Who Are the Tallest Defensive Backs in the NFL? (2023-24)
I’ve been a Sports Performance Coach for twenty years and I’ve always found it impactful to show the Defensive Backs I coached the sizes of NFL players at their position. This has proven over the years to be motivational for players needing to add size and sometimes served as a harsh reality check.
I did the same research this season that I do every year. I poured through the 53-man active rosters for the 2023 NFL season, immediately following the final preseason cuts, a total of nearly 1700 players and broke them down by position.
By popular demand, I have put together this guide focusing on the NFL’s tallest Defensive Backs. Get ready to learn some random, yet interesting, football facts that you can show off to your friends.
The Tallest NFL Defensive Backs
The top eight Defensive Backs in the league stand at a remarkable height of 6’4″. This is well above the average for defensive backs, who generally stand around 6 feet tall.
There is also another group of about 10 defensive backs who closely follow this elite height, each standing at 6’3″. The presence of these taller athletes in defensive back roles demonstrates how height, combined with agility and technical skills, contributes to a more effective and dynamic defensive strategy.
I’ve included all 18 athletes in the two lists below.
Tariq Woolen
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 210 lbs
- Position: Cornerback
- Team: Seattle Seahawks
- College: UTSA
- Draft: 2021, Round 5
- Years in NFL: 2
Nahshon Wright
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 183 lbs
- Position: Cornerback
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- College: Oregon State
- Draft: 2021, Round 3
- Years in NFL: 2
Isaiah Pola-Mao
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 205 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: Las Vegas Raiders
- College: USC
- Draft: 2021, Round 7
- Years in NFL: 2
Israel Mukuamu
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 205 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- College: South Carolina
- Draft: 2021, Round 6
- Years in NFL: 2
Kyle Hamilton
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 220 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
- College: Notre Dame
- Draft: 2021, Round 1
- Years in NFL: 2
JL Skinner
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 218 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: Denver Broncos
- College: Boise State
- Draft: 2021, Round 4
- Years in NFL: 2
Jayron Kearse
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 215 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- College: Clemson
- Draft: 2016, Round 7
- Years in NFL: 7
Isaiah Simmons
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 230 lbs
- Position: Safety
- Team: New York Giants
- College: Clemson
- Draft: 2020, Round 1
- Years in NFL: 3
6’3″ Defensive Backs
Here is the next tier of DBs, all listed at 6’3″ – one inch shorter than the top group.
| Player | Pos | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Sauce Gardner | CB | Jets |
| Joshua Williams | CB | Chiefs |
| Tre Hawkins III | CB | Giants |
| Julius Brents | CB | Colts |
| Tre Flowers | CB | Falcons |
| Benjamin St-Juste | CB | Commanders |
| Ryan Neal | SS | Buccaneers |
| Grant Delpit | SAF | Browns |
| Sam Franklin Jr. | SAF | Panthers |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | SAF | Lions |
| Ameer Speed | FS | Patriots |
| Jeremy Chinn | SAF | Panthers |
Final Thoughts
This analysis of the tallest Defensive Backs in the NFL reveals that while Safeties do outnumber Cornerbacks in this group, it’s much closer than some may expect.
It’s also crucial to recognize that while height can be an advantage, it is not a standalone factor guaranteeing success in these roles. Agility, speed, tactical understanding, and the ability to read the game often play more significant roles in a player’s success.
