The trend in action
Let’s zero in on a pair of safeties who exemplify how teams are seeking out talent to make split-coverage-heavy schemes go.
Last April, Atlanta selected Xavier Watts (Round 3, No. 96 overall) and Billy Bowman Jr. (Round 4, No. 118 overall), both of whom showed exceptional versatility to play both the pass and run in college. Watts earned the third-highest college production score and overall score among safeties last year, according to the Next Gen Stats Draft Model, outpacing higher selections Andrew Mukuba (Round 2, No. 64), Kevin Winston Jr. (Round 3, No. 82) and Jonas Sanker (Round 3, No. 93). Bowman did not show quite the same aptitude for the position in college, but the 4.42 runner’s athleticism score (73) outpaced his production score (70). As such, the team thought it fitting to convert him to nickel, where he became one of the pivotal Cover 4 underneath defenders.
In Jeff Ulbrich’s first season running the defense, Atlanta played Cover 4 at the second-highest rate in the NFL (28.5%), and both rookies thrived. Bowman suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in November, but before he did, he allowed a passer rating of just 72.2 when targeted in coverage. The Falcons used Watts almost completely interchangeably with Jessie Bates, who possesses a similarly multifaceted skillset. Setting aside the other pieces of the puzzle in Atlanta and the adjustments that must be made every year by every team, we can assume Ulbrich (who was retained by new head coach Kevin Stefanski) will keep making the most of Watts and Bowman.
Also worth noting: Watts and Bates both played much closer to the line of scrimmage than most safeties, pushing the limits of how “high” the two-high defenders need to be. Atlanta’s average safety depth of 10.3 yards was the shallowest of any team in the Next Gen Stats era. Indeed, in 2025, the league average safety position was closer to the line of scrimmage (12.0 yards away) than in any other season; just one team (Steelers, 13.4 yards) played their safeties deeper than the 2016-2024 average of 12.9 yards off the line. And each of the six teams with the shallowest safety depth (Falcons, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ers, Titans, Commanders) were among the top eight in usage of Cover 4. More so than ever before, teams clearly want all 11 defenders — even the safeties — to have the chance to get involved in every play.