Brian Branch NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
Alabama Safety Brian Branch Scouting Report for the 2023 NFL Draft
By Cole Finup
Name: Brian Branch
School: Alabama
Year: Junior
Position: Safety
Measurements: 6’0’’, 190lbs.
Combine:
- 40 Yd Dash: 4.58s
- 20 Yd Split: 2.65s
- 10 Yd Split: 1.59s
- Vertical Jump: 34.5in
- Broad Jump: 10’5’’
- Bench: N/A
STATS:
Courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
General Info:
Alabama Safety Brian Branch has been a staple of the Crimson Tide defense since the day he walked on campus. He has played meaningful snaps in every game since committing to the Tide as a top five Safety recruit from the state of Georgia.
As a freshman, Branch played in nine games as a rotational player, making three starts. He progressed throughout the season, having one of his best games in the National Championship against Ohio State. He finished the season with 27 total tackles, seven passes defensed, and two picks. Branch played primarily in the slot for the Crimson Tide, so he only started seven of 15 games as a sophomore. He nearly doubled his tackles and finished with a team-high nine pass breakups.
The jump that Branch took into his junior season was astounding. He was a solid contributor in his first two years but became a true lockdown nickel in year three. He started all 13 games on his way to a second team All-American nomination. He boosted his tackle count to 90 with 14 for a loss. His playmaking truly shined. Branch recorded three sacks, two picks, and seven pass breakups. Branch’s playmaking and incredible instincts made him one of the best defensive backs in the country.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
Branch has been viewed as one of the safest prospects in the entire draft. His football intelligence, work-ethic, and competitive fire speak volumes. Slot defender used to be a negative term. With nickel hybrid looks being the new base, Branch would fit any team. He should be a day one impact player, just as he was in college.
Nick Saban raved about Brian Branch all season long and deservedly so. He’s just solid in every area of the game. He keeps everything in front of him. In coverage, Branch is sticky, rarely giving receivers or tight ends any space to work with. His eyes reading the ball in the air are evident by his 19 career pass breakups.
Branch’s calling card is his tackling ability. Although not the biggest prospect, Branch has impeccable strength and is never afraid of a challenge. Watch him guard potential 2024 top-10 pick Brock Bowers in the 2021 National Championship game. Whether fighting through blocks or dragging with all his might, Branch does not let ANYTHING get past him. Pro Football Focus counted just two missed tackles in his entire career at Alabama. TWO.
Weaknesses
Most of Branch’s weaknesses are due to his lack of high end athleticism. He wasn’t much of a press corner at Alabama, partly due to his lack of trail speed. This was already evident on tape before he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. There aren’t many successful NFL cornerbacks that have run in the 4.6 range. He had a fine broad jump but was weak in the vertical and shuttle drills as well. His testing numbers could have been overlooked if he brought a bit more size to the table. Branch will need to play a hybrid slot role as he’s not athletic enough to match up with imposing receivers on the outside and he’s not large enough to be a true strong safety.
Branch doesn’t have many flaws on the field. He’s not a heavy hitter by any means which leads to him dragging down ball carriers rather than pushing them back. He’ll have to be utilized a certain way by a creative defensive mind. Branch could have the potential to play on the outside and was just stuck to his specific role in the Alabama defense. Is he a corner or a safety?
Fit with the Packers:
The need at safety is evident, and Branch is perhaps the top prospect at the position. He could fill the slot role the Packers are hoping Darnell Savage would command. They could use a true free safety to play over the top, but Branch hasn’t shown that in his game to this point. Also considering the Packers have three starting caliber corners, it’s difficult to envision a ton of playing time for an additional slot defender. We have yet to see the true potential of Stokes, Jaire, and Sul on the field for an entire season, but this should still be a position of strength heading into 2023.
So if Branch can’t alter his game to a true high safety role, is there room for him in the defensive backfield? I personally believe he’s too good to ignore. Perhaps you hope Savage can reclaim some of his former self and play single high. If it doesn’t work out there, he’s gone in a year, and Branch can stabilize the slot position. He’s so good as a tackler from that position, something the Packers have desperately needed for years.
My final verdict is that Branch gets drafted somewhere between where the Packers pick in the first round and where they pick in the second. I can’t imagine Gutekunst would take Branch 15th overall after those poor testing numbers. They value elite athletes more than maybe any team in the league. He may not be on the Green Bay draft board altogether. Only time will tell, but the player who commanded Alabama’s secondary put some quality film on his resume. You just hope his stock doesn’t drop due to non-conventional size and testing numbers.
Comments (14)
splitpea1
March 17, 2023 at 06:05 pm
I have an uneasy feeling we're going to be employing patchwork solutions at safety. I also believe that Branch is too good of a player to ignore because he's a great tackler (once he gets his hands on you he doesn't let go) and he brings a certain attitude to the defensive backfield. The problem is we're stuck with Savage. And as needy as we are at this position, certain offensive needs may overshadow it this time around.
But we need a long term solution here. Ford provides nice depth if we can re-sign him. I'm not in favor of bringing Amos back. We signed T. Moore, but he seems, like Ford, to be more of a special teams contributor and depth piece.
BirdDogUni
March 17, 2023 at 06:51 pm
My problem is: IDK if Branch is a Derwin James or an Amos? Now I did a search of best safeties in the NFL and Derwin James is number two. Kevin Byard is #1. (Amos was #10...) Byard ran a 4.6 at his pro day, so maybe speed isn't #1 priority at safety?
James ran a 4.47 and Branch ran a 4.58... Amos ran a 4.56... I believe Branch is a great football player, but is he worth 13 or 15 overall? IDK, but Gutey should... (Although, I don't think HaHa was worth his draft position...)
stockholder
March 17, 2023 at 09:22 pm
no he isn't.
ricky
March 17, 2023 at 07:34 pm
Ignore the Combine numbers. Pay attention to what he did on the field. The Packers tend to draft workout warriors with high RAS scores. But they need to draft hard-nosed, tough football players.
jannesbjornson
March 18, 2023 at 06:05 am
Linebackers stop the run. Safeties stop the pass. This guy is over-rated as a ballhawk.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2023 at 07:49 pm
Jordan Battle is my favorite S prospect and from what I have read would fit our needs better. He also will be available in 2nd round. Bigger, faster, and even had more tackles. I also like Julius Brents and Darius Rush are CB/S crossover players. Rush is a 4.3 40 @ 6'2 200. Brents is 6'3 220 @ 4.53.
Mid round guys that fit us Ronnie Hickman-Ohio State, Sydney Brown-Illinois is impressive. Later Jason Taylor-Ok State, Kaevon Meriweather-Iowa was a good player but has a low RAS. Also Daniel Scott-Cal is 6'2 210lbs and 4.4.
Maybe the Pack should try to trade Savage . An idea that has been floated for awhile is trading for Bronco TE Albert Okwuegbanam. We had interest when he came out of Missouri and he is down the Broncos depth chart. Impressive athlete @ 6'5 260 and ran in 4.4s at combine. Denvers QBs have sucked in his 3 years with them. Maybe they would take Savage or a 7th rounder for him. Either way he makes our roster easily. And he has a cheaper contract.
The other option is grab a S from the Jets in this trade along with a TE. They have S Jordan Whitehead who is a good young player. He makes 7 million but Packers could extend and make it work. I have read that players the Packers would like in the deal are Jeremy Ruckert-TE and Denzel Mims. All good young cheap players at positions of need.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2023 at 07:56 pm
We signed Tarvarius Moore today. He was a 3rd round pick for 49ers in 2018. 6'2 200 lbs & 4.32 @ combine.
And we just resigned Rudy Ford. Those are 2 good players for us at safety. 2 holes filled.
mnbadger
March 17, 2023 at 09:21 pm
thank you Cole for a complete assessment of this young player. I've seen his name thrown around as if he was superman. You shared both the sparkles and the warts which helps paint an honest picture of a prospect.
Glad to hear we signed a large athletic S.
Not sure why he was available, but I'll take him.
GPG!
greengold
March 17, 2023 at 10:41 pm
If he can’t deliver a good 40 on his Pro Day, then he doesn’t have the speed for the NFL, where - everybody - is faster.
I would be hard pressed to take him high then.
It’s a shame, but I don’t know if Branch would be worth that risk, and that’s coming from a Branch fan.
You can’t teach speed.
On the plus side: Guess who ran a 4.56 followed by a 4.54 at the Combine…
Micah Hyde R5 2013.
It’s not all underwear Olympics on the field, in pads. Branch does have instincts all day. So does Hyde.
2-Time 2nd Team All-Pro. 1 Pro Bowl.
Thought I’d look Hyde up because speed was always the knock on him. I struggled with Ted letting him go. He was lights out with the Bills. 2021 had 5 INT, 11 PD, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 2 FR
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 17, 2023 at 11:41 pm
His speed is a huge concern for me. I am also a believer one needs to first build the front 7, so they can apply heavy pressure. If under pressure QB's struggle to accurately complete a pass. I am not overly high on Branch and haven't even well before the Combine. I believe the Packers need to go after offense in particular along with a very good Edge rusher & with Lowry and Reed gone someone possibly like Mazzi Smith on the DL from Michigan, Bryan Bresee, or Calijah Kancey.
jannesbjornson
March 18, 2023 at 06:09 am
The guy is right in their backyard, Keeanu Benton as the 3 tech with burst for the Pass Rush. The edge has to be taken rd one or two. 34 sacks doesn't cut it anywhere, if you want to WIN.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 18, 2023 at 02:16 pm
Jannes,
Agree wholeheartedly!
LambeauPlain
March 18, 2023 at 09:15 am
Is Branch a good tackler or not? Tackling upgrades all throughout Barry Ball's D is needed...badly.
Tackling was listed as Branch's calling card under "strengths"...then under weaknesses he is described as not a heavy hitter...more of a drag down tackler.
But he did have 58 solos last year against the best competition in college. Those are impressive totals...or was he just lucky to be the first guy to "drag down" ball carriers?
I guess I will have to look at Branch's highlight video.
As far as speed goes, give me a 4.5 - 4.6 S who has great football instincts, can quickly read and react, see plays develop, get to where the ball is going, prevent completions or long runs...over a 4.3 - 4.4 speedster with less ball hawking and tackling ability.
However, If Douglas is moving to S...and Amos is brought back...a CB may be moving up the draft board.
golfpacker1
March 18, 2023 at 09:42 am
With the new talk of Amos possibly coming back. Do you think the reason he hasn't played as well the last 2 years is because his skills are declining as he ages or does it have anything to do with Savages bad play? Why would we resign him if its just him getting worse? And if its Savages bad play causing Amos decline the we need to try to trade Savage. His value is not at an alltime high but he is still young and was a 1st round pick. His salary is the biggest hurdle but I think the way around that is to trade him for some other teams player that they are ready to move on from. Give 2 players a new chance with another team. You probably don't strike gold like you hoped when you drafted either player but maybe you get lucky and find someone to help the team.
We need Tight Ends, Safeties, DT, OT. WR ,Edge, etc. Teams always find themselves in this position, surely we could find a trade partner that also wants to move on.