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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 09: Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is one of the top safeties in the 2020 NFL Draft. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

The safety position has become a role that is no longer just a role of sitting twelve yards deep. A safety in todays game has to do multiple things if they want to be considered the best. Having a good safety can change the way a defense is played. Safeties cant afford to stand back and watch things happen, they have to make things happen. Good news: there are a handful of great ones in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Your favorite safety now probably looks a little bit different than what your favorite safety was as a kid. The evolution from safety prospect to a starting safety is evolving. They look more versatile, theyre all shaped a little differently, and yet there are so many good ones without there being a true prototype.

Some of the most exciting players in todays game are safeties who roam around the back end while also contributing in every area. Not all safeties are built the same though and that is what makes the game so exciting today. We are seeing different breeds of safeties who are allowing the game to continue to evolve.

No matter how different they are though, the safety position comes with its own core traits. Imagine what your perfect safety would look like if you combined the best trait from each of the top safeties in the game.

Think about the versatility of a Derwin James that made him an All-Pro as a rookie. Maybe you like the versatility of Jamal Adams because after all the two are both versatile yet so different. Okay I see, you love to see a ballhawk like Eddie Jackson on the back end of your defense.

If youre more of an underdog type of guy then maybe you love the tenacity and beautiful recklessness that guys like Tyrann Mathieu and Budda Baker bring to the game in a small frame as the underdog. Wait I know now your style is more of a sure open field tackler like Jamal Adams that will get you off the couch in excitement. Unless you prefer your safeties in the box and delivering big hits like a Landon Collins.

This draft class has its own set of unique talents at the safety position despite the feeling it isnt a deep prospect group. An elite safety can be built based on some of the best traits from each safety prospect. The anatomy of an elite safety using this draft class looks a little something like this

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Read more from the original source:
2020 NFL Draft: The anatomy of an elite safety prospect - With the First Pick