2023 NFL Draft Profile: DB Brian Branch

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A native of Fayetteville, Georgia, Brian Branch saw time in 40 games across his three seasons at Alabama. In 2022, he earned first-team All-American honors. Branch was able to tally 90 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, three sacks and two interceptions in his final year for the Crimson Tide as a true junior. Additionally, he started every game in 2022 at Alabama’s STAR position. Branch was a one-time college football national champion as a freshman in 2020.

Top Strengths

Versatility

The timing of when a prospect is entering the NFL can often be a major springboard. With the pass-happy NFL, versatility is much more important for incoming defensive backs. Brian Branch is the most versatile defensive back in the 2023 NFL Draft, by far. He is extremely comfortable playing in the slot as a nickel cornerback, playing in the box or playing near the line of scrimmage.

In pass coverage, he displays a quick and urgent trigger when working downhill. If he can stay over the top on the roof, there are very few passes that get behind him. Mainly, Branch is most dangerous in coverage when being able to sit and watch the opposing quarterback’s eyes. Afterwards, he can flash into throwing lanes and catch passers off guard. Do not discredit Branch as a run defender. He is not afraid to scrape across blocks and put his face in the fan. On top of that, Branch is an impressive tackler as a defensive back against the run.

Football IQ

The instincts of Brian Branch are such a lethal weapon to have as a defensive back. Sure, he may get beat over the top once in a while, if he is caught watching the eyes of the quarterback. Branch does a great job of keeping his head on a swivel. For instance, he is almost always able to keep tabs on his man and where the ball is going. That recognition of play direction should not be taken for granted. Taking away completions by reading the eyes and hands of opposing pass catchers is evident immediately when watching Branch on tape. Overall, the Alabama product is usually able to remain patient and pick his spots, while shooting out of a cannon when necessary.

Physicality

Brian Branch can play as a math changer on defense, so to speak. With his physicality, there is a suddenness to his hitting power on tackles, as well as with his downhill trigger in coverage. That ability to eliminate opposing pass catchers from a play can quickly leave opponents frustrated. Teams will want a safety or nickel cornerback who is fearless. With Branch being confident when sticking his face into the fan, there is a heightened impact that he can make in crucial situations.

Areas Of Improvement

Athleticism

As quick as Brian Branch is when working downhill, there are questions about his lateral quickness and agility. Branch displays a sense of tightness and playing high, if he is caught in no man’s land. There is still a sense of speed and explosiveness to his game. But overall, Branch is not elite athletically. His modest athleticism can make certain one-on-one matchups a bit shaky for him against specific vertical routes.

Man Coverage Skills

To elaborate on that last point a bit further, Brian Branch is inconsistent with his comfort in coverage against routes to the deep areas of the field. With that aforementioned tightness when working laterally, Branch can sometimes panic at the catch point. This has led to a low amount of ball production so far. On the flip side, his physicality can get the best of him once in a while, if opponents realize how to take advantage of it.

Ball Skills

Despite his plus-instincts, Brian Branch can become panicked, if his back becomes turned to the line of scrimmage. The defensive back is still working to improve his ball tracking ability in deeper areas of the field. Because of that, Branch can often be caught out of position against vertical routes. If his nose for the football in that area matches what it is in the low areas, he will be just fine. Branch has the mentality and work ethic to see improvement there, for sure.

Ideal Role

The versatility of Brian Branch should allow him to be a positionless defensive back at the NFL level, so to speak. He can still be classified as a safety in some defenses. When playing up high on the roof, Branch does best when gaining as much depth as possible. Elsewhere, Branch can certainly thrive as a nickel corner in the slot. That spot is obviously much more valuable in the NFL than it used to be. Finally, Branch is certainly capable of lining up in the box and near the line of scrimmage.

Potential Fits

There are a plethora of teams that could use someone of Brian Branch’s skill set. Let’s narrow it down to three teams that make sense for the Alabama product. First and foremost, the Green Bay Packers stand out immediately. This is a defense that has topflight talent at cornerback. However, better results and more depth are needed in the middle of the secondary.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be looking to fill their depth at defensive back multiple times in the 2023 NFL Draft. Outside of Antoine Winfield Jr. and Carlton Davis, there is not much reliability for Todd Bowles in the secondary. Lastly, the Cincinnati Bengals make sense for a couple of reasons. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is somebody who could utilize Branch and his versatility effectively, as he has done with other defensive backs. Cincinnati is also looking to replace both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates from the backend after free agency.

Be on the lookout for more FPC 2023 NFL Draft prospect profiles throughout the next month. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.