Gimme's safety draft

gimmesix

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
Messages
48,135
Reaction score
46,129
Just picked up PFW's draft preview, and decided while I'm combing over the evaluations I'd put together a series of position-specific drafts based on the write-ups and where PFW has the players ranked.

Essentially, this is a best-pick-per-round draft at one position based on who is expected to be available (per PFW).

1. FS Nate Allen, South Florida
Would like to have taken Earl Thomas, but he is rated 12th by PFW. Allen is the 36th-ranked prospect and has great coverage skills to play center field, although his run support skills are questionable.

2. FS Chris Cook, Virginia
Would be converted from cornerback because of his size to play safety, but will have to work on becoming a run supporter. Has nice size and speed for the position. Projected to be a second- or third-round pick.

3. FS Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Indiana (Pa.)
Great size-speed ratio and has the tools to mold into a top free safety. Probably will go higher based on his speed, but PFW has him as a fourth- to fifth-round prospect, and I’ve moved him up from there. And if Dallas has him rated in the second-round range, I'd take him over Cook.

4. FS Sherrick McManis, Northwestern or SS Barry Church, Toledo
McManis has good speed and instincts for the position and plays physical, but possibly could have trouble transitioning from corner from a mechanics standpoint. Church would be a physical run-defending strong safety with solid short area zone coverage skills and starter potential. Both are projected to be fourth- or fifth-round picks.

6. FS Brian Jackson, Oklahoma or SS Terrell Skinner, Maryland
Jackson is another corner convert who has good hands and reaction skills, but lacks speed. Skinner is a converted receiver who plays the run hard, but would be a work in progress in coverage. Jackson is listed as fifth- to sixth-round prospect, while Skinner is a late draftable pick.

7. FS Mike Newton, Buffalo or FS Van Eskridge, East Carolina
Newton has good athleticism, instincts and character, and works hard in the weight room to overcome his size limitations. Might be my favorite underdog safety based on his write-up. Eskridge was the Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and has good hands, but he lacks speed. Both are listed priority free agents.
 
Interesting approach. I like it, and I could see similiar things being useful as well....the all OL draft, in particular.
 
casmith07;3324755 said:
No love for Robert Johnson out of Utah?

No, because PFW does not include him in its analyses. He is listed as the 10th-best FS available in its position rankings in the back, two behind Eskridge.
 
UnoDallas;3324762 said:
or Mryon Lewis

Morgan Burnett

Lewis could be interesting as a free safety prospect. He appears to be better coming forward to make plays than he does backpedaling. I didn't see anything about the possibility of him being a free safety, but his skills sound right for the position.

Burnett I don't think is worth taking in the second round and maybe not in the third. His speed and range are knocked and his analysis says he's undisciplined.
 
Biggems;3324836 said:
Major Wright, Myron Rolle, Eddie Hicks?

I didn't like Wright over others in his draft range. PFW says Florida's talent on defense masked his coverage deficiences and that he is an in-the-box zone defender at best.

Rolle is "limited by his average play speed, lack of flexibility and marginal ball skills."

No information on Hicks, who they do not rank among 54 strong safeties and 34 free safeties, unless you mean Washington State's Xavier Hicks, who is the 31st-ranked free safety.
 
gimmesix;3326000 said:
I didn't like Wright over others in his draft range. PFW says Florida's talent on defense masked his coverage deficiences and that he is an in-the-box zone defender at best.

Rolle is "limited by his average play speed, lack of flexibility and marginal ball skills."

No information on Hicks, who they do not rank among 54 strong safeties and 34 free safeties, unless you mean Washington State's Xavier Hicks, who is the 31st-ranked free safety.


Eddie Hicks from Southern Mississippi
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
474,003
Messages
14,505,678
Members
24,207
Latest member
TomGiantsfan
Back
Top