Preston's 2011 Draft Rankings: The Playmaking Defensive Backs

This is one of the most promising defensive back classes to come along in years. With seven projected first rounders, along with the best defensive back prospect to come along since Miami pumped out Sean Taylor, any team with a need for a defensive back should be thrilled. Not only that, but there are a few mid-round prospects that could fill a spot for a team in desperate need. Along with wide receiver, this is one of the deepest positions in an extraordinarily deep draft class.

Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

One of Nebraska's many defensive standouts this past season, Prince Amukamara is one of the most NFL ready defensive backs in this class. He's built like an NFL cornerback at 6'1", 200 pounds and is one of the best at simply reading the quarterbacks eyes to make the interception. He quickly picks up on receivers routes and uses his speed to make plays.

But Amukamara isn't just a speedy defensive back, he'll get his hands dirty in the run game as well. He isn't particularly fantastic in any one area, but he'll step right in on day one and make an impact.

Projected Round: First, Top 25 Picks

Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Elite. I can't think of any other word when describing a player like Peterson. The last cornerback drafted in the top five, Terrence Newman out of Kansas State—drafted fifth overall by the Cowboys in 2003—pales in comparison as a prospect to Peterson. He's like the Darrelle Revis of college football.

What makes him so good? Elite mental ability. Peterson has the ability to immediately recognize a receiver's route or read the quarterback's eyes. Once he's analyzed what the receiver will do, he has elite speed and strength to make a play on the ball. Patrick Peterson is by far the best defensive back prospect I've seen since Sean Taylor came out of Miami.

Projected Round: First, Top Five Picks

Curtis Brown, CB, Texas

Michael Crabtree's infamous sideline break tackle catch with one second left to upset the then-ranked No. 1 in the nation Texas would never have happened if not for the shoddy tackling of No. 3, Curtis Brown. After Brown's infamous botched tackle that cost the Longhorns a chance to play in the National Championship, you'd think he'd become a goat for years to come.

Then something happened. Brown locked up his coverage, learned how to wrap up, and become an all around better player. Now Brown has a great chance to succeed in the NFL. The biggest question mark surrounding Brown though, would definitely be his playmaking ability. In his career Brown has one interception. If Brown can back up his improved play with some interceptions this season, he could find himself in the tail-end of round one.

Projected Round: Second-Third

Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida

Janoris Jenkins is impressive; the kid started on a National Championship defense as a freshman! He's a physical corner with a tendency to go for a bone-shattering hit, but he also has the speed and ball skills to go for the ball in the air.

However, despite how impressive Jenkins can seem at times, his stock will be damaged because of a fight he got in that caused him to get tased and arrested in 2009. If teams are sure he's not going to get into any other trouble, he could find himself in the first round. But for now, he's a solid mid-rounder.

Projected Round: Second-Third

Kendric Burney, CB, North Carolina

Kendric Burney might be small, but that doesn't mean he can't play with the best of them. Need proof? How about when his team needed a win against No. 14 ranked Miami. Burney came up with three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, en route to a 33-24 victory.

The biggest worry with Burney will be his size. He's stout at 190 pounds, at least for a 5'9 corner, which could calm some outcry about the size, but at 5'9 he probably won't find himself in the first round discussion barring a fantastic season.

Projected Round: Second-Third

Ras-I Dowling, CB/S, Virginia

On sorry teams, young players often have the tendency to give up. "We're not going to win," they say "so why bother even trying?" Virginia is definitely a program with a sorry team, however, the 6'2 Dowling isn't one of those; despite fielding an inferior team almost every Saturday, Dowling plays his hardest.

At 6'2, Dowling is a bigger corner whose solid run defense makes him a prime fit for the Cover Two. He's steadily picked off two or three passes every year and, despite his size, he's got the speed to run step-for-step with almost every receiver in college football. However, some issues may make him a better fit at safety. At his size, he struggles keeping up with receivers in his backstep, and he often has trouble locating the ball in mid-air.

Projected Round: First, Top 25 Picks

DeAndre McDaniel, SS, Clemson

Despite starting his collegiate career at linebacker, McDaniel's first year at safety proved to me an impressive one. It's amazing that a converted linebacker could even crack the starting lineup in his first year at the strong safety position, but the fact that he intercepted eight passes? Absolutely impressive.

McDaniel's motor is non-stop and he's always around the football. I assumed his motor had something to do with it, but I searched out some interviews about his transition to safety to see how he was able to switch over so smoothly, and everyone who knows him says he's an absolute film rat. McDaniel still has room to grow as a safety, and if he puts up another impressive season, he could find himself even higher in the first round.

Projected Round: First, Top 25 Picks

Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA

Rahim Moore first garnered NFL scouts attention when he started off his sophomore season in spectacular fashion; through the Bruins' first two games, he notched five interceptions. He didn't keep up the pace (otherwise everyone would be talking about his record breaking 30 interception season), but still ended the season with 10 interceptions.

I guess you could call Moore the Eric Berry of this draft class; he's a tenacious ballhawk who's playmaking ability could help him make a mighty tempting prospect come April, but that's not all. Unlike Berry, who could probably play either safety position, Moore's speed and nose for the ball makes him a purebred free safety. And as well as being elite in pass coverage, he's solid in run defense and can lay a big hit if he has to.

Projected Round: First, Top 15 Picks

Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina

Deunta Williams is yet ANOTHER Tar Heel defender with a shot at the first round. While he isn't putting up the gaudy numbers that Rahim Moore is, he's steadily improving after making the switch to free safety his freshman year.

Williams size and speed make him an attractive option for teams that want a free safety. At 6'2", 210 he has a prototypical NFL build and he has the impressive speed that seem to make him, physically, a perfect fit for the NFL. However, if he wants to find himself starting in the league, he'll want to get more physical in the run game and become a more fundamentally sound tackler.

Projected Round: First-Second

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Leading the Crimson Tide's stifling Championship defense in interceptions is no small feat with playmakers like Rolando McClain, Kareem Jackson, and Javier Arenas around, but somehow sophomore safety Mark Barron notched seven of them to lead the team. A hard-hitting safety who's 4.5 speed help him roam center field, Barron is one of the stars left on a 'Bama defense losing a lot of NFL talent.

Barron's already a first round prospect, but if he's got the mind for the game like former safety Rashad Johnson did, he should have a bright NFL future ahead of him.

Projected Round: First, Top 25 Picks