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brauntae Johnson to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Brauntae Johnson - Verdict: not settled yet - **KJ Bolden to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: KJ Bolden - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dashawn Spears to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Dashawn Spears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jackson Bennee to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Jackson Bennee - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ty Benefield to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)** - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: Ty Benefield - Verdict: not settled yet - “Positional rankings of the 2027 safety class, from Brauntae Johnson (ND) through Jackson Bennee (Utah)” - Kind: Top Player Lists - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Bray Hubbard — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bray-hubbard - Zach Lutmer — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zach-lutmer - Faletau Satuala — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/faletau-satuala - Peyton Bowen — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/peyton-bowen - Jelani McDonald — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jelani-mcdonald - Jaylen McClain — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-mcclain - Brauntae Johnson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brauntae-johnson - KJ Bolden — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kj-bolden - Dashawn Spears — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dashawn-spears - Jackson Bennee — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jackson-bennee - Ty Benefield — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ty-benefield ## What others said about the same people - Charlie Campbell on Jelani McDonald: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f2014841-fdc3-4fd4-939d-099a3c0fca1f (not settled) - Charlie Campbell on Bray Hubbard: In their 2027 NFL Mock Draft, Campbell projects the second round (picks 33-64), naming a specific prospect for each selection, including Duce Robinson to Miami at 35 and LaNorris Sellers to Minnesota at 64. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/adf32308-8f1b-4902-84a4-02494687f80f (not settled) - Ryan Wilson on KJ Bolden: Wilson's 2027 first-round mock draft has Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith going No. 1 overall to the Chargers, five quarterbacks taken in Round 1 (Mensah first among them), and the Browns trading up for Drew Mestemaker. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1b9d164f-69dc-41a3-9ed7-8a6bc6eacc32 (not settled) - Justin Melo on Brauntae Johnson: Melo's 2027 first-round mock draft assigns all 32 picks, headlined by Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith going No. 1 overall to the Chargers and Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker as the first quarterback off the board at No. 3 to Miami. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6ccbdee9-822a-4693-8aca-332b4ecaae65 (not settled) - Josh Edwards on Brauntae Johnson: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/abd9a1da-176c-4a32-999f-218481fb2d7c (not settled) - Josh Edwards on Brauntae Johnson: In a 2027 NFL mock draft, Edwards projects a full first round plus three additional picks for teams without first-rounders, with Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker going No. 1 to Miami and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith falling to No. 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e428f868-3244-4dad-b00d-c8b2aa217f8a (not settled) ## More mock draft picks The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Simms on Malachi Corley: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c0fd4647-2de8-4a5f-bac2-950fed303ee9 (scored 11.46) - Todd McShay on Keelon Russell: While breaking down LSU's offense, McShay called receiver Jackson Harris a top-50 NFL draft prospect, and later said LSU's Sam Levitt and Alabama's Keelan Russell are potential top-10 picks in a future draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15d40546-2ab9-4ab8-b5bd-ed0ef7f26ae5 (scored 0) - Philip Hughes on Kyle Kennard: Evaluating edge rusher Kyle Kennard ahead of the draft, the account projected them as a Day 2 selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/605a686a-b5f1-4611-82b4-961abf8de93e (scored 33.86) - Blaine Grisak on Brian Thomas Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/627bcf5d-9f1d-4a34-a1b7-53b8f0aebc40 (scored 84.09) - Charlie Campbell on Xavier Williams: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2dd4bf46-e5eb-4dff-8500-95d9fdbd2986 (scored 0) - Walt on Fernando Mendoza: In a running series of coach/GM hiring and firing grades, Walt projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2026 draft and has LSU's Garrett Nussmeier going No. 2 overall in their 2026 mock draft. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29bb2d31-fbe3-40db-b378-be5ba5d990b0 (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=mike-renner