The Detroit Lions scored huge in 2023 when they were able to get Alabama safety Brian Branch in the second round of the NFL Draft. Looking back on it, it still makes no sense to anyone that he slipped out of the first round.
Here we are two years later at the 2025 NFL Combine and Branch has been a hot topic among safety and corners at the event. Multiple NFL hopefuls told media on Thursday that they model their games after Branch.
Clemson safety R.J. Mickens, the son of former Jets corner Ray Mickens, said that he likes both Branch and his Lions teammate Kerby Joseph and that he picks things from their game and tries to apply it to his.
Georgia safety Malaki Starks says he met with Branch at the Pro Bowl and that he studies his tape often to try to apply Branch’s movements to his own. He wants to impact the game immediately like Branch does.
Ohio State safety Latham Ransom says he loves to watch Branch’s tape and talked about how important versatility is to the game.
Lastly, Alabama’s Malachi Moore, who was teammates with Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs and Terrion Arnold at Alabama, talked about how he’s kept in touch with both Branch and Arnold and how those guys have been helping him through the pre-draft process. He also said that as an Alabama guy, he’s cut from the same cloth as both players and how much that means.
It really says a lot about Branch that after two seasons in the league, players really want to be like him and look to his play and his versatility as inspiration for their game. Have to say it again, the Lions really scored with him.