Draft Watch: Whither the Safeties?

[Apollo Creed]

Emanuel Cook, from South Carolina.

Great special teamer, brings the wood. Dude has 'swag' too.

 

[TNCowboy]

I'd rather they try to find OL and DL in the early rounds, if they can. I just value those positions more than DB. We've probably thrown more high picks at DB than any other position over the last several years.

 

[jterrell]

Sean Smith will drop out of the first round. Look at the teams 20-32..are they going to draft a guy who they don't know will play safety or corner will that high of a pick? He's going as a Safety at the combine, so trying to convert him could be costly. He could slip by Miami and just keep tumbling

21-Philly..highly doubt it. Thier secondary is pretty solid and have alot of safetys that contribute already. PASS
22 Vikings-Paid a bunch of money for Madeu Williams last year and have Sharper. PASS
23-Pats- maybe, but they have Harrison and Meriwhether, I highly doubt they take him. PASS
24-Atlanta- They do need help on defense, but they will go D-line or OLB here.PASS
25-Miami- This is the only place I could see him go. This will be the deciding factor PASS*
26-Ravens- Ed Reed,Leonard/Landry.enough said PASS
27-Colts- Bob Sanders, Bethea PASS
28-Philly-PASS
29-Giants..spent a first rounder last year on Phillips and they like Tyrell and Butler. PASS
30. Tennessee- Hope and Griffin. PASS
31.Cards-Adrian Wilson and Antrell Rolle.PASS
32-Pitt- Poly and Ryan Clark. PASS

Of course teams can trade up and down and players could keep falling which changes alot, but there's still a good chance. If he's there at 35-40 I make no hesitation and trade for him!!

besides the obvious issue you raised of a near certainty teams will move around in this range lets look at your list again.

21-Philly... Have a very aggressive defense that relies on safety play and a very aging Brian Dawkins.
22 Vikings-Sharper is an older player who could be released.
23-Pats- again they need a safety.
24-Atlanta- They need a safety.
25-Miami- They badly need a safety.
26-Ravens- They value defense and size/speed combos.
27-Colts- Sanders misses a lot of games but makes that D go when he is there. Time to find someone who can be the next guy.
28-Philly-see above.
29-Giants..not above stocking up any any one position but unlikely they touch safety.
30. Tennessee- Tennessee could see him a CB
31.Cards-probably pass
32-Pitt- Poly and Ryan Clark. young flexible defender capable of playing in nickel and dime schemes day 1 may appeal for a super bowl winner without a ton of holes.

Teams find ways to use good players. Unless this guy runs a much slower than anticipated 40 he will go round 1 almost assuredly. He is only going to rise as the underwear olympics start because he has ideal size/speed numbers.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I actually would not mind Rashad Johnson with our 3rd rounder. He can hit and cover extremely well. Nick Sabian said "Rashad is the smartest player I've ever coached". I think that's half the battle right there with having the smarts to play safety. He'll probably study extremely hard and always be well prepared. We need some more "smart guys" in the secondary. I would not be opposed to Rashad.

I have pulled away from Sean Smith because he will be a pipe dream come draft day...my new guy is Rashad!!

 

[dallascowboyfanboy]

gotta hope either OL Duke Robinson or Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma will still be available in 3rd or 4th rounds.