Look through just about any mock draft out there and you’ll see either an offensive or defensive lineman headed to the Cowboys in the first round. There’s no doubt that the ‘Boys need to upgrade the interior of both units, but let’s not forget that new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has traditionally favored small, ball-hawking safeties.
The Cowboys don’t have that type of player on the roster right now. If they choose to retain Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff, safety could all of a sudden become a position to watch. If so, Florida’s Matt Elam could be on the Cowboys’ radar.
Scouting Report
Elam’s greatest strength as a safety is his versatility. At Florida, he lined up all over the place—in the box, in the slot, and in a single-high deep position. He’s a highly-athletic football player who can do a lot of things well; he’s a sensational tackler—more consistent than people think—and can be solid in coverage if used properly.
In the running game, Elam excels when he can fly up to make hits. Even from a deep position, he’s capable of making big plays behind the line-of-scrimmage. You can see an example of that at the 27-second mark below. The willingness to come up to make a hit that you see there is an always-present characteristic of Elam’s game. He’s much like former Colts safety Bob Sanders in that way.
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