Ronnie Hickman NFL Draft Profile
Position: Safety
Height: 6’ ½”
Weight: 203 lbs.
School: Ohio State
2023 NFL Draft: Ronnie Hickman Scouting Report
Ronnie Hickman came to Ohio State after an All-American lacrosse and a stellar offense and defensive football career in New Jersey. He started for the Buckeyes for two years and showed his Lacrosse skills while excelling in a big nickel role. Hickman finished his first starting season with 98 tackles (54 solo, 44 assists), a sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. In his second season (2022), he finished with 53 tackles (26 solo, 27 assists), a forced fumble, and an interception.
Hickman is a strong and sizeable NFL safety, playing above his weight class. He battles against bigger tight ends and is a rotational safety NFL teams sorely need. While his speed and finishing angle leaves NFL acumen desired, small refinements in his technique could dramatically improve his week-to-week play. He is certainly a project on defence, but he can dominate immediately in certain defensive schemes, making him worthy of a strong mid-round selection.
Strengths
- Strong safety who plays above his 203-pound weight-class
- Physical safety who can defend against NFL tight ends
- Will fit immediately into a big nickel package
- Strong run defender; crashes the box in all situations
- Smooth hips with ability to move around field
Weaknesses
- A touch slower than desired
- Not a great open-field tackler
- Not great at making sure he is the finishing tackler on a play
- Reactionary play style for full-time starter
NFL Comparison: Marcus Williams
Teams With Need at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projection: Fifth Round
Bottom Line on Ronnie Hickman
Ronnie Hickman is a nice NFL rotational safety with some potential to go beyond his role as a strong, big nickel defender. He does not necessarily possess the coverage skills needed to stick with NFL wide receivers and may struggle in a zone scheme. The way he moves around the field needs to have more of a sense of purpose than generalised zones; hence, a team with a downhill defensive style will best fit Hickman.
Hickman’s most immediately, however, fulfils a need for a team who utilises downhill safeties in a multi-safety and rotational system. He will provide needed depth to a defence, but beyond that needs to improve play recognition to go beyond a limited prototype player. Fundamentally, he needs to improve his tackling on an angle and fit better to incoming offensive players. However, his ability to attack the ball carrier is a skill that should get him decently far in the NFL. He will not take the ball away, nor will he be a flashy three-down safety.
Hickman instead will play a vital role on a defence trying to take the next step by simply playing healthier and more consistent. His lacrosse-style play still will move him up in the NFL Draft, allowing him to play with a team that needs his style of a strong, physical safety.
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