If the 2024 season started today, the Detroit Lions would have a strong core of safeties, led by Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Throughout the 2023 season, Joseph and Melifonwu, as well as veteran Tracy Walker, had their fair share of positive moments. And the three defensive backs are expected to be productive for Detroit again this season.
Thus, general manager Brad Holmes is not likely to address the safety position during the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, if Holmes decides to acquire a safety in the April draft, here are three late-round candidates the team could consider.
Malik Mustapha of Wake Forest
Mustapha is a high-motor player who had good instincts and tackling abilities while at Wake Forest. He has demonstrated his ability to play both safety positions (free and strong safety) and nickel cornerback.
As a junior in 2023, he started every game for the Demon Deacons and had 67 total tackles, five for loss, one interception, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
He’s also an excellent run-stopper, as proven by his Pro Football Focus run-defense grade of 87.5 in ’23.
As a Day 3 target, he’d help the Lions’ run-stopping attempts in the secondary.
Josh Proctor, Ohio State
Proctor, like Mustapha, is a versatile defensive back who can line up at free and strong safety. He also projects as a strong zone-coverage defender at the next level.
In six seasons at Ohio State, he had the most consistent influence against the run. He had a talent for diagnosing run plays and was skilled at pursuing ball-carriers from sideline to sideline.
Proctor had 47 total tackles as a graduate student at Ohio State in 2023, including four for loss, eight passes defensed, and an interception. PFF gave him an overall score of 77.9, including an 83.9 in run defense.
He’d be a terrific pick for Holmes and Company on Day 3 of the draft.
Trey Taylor, Air Force
Taylor, who recently left the Air Force, is a less well-known potential than Mustapha or Proctor.
Taylor did, however, win the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back, becoming the first DB in Air Force history to receive such an accolade. And, during his time with the Falcons, he demonstrated a talent for making plays, which should appeal to Holmes and Detroit’s opportunistic defense.
In his final season at Air Force, he had 74 total tackles, five for loss, four passes defensed, three interceptions, and one blocked kick.
Taylor also allowed only one touchdown in 356 covering snaps during the ’23 regular season, with a quarterback rating of 47.0. For his efforts, he received an 87.2 PFF pass-coverage score and an 82.6 overall grade.
Taylor, a relative of legendary NFL safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed, has elite ball skills and can play centerfield or slot corner.
The Falcons product may not be a day one player in an NFL secondary, but he may have an immediate effect on special teams. Taylor played 334 snaps on special teams throughout his college career.
I feel he’d be an excellent choice with the Lions’ final pick in the 2024 draft (Round 7, No. 246 overall).
