Also players that won't be 'reaches' relative to the talent that may be available.
I think it's pretty clear at this point there isn't a safety candidate in this draft that warrants a top 10 selection. A top 10 safety in today's pass happy NFL must be superior in coverage and possess elite range characteristics. Those are the Ed Reed,Eric Berry, Sean Taylor's of the world. Landon Collins , while he may become a pretty good Safety, is not that.
Haven't studied the other safeties a ton, but it looks like to get a guy with elite coverage skills in this draft there is a chance he will be a bit of a conversion project . Here are a few initial ideas with feedback appreciated.
Round 2 possibilities (pick 40):
PJ Williams
From NFL.com
At 6-foot, 200 pounds, Williams is a savvy veteran at the cornerback position but has the ability to play safety at the next level after playing both positions early in his college career and throughout his time in high school. In addition to his coverage abilities, he has played on a number of special teams and has the speed to be a contributor in other areas in the league
Marcus Peters
From Boylehart
He could be a hell of a free safety and make a bigger impact in coverage all over the field. He also has excellent coverage technique and is a physical defensive back that could easily handle those big receivers and tight ends who line up in the slot. He’s one of those players that terrorizes defensive coordinators when game planning. He has those long arms and legs that give him a bigger defensive radius and allow him to trail receivers so that he can fight off those pesky back shoulder throws so many teams like to use now to gain first down yardage. Marcus is smart and, when he plays zone coverage, he is a ball hawk. He has good hands to make the interception and he loves to run the ball back as far as he can before going down.
Quentin Rollins
From Boylehart
Play Quinten at safety or play him at corner, either way you’re drafting a talented player who, as soon as he gets acclimated to the NFL, should become a leader for you in your defensive backfield. He might not be your best player in the backfield, but he will be a playmaker and a leader and I would take that style of player over a lot of more pure talent corners who will struggle to make tackles and make plays. I have no doubt that if a team plays him as a corner or safety and gives him time to develop, he will become an impact player. He has the quickness that you look for in a defensive back and when he identifies the play in front of him, will drive to that play with the passion and aggressiveness you like to see in a defensive back. He has the same quickness of Steelers’ Troy Polamalu to the play and the toughness of Chargers’ Eric Waddle with the potential to cover as well as Browns’ Joe Hayden.
Erik Rowe
From Dane Brugler NFLdraftscout
Corner or safety? Rowe shows the skillset for both: At 6-1 and 205 pounds with long arms, Eric Rowe saw playing time at both safety and cornerback in college with scouts split on where his best position might be at the next level. But instead of limiting him to one or the other, he has the versatility to do both, and his workout numbers on Monday only backed that up. Rowe finished among the best performers in Indianapolis with a 4.45 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical, 10-5 broad jump, 6.70 3-cone drill, 3.97 short shuttle and 19 reps on the bench. He checked a number of boxes and might have secured his spot as a top-100 prospect in the 2015 class. Some teams still like him best at cornerback while others see him as a safety, but regardless, he has the skill-set to play either and start in the NFL.
Round 3 possiblities (pick 74):
Anthony Harris
From Walterfootball
Harris recorded 108 tackles with 10 passes broken up and two interceptions in 2014. He led the nation in interceptions in 2013 with eight. That helped make him one of the bright spots of an ugly season for Virginia. The junior also had 80 tackles with six passes broken up and a forced fumble that year. Harris displayed good instincts to go along with speed and athleticism.
Byron Jones
From NFL.com
Instinctive cornerback with good size and adequate speed. Has the ball skills and anticipation needed for the position. Jones' balance and overall athleticism could be a concern in man coverage and his season-ending shoulder injury will need to be examined. He would be an interesting free safety prospect with his instincts, but might lack the physicality for the position.
Other prospects:
Jaquiski Tartt
Cody Prewitt
Damarious Randall
Jalen Collins- great measurables but does his skillset project to safety?
Thoughts on some of these players as well as other possibilities welcome. I'm starting to think maybe the reason Reese didn't spend 6+ million on a Safety is the Giants may have a few of these Safety/CB prospects highly graded and as possible year 1 contributors in Spagnuolo's defense.
Is he worthy of pick 40 and why?
Interesting ,why?
May see more of this if we can find the right player.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/FS
SS
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/SS
Quote:
the best FS in this draft is Kurtis Drummond. I would take him in a heart beat.
Interesting ,why?
First he is one of the few actual true FS out there. Most this years safeties that people are talking about are converted CBs/nickelbacks/SS ... He has very good range and instincts. He doesn't have elite speed, but is plenty fast enough with good size. He is a better tackler than most the other FS type out this year. He was the leader of a very good Def and team captain. He was an all american and atum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award. The past 2 years he has had 163 tackles, 8 Ints and 25 pass defenses. To me he has the few holes in his game and the fewest question marks. I would take him in the 3rd easily.
SS
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/SS
Sub 4.5 speed and 6.7 3 cone along with decent size and arm length. Can anyone talk to how he looked on the field?
If Anthony Harris could put on some weight he's going to have a top notch career. He already has has the ball skills and is a willing tackler (most of the time) that likes to bring the wood but at nearly 6'1" and barely 180 lbs, he's a stringbean that gets knocked around alot.
Josh Shaw and Clayton Geathers are two safeties to keep an eye on between rounds 2 and 4. James Sample of Louisville is getting positive buzz as a similar style to former teammate Calvin Pryor.
Ladarius Gunter played both safety and CB at Miami but I think he'll be a safety in the NFL.
Sub 4.5 speed and 6.7 3 cone along with decent size and arm length. Can anyone talk to how he looked on the field?
He played CB all last year. Might be his better position honestly. I am not sure his instincts were as good at FS than playing close to a WR on the outside. While he has a lot of experience at FS from 2011-2013 he was just pretty good. Watching him at FS and watching Drummond at FS I think Drummond reads plays quicker and makes more plays on the ball.
If Anthony Harris could put on some weight he's going to have a top notch career. He already has has the ball skills and is a willing tackler (most of the time) that likes to bring the wood but at nearly 6'1" and barely 180 lbs, he's a stringbean that gets knocked around alot.
Josh Shaw and Clayton Geathers are two safeties to keep an eye on between rounds 2 and 4. James Sample of Louisville is getting positive buzz as a similar style to former teammate Calvin Pryor.
Ladarius Gunter played both safety and CB at Miami but I think he'll be a safety in the NFL.
Sj which of these guys do you think could carry a high enough grade at 40? What are your thoughts on Rowe?
I can't see any Safeties in the second. I don't take Holliman unless I want him to be my nickel safety. Dude can't tackle at all.
Quote:
Or eskridge in the 3rd. But there's some decent options.
I can't see any Safeties in the second. I don't take Holliman unless I want him to be my nickel safety. Dude can't tackle at all.
Not even Cody Prewitt, Byron Jones or Eric Rowe?
You don't think his 4.65 40 and 1.64 10 yd split time will hurt him? Seems pretty slow relative to other safeties.
Players who had decent production (along with better measurables):
Byron Jones
Eric Rowe
Marcus Peters CB/ possible Free Safety hybrid ala Antrel's Role (pun intended) with Giants.
Quentin Collins (played basketball first few years then had 7 INTs first year as starter)
Josh Shaw
Darell Eskridge -6'3 210- Syrucuse connection
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I like Drummond better than all of them and I would look for him in the 3rd. Landon Collins is the only Safety that is a top 40 player imo. If I reach for a safety it would be Kurtis but I wouldn't do that. I also like Richards as a SS in say the 5th range and one of my favorite safeties this year is Jermaine Whiteside from Auburn. He will drop because of off the field stuff but good talent for a 6th-7th rounder
You don't think his 4.65 40 and 1.64 10 yd split time will hurt him? Seems pretty slow relative to other safeties.
Players who had decent production (along with better measurables):
Byron Jones
Eric Rowe
Marcus Peters CB/ possible Free Safety hybrid ala Antrel's Role (pun intended) with Giants.
Quentin Collins (played basketball first few years then had 7 INTs first year as starter)
Josh Shaw
Darell Eskridge -6'3 210- Syrucuse connection
His 10 yard split was 1.59 which is pretty fast... Peters is a pure CB and probably the best CB in the draft. Jones is a CB also. Collins is a CB. Even Josh Shaw played mainly CB during his career and is raw at Safety. Rowe played CB last year and looked better at CB than he did at FS. I think he will stay at CB really. Eskridge looks better at SS to me, but he is also a raw player FS. Eskridge also ran a 4.63 compared to 4.65 from Drummond... Not that much of a difference. Not to mention Drummond had a 39.5" vertical showing his explosion at 208 lbs! Eskridge a 31". Drummond is also bigger and a better tackler than all on that list with exception of Eskridge. He is also very experienced and is better in coverage than all of them "as a FS". He was a team captain and team leader of a very good Def... Go look at Drummond. He is a stud and will be picked in the first 3 rounds. He is the best FS in this draft.
Kam Chancellor 4.62
Will Hill 4.64
Dashon Goldson 4.60
Kenny Vaccaro 4.63
Nat Berhe 4.71
Jimmy Ward 4.59
Taylor Mayes 4.31
Quinton Demps 4.39
Laron Landry 4.35
Michael Huff 4.34
40 yard time doesn't mean you can play or not.
Quote:
Quinten Rollins could be a Pro Bowler at safety. He's one of my favorite players in the draft.
If Anthony Harris could put on some weight he's going to have a top notch career. He already has has the ball skills and is a willing tackler (most of the time) that likes to bring the wood but at nearly 6'1" and barely 180 lbs, he's a stringbean that gets knocked around alot.
Josh Shaw and Clayton Geathers are two safeties to keep an eye on between rounds 2 and 4. James Sample of Louisville is getting positive buzz as a similar style to former teammate Calvin Pryor.
Ladarius Gunter played both safety and CB at Miami but I think he'll be a safety in the NFL.
Sj which of these guys do you think could carry a high enough grade at 40? What are your thoughts on Rowe?
Sorry for the late reply coach but I hope you still gethe post:
I'd be fine with Harris at 40 but I'd jump for joy at Rollins if he makes it that far.
Rowe I could see in the Rolle spot. He's versatile. He could play CB in a pinch but he would be much better served as a safety. I think he has the athleticism to be a centerfield type but he also has the physicality to play close to the line. He only missed two tackles all season.
He is a little light... I think he is better at nickel Safety than starting at FS. He isn't the best tackler.
Did you watch them on TV? I didn't and I just gather as much written info I can get and then talk/recommend a player right out of my ass like draftnicks do.
Quote:
is just my opinion.
Did you watch them on TV? I didn't and I just gather as much written info I can get and then talk/recommend a player right out of my ass like draftnicks do.
I watch a lot of college football, but mostly Pac-12 to be honest. I have seen some Michigan state games this year and I really like Drummond and Langford who is being valued lower than I expected honestly. I will watch a lot of the bigger games and flip through games when I am home. For other players I will usually go watch highlights of them which of course isn't the best way to evaluate a player. I also read up on players and such. I would say though I know more about the Pac-12 than any other conference.