Mike Renner· Jul 31, 2026
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. He also expects LSU's Dashawn Spears to step into a full-time slot role this fall.
“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.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
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 bet.
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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Mock Draft PicksTy BenefieldJul 31, 2026
Ty Benefield to be picked “Day 2” (picks 33–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksBray HubbardJul 31, 2026
Bray Hubbard to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Box enforcer / Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDashawn SpearsJul 31, 2026
Dashawn Spears to be 1st on the depth chart
“Dashawn Spears has been a part-time player through his first two seasons and looks like he'll step into a full-time slot role this fall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJackson BenneeJul 31, 2026
Jackson Bennee to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsJul 31, 2026
“Positional rankings of the 2027 safety class, from Brauntae Johnson (ND) through Jackson Bennee (Utah)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksKJ BoldenJul 31, 2026
KJ Bolden to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJelani McDonaldJul 31, 2026
Jelani McDonald to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Do-it-all-safety / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksBrauntae JohnsonJul 31, 2026
Brauntae Johnson to be picked “Early Day 2” (picks 33–67)
“Player type: Versatile chess piece / Early grade: Early Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksZach LutmerJul 31, 2026
Zach Lutmer to be picked “Late Day 2” (picks 67–100)
“Player type: Slot / Early grade: Late Day 2”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksFaletau SatualaJul 31, 2026
Faletau Satuala to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Future LB / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksJaylen McClainJul 31, 2026
Jaylen McClain to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Rangy deep safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Mock Draft PicksPeyton BowenJul 31, 2026
Peyton Bowen to be picked “Early Day 3” (picks 101–179)
“Player type: Versatile safety / Early grade: Early Day 3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Josh EdwardsMock Draft Picks · Brauntae JohnsonPendingAn unsigned CBS Sports 2027 NFL mock draft projecting the full first round plus select second-round picks, headlined by Arch Manning going No. 1 overall to Miami and five quarterbacks in Round 1.
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · Bray HubbardPendingAn unsigned college football/NFL draft preview of three Week 3 games that flags several prospects as early-round or first-round picks for the upcoming draft, including Alabama's Yhonzae Pierre, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Texas' Cam Coleman going top-10.
- WaltMock Draft Picks · KJ BoldenPendingIn his 2027 NFL mock draft, Walt has Arch Manning going first overall to the Dolphins, Dante Moore as the likely second quarterback taken, and pairs a series of prospects with teams in the first round.
- WaltMock Draft Picks · Jelani McDonaldPendingIn his 2027 NFL Mock Draft (picks 17-32 of Round 1), Walt matched sixteen first-round prospects to teams, including David Stone to Denver, D.J. McKinney to the Jets, Jordan Seaton to Baltimore and John Mateer to Cleveland. He also predicted Trey Hendrickson would win 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
- Rob RangMock Draft Picks · KJ BoldenPendingRang published a full first-round 2027 NFL mock draft, projecting Arch Manning first overall to Arizona, Dante Moore second to Miami, and 30 more selections, plus expectations that the Jets' own pick and Denver's pick will land later than the projected order.
- Charlie CampbellMock Draft Picks · KJ BoldenPendingCampbell writes that if K.J. Bolden stays consistent in 2026, he should grade out as a starter and likely be a first- or second-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
More mock draft picks
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rob RangMock Draft Picks · Jeremiah SmithMiss · 0Rang ranks the four headline prospects from the Texas-Ohio State game in the order he'd draft them (Jeremiah Smith, Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Julian Sayin) and assigns each a draft grade: Smith and Manning as top-5 picks, Coleman top 10, and Sayin a third-rounder.
- Gregg RosenthalMock Draft Picks · Brandon DoughtyMiss · 3Rosenthal gave first reactions to Vegas win totals: overs on the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings, Buccaneers, 49ers and Cardinals, unders on the Falcons and Commanders, plus he expects Shedeur Sanders to start about 10-11 games and thinks the Cowboys' 9.5 is beatable.
- Peter BukowskiMock Draft Picks · Gennings DunkerHit · 100Bukowski breaks down Iowa offensive lineman Jennings Dunker as a Packers fit and puts a late second-/early third-round grade on him, noting that range overlaps where Green Bay picks.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Eli HeidenreichHit · 100Harrison delivers his only first-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, projecting all 32 first-round picks (including several trades) plus the rest of Washington's projected class, while noting it is an exercise in what could happen rather than a firm forecast.
- Brian PeacockMock Draft Picks · Bud ClarkHit · 96In his final 2026 mock draft for the 49ers, Peacock projects San Francisco taking WR Kevin Concepcion (KC) at pick 27, then after trading out of round two, edge rusher Kieron Crawford and safety Bud Clark in round three, OL Trey Zune and RB Jonah Coleman in round four, CB Charles Demings in round five and guard Caden Barnett in round six. He also thinks Omar Cooper comes off the board before Concepcion.
- David HarrisonMock Draft Picks · Riley NowakowskiMiss · 13In his final mock draft Monday, Harrison has the Commanders trading back twice and selecting eight players: safety Dylan Thieneman at 16, WR Denzel Boston at 33, RB Mike Washington Jr. at 83, C Jagger Burton at 132, CB Julian Neal at 147, QB Cade Klubnik at 187, DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. at 209 and TE Riley Nowakowski in the seventh round.