2015 NFL Draft: Defensive back

With passing records being set every week, there is a lot of pressure to perform in the secondary. Playmakers have always been coveted, but teams are now also looking for defensive backs that can be more physical and tackle in the open field.

This year's top defensive back might just be a safety. Alabama's Landon Collins brings the complete package from the safety position. He is well built at 6' 220lbs and very physical. Collins is not afraid to crash the line of scrimmage in run support, and is a very good open field tackler. He also shows impressive athleticism and agility for a larger safety. He has the quickness to change direction and play in man coverage, and shows the closing speed to quickly close on the football. Collins' combination of solid overall physical tools and ability to defend both the pass and run will make him one of the top defensive backs selected in April.

CB RANKINGS Trae Waynes, Michigan St. Marcus Peters, Washington Jalen Collins, LSU Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest Byron Jones, UConn PJ Williams, Florida St. Quinten Rollins, Miami(OH) Ronald Darby, Florida St. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon Eric Rowe, Utah

Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu could've been the top corner selected last season but he opted to return to school for his senior season. He does not jump out at you physically, but he isn't lacking in any area either. He has a compact but sturdy frame, standing 5'10 195lbs and pairs that with good quickness, agility, and speed. Ekpre-Olomu's best traits are obvious once the game starts. He is physical, aggressive, and has excellent football instincts. He's very disciplined despite his aggression and is always in position to make a play on the ball. Ekpre-Olomu is willing in run support and a solid open field tackler. While there may be some concern about just how tall he is and how it will match up with taller receivers, the rest of the package is there. Ekpre-Olomu should be a very good cover man that can force turnovers and help out in run support.

Washington's Marcus Peters may be the top corner in the draft, on the field. He's another talented defensive back that can impact the game against both the pass and run. Peters has a great blend of natural tools, aggressiveness, and instincts. He's got good length at 6' and long arms and is a very good athlete with standout athleticism and speed. He shows shut down ability as a cover man. Peters changes direction well and has the speed to run with receivers. His length and ball skills allow him to make plays with the ball in the air. Peters is physical and can jam receivers at the line and will come up in run support. He loves a challenge and has faced some big time receivers with excellent results. There are questions off the field with Peters, however. He was kicked off the Husky team in November, and that type of dismissal for such a talented performer is a rather large red flag. Peters will face a lot of questions and will need to mature in order for him to reach his potential as a player and for his draft stock to reach its potential. He's a top twenty pick on talent, but could go lower than that, based on how teams view his character.

Trae Waynes is looking to be the second Michigan State corner selected in the first round in consecutive drafts, following in Darqueze Dennard's footsteps. He's a long corner, standing 6'1 with long arms. Waynes is athletic and aggressive, and combines that with his length to give receivers a lot of fits deep down the field. He locates the ball well and does a great job of making plays with it in the air. Waynes is tough and has no problem helping out in run support. He is not a pure cover corner, and may struggle with quick receivers that can start and stop well. The biggest issue with Waynes' game may be his thin frame. He's a physical corner but lacks the bulk and strength. That weakness is going to be magnified at the next level. He will have trouble tackling in the open field and matching up with the jumbo wideouts he will see on a game to game basis. The talent is there to be a very good all around corner in the NFL, but Waynes must bulk up and get stronger. How much growth he can show before the draft may determine how high he can be selected, but the potential is there to attract teams early.

Florida State's Ronald Darby may be one of the faster players at the corner spot in the draft, and teams still crave speed. He's an excellent cover man with the agility to change directions and stick with receivers and can run down the field with them step for step. Darby is a disciplined defender and shows excellent instincts. He's aggressive to help in run support but does a good job reading play action and sticking with his man. He's shown good ball skills and the ability to locate the ball but has just two career interceptions despite playing extensively since his freshman season. Despite playing in a secondary with a number of future draft picks, Darby is the player that has been avoided, but he still hasn't made the amount of big plays you would expect out of a player with his skill and instincts. Darby is a very good prospect and is one who could rise with workouts.

PJ Williams is another Seminole corner pushing for a high selection in the 2015 draft. He's a gifted a natural athlete that has the frame(6' 195) and physical style of play that teams are looking for in today's NFL. He is physical and aggressive, showing the ability to jam receivers at the line and break the timing of the play up. Williams has good speed and shows the ability to run with most receivers if they get off the line cleanly, but he may have some trouble with the quicker and faster receivers. He does a good job reading the run quickly and aggressively attacks the ball carrier. More teams are looking for physical corners, and Williams would fit the scheme well.

SAFETY RANKINGS Landon Collins, Alabama Damarious Randall, Arizona St. Derron Smith, Fresno St. Josh Shaw, USC Jaquiski Tartt, Samford James Sample, Louisville Anthony Harris Virginia Gerod Holliman, Louisville Clayton Geathers, Central Florida Adrian Amos, Penn St.

Jalen Mills of LSU is a versatile defensive back that could play a number of roles at the next level. He played corner his first two seasons in Baton Rouge, and is spending his junior season at free safety. There is the possibility of playing either position at the next level, although his size(6' 195) may be better suited at corner. Mills is a solid athlete that has the feet and fluid hips to turn and run with receivers in man coverage. He shows the ball skills to go up and make plays whether he's finding it running with a receiver or reading the action in deep coverage at safety. As a safety, few have as much range as Mills. He can cover ground in a hurry and wastes no time diagnosing the play. As a run defender, Mills shows the willingness to help, and arrives on the scene quickly. The issue with Mills at safety may be his lack of bulk and strength. He hasn't been quite as sharp at safety as he has been at corner, although he is very early in the transition. The talent is there for Mills to play at corner or safety in the NFL, and his ultimate role may be determined by which team drafts him.

Very few players do as much as Fresno State's Derron Smith. He does not jump out at you physically, standing just 5'11 200lbs, and lacking any true standout trait. Smith is a solid athlete, capable of matching up in coverage down the field. He has very good range in both coverage and in chasing down plays in run support. Smith has tremendous football instincts, and makes plays all over the field. He can line up in the box as a run defender, he is a good blitzer, and he plays the center field role well also. Smith is a bit of a tweener in the traditional roles of free and strong safety. His game and lack of blazing speed make him more of a strong safety, but his frame fits better at free. His instincts play up very well and make up for any lack of size or speed he may have. His ability to quickly read the action and make plays is excellent and that should carry over to the NFL, even if he isn't selected until day two.

Other defensive backs to watch: CB Kevin Johnson(Wake Forest), CB D'Joun Smith(Florida Atlantic), CB Senquez Golson(Ole Miss), CB/S Josh Shaw(USC), S Kurtis Drummons(Michigan St), and S Durell Eskridge(Syracuse)

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