Finding a mid round Safety

[cnuball21]

If I could take one player from this draft based on team need and value Derwin James would probably be my guy. Unfortunately, I think there is about a 0% chance he's available at 19. That being said, I'd love to try to pick up a guy that can turn into a starter for us. After him, there isn't any top end talent at the position but like WR there appears to be some pretty good depth in mid rounds. I'm just having trouble differentiating through some of these dudes.

Ronnie Harrison
Justin Reid
Terrell Edmunds
Kyzir White
Jessie Bates
Armani Watts
Marcus Allen
NAtrell Jamerson

Where these guys will be taken is listed all over the map on mocks but I think a good half of them could be had with our 3rd pick or later.

Who do you like?

 

[cnuball21]

If I could take one player from this draft based on team need and value Derwin James would probably be my guy. Unfortunately, I think there is about a 0% chance he's available at 19. That being said, I'd love to try to pick up a guy that can turn into a starter for us. After him, there isn't any top end talent at the position but like WR there appears to be some pretty good depth in mid rounds. I'm just having trouble differentiating through some of these dudes.

Ronnie Harrison
Justin Reid
Terrell Edmunds
Kyzir White
Jessie Bates
Armani Watts
Marcus Allen
NAtrell Jamerson

Where these guys will be taken is listed all over the map on mocks but I think a good half of them could be had with our 3rd pick or later.

Who do you like?

I'll add, I think the big thing once you get past James is finding the guy that actual has the athleticism to cover a little bit and not just be a downhill thumper. Continuing to dig in on these guys, but a lot of the weakness' seem to be questioning the athleticsm and instincts to cover at the next level.

 

[cds99]

If I could take one player from this draft based on team need and value Derwin James would probably be my guy. Unfortunately, I think there is about a 0% chance he's available at 19. That being said, I'd love to try to pick up a guy that can turn into a starter for us. After him, there isn't any top end talent at the position but like WR there appears to be some pretty good depth in mid rounds. I'm just having trouble differentiating through some of these dudes.

Ronnie Harrison
Justin Reid
Terrell Edmunds
Kyzir White
Jessie Bates
Armani Watts
Marcus Allen
NAtrell Jamerson

Where these guys will be taken is listed all over the map on mocks but I think a good half of them could be had with our 3rd pick or later.

Who do you like?

Plus one on wanting James. I think he will be a stud in the league. However I don’t think we get a whiff of him at 19 though.

 

[Alexander]

This is really not the year to go looking for a safety.

There are only six I think could actually make it in the league as a potential starter and two of them are going to be gone by 19:

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick
2. Derwin James
3. Ronnie Harrison
4. Justin Reid
5. Kyzir White
6. Jessie Bates

There are some others below this list, like Whitehead, Allen, Edmonds and Siran Neal. I just don't see them as potential starters down the road.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Jessie Bates has really good ball skills and I've talked to a few people & read some stuff saying he would have been a 1st round pick in 2019.

White is my guy so would loving adding him, but his value seems to be all over the place right now.

Reid is an enigma for me. I've watched some Stanford games where he looks a tad slow and too stiff, and a few games where he's making plays left and right.

In the past, I think I would have wanted no part of Ronnie Harrison. Playing strong safety in Alabama's ultra-talented defense is kind of unfair, plays are funneled to you and you have arguably the best front 7 in football every year. However, Eddie Jackson, Landon Collins, and even Mark Barron once he was moved to linebacker, have all played fairly well in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh and Penn State safeties have flashed some as well but are too inconsistent for me.

 

[phildadon86]

This is really not the year to go looking for a safety.

There are only six I think could actually make it in the league as a potential starter and two of them are going to be gone by 19:

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick
2. Derwin James
3. Ronnie Harrison
4. Justin Reid
5. Kyzir White
6. Jessie Bates

There are some others below this list, like Whitehead, Allen, Edmonds and Siran Neal. I just don't see them as potential starters down the road.

What are your thoughts on Armani watts

 

[bodi]

Terrell Edmunds*, S, Virginia Tech\
Jordan Whitehead*, S, Pittsburgh

 

[Alexander]

What are your thoughts on Armani watts

Not all that impressed. Dime-a-dozen safety.

 

[cnuball21]

Jessie Bates has really good ball skills and I've talked to a few people & read some stuff saying he would have been a 1st round pick in 2019.

White is my guy so would loving adding him, but his value seems to be all over the place right now.

Reid is an enigma for me. I've watched some Stanford games where he looks a tad slow and too stiff, and a few games where he's making plays left and right.

In the past, I think I would have wanted no part of Ronnie Harrison. Playing strong safety in Alabama's ultra-talented defense is kind of unfair, plays are funneled to you and you have arguably the best front 7 in football every year. However, Eddie Jackson, Landon Collins, and even Mark Barron once he was moved to linebacker, have all played fairly well in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh and Penn State safeties have flashed some as well but are too inconsistent for me.

Bates is really interesting to me. Read up a little more on him and it seems like most of what he was asked to do was play more of a deep, CF type of role. Not sure about his tackling, but seems like a solid back end guy that would allow us to move BJ up closer to the LOS.

I like Watts and Reid as 2 guys who are just solid all around. Not elite at anything, but both quality athletes that are solid in coverage and against the run.

 

[tm1119]

No love for DeShon Elliot?

Kyzir White
Trayvon Henderson
Damon Webb

Those are about the only other 3 that interest me. Definitely not a good year for drafting a S unless you get Fitz or James. Really not a big fan of Harrison or Reid for where they will likely be drafted.

 

[Beaker42]

If I could take one player from this draft based on team need and value Derwin James would probably be my guy. Unfortunately, I think there is about a 0% chance he's available at 19. That being said, I'd love to try to pick up a guy that can turn into a starter for us. After him, there isn't any top end talent at the position but like WR there appears to be some pretty good depth in mid rounds. I'm just having trouble differentiating through some of these dudes.

Ronnie Harrison
Justin Reid
Terrell Edmunds
Kyzir White
Jessie Bates
Armani Watts
Marcus Allen
NAtrell Jamerson

Where these guys will be taken is listed all over the map on mocks but I think a good half of them could be had with our 3rd pick or later.

Who do you like?

White or Bates - or both LOL

 

[cnuball21]

No love for DeShon Elliot?

Kyzir White
Trayvon Henderson
Damon Webb

Those are about the only other 3 that interest me. Definitely not a good year for drafting a S unless you get Fitz or James. Really not a big fan of Harrison or Reid for where they will likely be drafted.

Nope - scouting reports on Elliot read tight hipped and struggles with change of direction. Hard pass.

 

[cnuball21]

White or Bates - or both LOL

I'll be watching White closely at the combine to see how he tests out.

He checks a lot of the boxes, just need to see his short area quickness and change of direction ability.

 

[tm1119]

Nope - scouting reports on Elliot read tight hipped and struggles with change of direction. Hard pass.

Have you actually watched him play? Or did you just read 1 line of a scouting report and make your decision?

Would I want to see Elliot lined up in the slot covering 1 on 1 on a regular basis? No, but there aren’t many S’s that I would, especially that get drafted outside of the 1st. I think Elliot has plenty of athleticism and moves fine though. He’s good in a deep zone has a knack for being in the right spot and making the play when the opportunity is there.

 

[Teague31]

No worries. Jerry will outsmart everyone with another AOA pick

 

[cowboyec]

•Rashaan Gaulden,Tennessee....CB or S.
•Trayvon Henderson,Hawaii
•Siran Neal,Jacksonville St
•Goodwin Igwebuike,NWestern
•Damon Webb,Ohio St
•Tray Matthews,Auburn

 

[cnuball21]

Have you actually watched him play? Or did you just read 1 line of a scouting report and make your decision?

Would I want to see Elliot lined up in the slot covering 1 on 1 on a regular basis? No, but there aren’t many S’s that I would, especially that get drafted outside of the 1st. I think Elliot has plenty of athleticism and moves fine though. He’s good in a deep zone has a knack for being in the right spot and making the play when the opportunity is there.

Combination of both. And I've read/heard that from more than "1 line of a scouting report."

 

[cnuball21]

•Rashaan Gaulden,Tennessee....CB or S.
•Trayvon Henderson,Hawaii
•Siran Neal,Jacksonville St
•Goodwin Igwebuike,NWestern
•Damon Webb,Ohio St
•Tray Matthews,Auburn

I knew I forgot someone in Gaulden! Another great option.

 

[xwalker]

If I could take one player from this draft based on team need and value Derwin James would probably be my guy. Unfortunately, I think there is about a 0% chance he's available at 19. That being said, I'd love to try to pick up a guy that can turn into a starter for us. After him, there isn't any top end talent at the position but like WR there appears to be some pretty good depth in mid rounds. I'm just having trouble differentiating through some of these dudes.

Ronnie Harrison
Justin Reid
Terrell Edmunds
Kyzir White
Jessie Bates
Armani Watts
Marcus Allen
NAtrell Jamerson

Where these guys will be taken is listed all over the map on mocks but I think a good half of them could be had with our 3rd pick or later.

Who do you like?

A mid-round Safety is the opposite of what they need, IMO. They have multiple options for mid-tier performance already on the roster.

If they are going to get a Safety, it should be an elite type player.

A mid-round player would be a much better fit at other positions:

1-tech DT - If they don't get one early or in FA. They currently don't even have a mid-round type talent. Irving and Collins are 3-techs and Price is a udfa type journeyman.

LB - No depth if Hitchens leaves.

WR - They desperately need a #1 but also need more options to push TWill at #2.

RB - Mid round RBs tend to have higher success rates than many positions and the backup are currently non-descript types.

OL - Swing Tackle and depth at Guard is a big need.

At Safety, the lineup in the last 5 games was not bad and player that might be the best option (Woods) was playing slot CB.

The Jones vs pass, Frazier vs run combo was actually good.

Heath is servicable.

For depth Awuzie could play Safety because Brown recovered at CB to play well after he became a part time player.

Summary:
They have a lot of options at DB and some of them may have high upsides. They barely even have mid tier upside at WR, 1-tech, Swing Tackle, backup LB, back OG, backup RB.

What they are missing at Safety is super elite talent with ball-hawk ability.

 

[cnuball21]

A mid-round Safety is the opposite of what they need, IMO. They have multiple options for mid-tier performance already on the roster.

If they are going to get a Safety, it should be an elite type player.

A mid-round player would be a much better fit at other positions:

1-tech DT - If they don't get one early or in FA. They currently don't even have a mid-round type talent. Irving and Collins are 3-techs and Price is a udfa type journeyman.

LB - No depth if Hitchens leaves.

WR - They desperately need a #1 but also need more options to push TWill at #2.

RB - Mid round RBs tend to have higher success rates than many positions and the backup are currently non-descript types.

OL - Swing Tackle and depth at Guard is a big need.

At Safety, the lineup in the last 5 games was not bad and player that might be the best option (Woods) was playing slot CB.

The Jones vs pass, Frazier vs run combo was actually good.

Heath is servicable.

For depth Awuzie could play Safety because Brown recovered at CB to play well after he became a part time player.

Summary:
They have a lot of options at DB and some of them may have high upsides. They barely even have mid tier upside at WR, 1-tech, Swing Tackle, backup LB, back OG, backup RB.

What they are missing at Safety is super elite talent with ball-hawk ability.

In the mid rounds, you're looking for someone that can turn into a quality starter...not an elite player. Every team gets lucky every once in a while, but it's not normal. So we could certainly go after the other positions you mentioned, but your looking at mid round talent at those positions as well.

Outside of that, I think I just disagree with you on all of the positions. I'm not good with Heath as a start S, and we're basically arguing about upgrading the Safety spot vs depth at other positions. Yes we could use some depth at multiple positions, but trim the fat first at the starting positions where you have weak links.