Brian Branch - Pro Football Rumors

Emmanuel Forbes, O’Cyrus Torrence, Brian Branch On Lions’ Visit Schedule

April 11th, 2023 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Connected to bigger names at No. 6 overall, the Lions have two first-rounders. Players who should be expected to factor into Detroit’s second selection — No. 18 — are showing up on their pre-draft radar.

Detroit’s No. 6 pick belonged to the Rams, via the Jared Goff trade, but the NFC North team is gathering intel on prospects who could be available at 18. The Lions will host Florida offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence on April 17, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets, adding a visit with Alabama defensive back Brian Branch is also on the team’s itinerary. Ditto Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, per WCBI’s Jon Sokoloff (on Twitter).

A transfer from Louisiana to Florida last year, Torrence finished his lone Gators season as a consensus All-American at guard. He grades this draft’s top interior O-lineman available, per Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who each have the one-and-done SECer ranked just outside the top 30.

The Lions agreed to a reworked deal with Halapoulivaati Vaitai this offseason and have their other guard starter, Jonah Jackson, going into a contract year. Graham Glasgow is back on the team, but the 2016 Lions draftee is on a one-year agreement. Vaitai’s reworked contract also removed 2024, moving the injury-plagued blocker into a contract year.

Forbes notched three pick-sixes last season and holds the career Division I-FBS record with six in his career, getting there despite playing just three seasons with the Bulldogs. Forbes intercepted 14 passes in total in college, but size will cloud his tremendous production numbers. The 6-foot-1 corner weighed 166 pounds at the Combine. Scouts Inc. still rates Forbes just inside the top 30.

Branch checks in a few spots lower, but the former Crimson Tide safety profiles as the headliner of a mediocre crop at the position. Branch, who goes 5-11 and 190 pounds, offers flexibility as well; he saw considerable time in the slot at Alabama. He joined Torrence as a consensus All-American last season.

Coming off a season in which they ranked last defensively, the Lions have made major additions in the secondary this offseason. They brought in Cameron Sutton and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The team also added ex-49er Emmanuel Moseley on a lower-cost deal and re-signed Will Harris. They traded Jeff Okudah to the Falcons on Tuesday. At safety, the Lions have Gardner-Johnson as an option — though, he primarily patrolled the slot during his time under Aaron Glenn in New Orleans — along with second-year cog Kerby Joseph and veteran Tracy Walker.

Alabama S Brian Branch To Enter Draft

January 3rd, 2023 at 10:03am CST by Adam La Rose

Following the decision of three of his college teammates confirmed yesterday, the top safety in this year’s draft class is turning pro. Alabama safety Brian Branch announced on Instagram that he is declaring for the NFL draft.

Branch was an impact defender for the Crimson Tide throughout his three-year career with the team. His seven pass deflections made as a freshman demonstrated his ability to make plays on the ball from a different alignments. He increased that total to nine the following season, while adding 55 stops and five tackles for loss.

The 6-0, 190-pounder continued to show his versatility into his junior campaign. Branch has logged significant time playing as a nickel corner, allowing him to play closer to the line of scrimmage than a traditional free safety. Doing so has led to a number plays in run defense – as illustrated by his 90 tackles, including 14 for loss, made this season – but also those showcasing his range in coverage. He notched a pair of interceptions and three sacks in 2022.

Branch has established himself as the No. 1 prospect at the safety position, though he could easily find himself seeing time as a slot corner in the NFL. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has him ranked at 20th overall in the class, putting him squarely in first-round consideration. To no surprise, a number of early mock drafts have him hearing his name called on Day 1, including the latest from his colleague Todd McShay and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (subscription required).

Both of those project Branch being selected by the Seahawks, a team whose surprising success this season has largely been driven by their rookie class. That group includes corners Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, the latter of whom has played in the slot rather than his more familiar role on the perimeter. Adding Branch to that duo would set up Seattle’s secondary for long-term success, but he figures to be in high demand from a number of other teams this spring.