Flag Plants, Big Calls on Defensive Backs

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We asked our staff to make a call on a defensive back. Who will surprise - either good or bad? Here are their answers.

Kyle Bellefeuil

Jordan Whitehead is the sneaky late-round DB1 you want in drafts.

After achieving some success in Tampa Bay, Jordan Whitehead signed a two-year $14.5 million deal with the New York Jets this offseason. All signs point to Whitehead playing more of the box safety role for the Jets' defense which is exactly what we look for in IDP. In the two preseason games Whitehead has played, he's logged 23 defensive snaps, and 18 of those have come in the IDP sweet spot for production (box, slot, and defensive line), per Pro Football Focus.

Whitehead looks geared up to have an IDP-conducive role that we look for in safeties and has a great shot to notch his first 100+ tackle season. Whitehead is the perfect safety target in drafts if managers fade the position as his price still hasn't caught up to his potential. Managers can draft Whitehead well after the big names at the safety position and reap the rewards of his sneaky DB1 potential.

Joseph Haggan

Xavier Woods has the potential the be a sneaky low-end DB1.

He is also probably the best defensive back to draft from Carolina from at least a value standpoint. Nobody will argue that Jeremy Chinn is the superior talent, but preseason usage has me dropping Chinn down slightly and Woods jumping up. Chinn has played 31 defensive snaps this preseason, with 23 of those snaps lining up deep, resulting in four total tackles (two solos). Woods played 33 snaps, with 23 of those either in the box (12), in the slot (8), or on the defensive line (3), resulting in 6 total tackles (5 solos). I'm not saying that Woods will outscore Chinn, but the usage for Woods is ideal for IDP production.

Woods is coming off of a phenomenal season with Minnesota. Though he predominantly liked up at free safety (61.5%) of the time, he still racked up over 100 total tackles. His 87.5 run defense grade was the 3rd best grade for any safety across the NFL. Add the fact that he was an excellent and efficient tackler with a grade of 88.0, and you have a recipe for success. Woods was the only defender in the NFL to play every defensive snap for his team in 2021. Even in a 17-game season, the Panthers' tackle leader (Chinn) only posted 106 total tackles. Woods has the potential to lead the Panthers in tackles, he could be a DB1.