NFL Draft
4/9/25
5 min read
RJ Mickens 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Clemson Tigers SAF
Height: 6000 (verified)
Weight: 199lbs (verified)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Chamarri Conner
Scouting Overview
Clemson Tigers safety RJ Mickens is a long, physical run defender with explosive linear traits that allow him to be an asset low and closer to the line of scrimmage. Mickens sees it fast as a run defender and with spacing of multiple routes in the shallow area of the field.
He illustrates a large area of influence in zone and as a tackler in the intermediate areas of the field. He boasts reliable tackling finishes to prevent added yardage within the core. Mickens does not, however, appear to have the appeal to flex into man-to-man assignments and is a modest deep middle projection due to transitional quickness in space.
2025 NFL Combine Results
| Position | Name | School | 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Split | Broad Jump | Vertical Jump | 3-Cone Drill | 20-Yard Shuttle | Bench Press |
| S | R.J. Mickens | Clemson | 4.49 | 1.55 | 121 | 41.5 |
Positives
- Boasts excellent length, boosting his gravitational pull in coverage and as a tackler
- Rapid, instinctive processor who sees play development well
- Posted explosive marks in a number of tests, affirming his linear twitch
Negatives
- Lacks the same explosiveness in transition as he affords coming downhill
- Foot speed and man-to-man plaster ability are unlikely winning traits
- Limited ceiling and appeal to play on the roof as a high-post defender due to range
Background
Mickens is from Southlake, TX, and played high school football for Carroll HS. He is the son of former NFL defensive back Ray Mickens — a 10-year NFL veteran who was an All-American at Texas A&M. At Carroll HS, RJ was a two-way talent who starred as a wide receiver and a defensive back.
As a 4-star recruit, Mickens was regarded as one of the best safety recruits in the country and eventually committed to Clemson as a member of the program’s 2020 recruiting class. Mickens chose the Tigers over programs such as Alabama and Ohio State.
Mickens played in less than 40 snaps during the COVID-19 pandemic season in 2020, retaining his four-year college eligibility in the process. As a second-year freshman in 2021, Mickens was a rotational defender while logging his first two career starts. 2022 saw him serve as a partial starter with six starts in 13 appearances before taking over as a full-time starter for his final two seasons with the Tigers — Mickens started 22 of his final 24 games with the program from 2023 to 2024.
Tale Of The Tape
Mickens has NFL bloodlines that proudly shine on his tape at Clemson. He’s a bit of a later bloomer — he’ll be a 24-year-old rookie who really made a major leap in his play during the 2024 season. However, Mickens fits the mold of box safety in the NFL and has the traits and physicality to be a productive NFL talent.
His eyes are disciplined and offer him a wide field of vision as a box defender or when tasked with playing as a rotation player dropping down into the core. He was finally allowed to live on the second level and serve as a subpackage box defender in 2024.
He posted 312 snaps in the core this past season vs. 427 in his four previous seasons at Clemson combined. This is a major piece of his breakout campaign and underscores the skill specificity he brings to the table.
Mickens is a sturdy tackler, thanks to his play strength, striking ability, and length. His wingspan (77.63”, 78th percentile) creates challenges for would-be blockers trying to crack or seal him off from running lanes and for quarterbacks trying to throw around him in the intermediate areas of the field or over the middle.
This, plus how well he sees the field, allows him to be well-positioned and win reps early with anticipation before his physical presence shows up around the football.
There appears to be an inverse relationship between his appeal in coverage and how close he is to the line of scrimmage. Up close, Mickens’ vision and length can serve as force multipliers to shallow angles and tighter spaces. Putting him on the roof seems to compound some of his transitional difficulties and puts him under more stress as a coverage player.
He should be considered sufficient to play deep halves, but if serving as the high post player in Cover 1 or Cover 3, he could be a conflict defender who struggles to properly flip and transition to space the field.
1-man heavy schemes may find the most challenges in getting him into favorable assignments with consistency unless he’s serving as a shallow robber or spy. His man-to-man outlook is limited due to his transitions and hips as a taller and heavier safety.
Mickens has only modest experience on special teams outside of punt return and field goal block. He’s logged just 100 snaps combined on a kick return, kickoff, and punt coverage across five seasons of play.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Mickens projects as a traditional box/strong safety at the NFL level. He should be regarded as a potential developmental starter who will need to be limited in how often he’s asked to defend larger areas of grass or play in isolation.
Grade: 71.50/100.00, Fifth Round Value
Big Board Rank: 152
Position Rank: SAF11
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