2014 NFL Draft safety rankings

The best safeties will be roaming the SEC West this season.

Aug 20, 2013, 7:31 PM UTC

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Safety has become a scarce position in the NFL. A quality crop of defensive backs in the 2013 NFL Draft could help change that, but there is still a relative lack of talent at the safety spot compared to the number of teams that have a need at the position.

There are a few safeties eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft that have the talent to be difference makers in the secondary. Ha’sean Clinton-Dix of Alabama. He’s a big, rangy safety that has a nose for the football once it’s in the air. If he can hone in his aggressiveness, Clinton-Dix should make strides this season.

Alabama may have our top-safety, but their SEC West rival, LSU, probably has the best safety tandem in the country. Between Craig Loston and redshirt sophomore Micah Eugene, the Tigers will strike fear into opposing receivers hoping to run routes over the middle of the field.

If it's a sleeper you're looking for, look no further than Jimmie Ward of Northern Illinois, who hits as well as he covers. it's only a matter of time before his NFL Draft stock starts picking up steam.

Here’s our full list.

1. Hasean "Haha" Clinton-Dix | 6'1, 208 pounds | Safety | Alabama * - Preseason notes

2. C.J. Barnett | 6'0, 202 pounds | Safety | Ohio State

3. Ed Reynolds | 6'2, 206 pounds | Free safety | Stanford

4. Tre Boston | 6'1, 205 pounds | Safety | North Carolina

5. Hakeem Smith | 6'1, 197 pounds | Strong safety | Louisville

6. Craig Loston | 6'2, 209 pounds | Safety | LSU

7. Ty Zimmerman | 6'1, 204 pounds | Safety | Kansas State

8. Dion Bailey | 6'0, 200 pounds | Safety/Linebacker | Southern California *

9. Isaiah Johnson | 6'2, 208 pounds | Safety | Georgia Tech

10. Micah Eugene | 5'11, 190 pounds | Safety | LSU **

11. Ibraheim Campbell | 5'11, 205 pounds | Safety | Northwestern *