Safety prospects come in different flavors. Some are good playing out in space, cover big parts of the field, in pass coverage and some are great in the box, playing close to the line of scrimmage. Here are the top strong safeties in this year’s draft. Guys who are at their best playing in the box.
1. SS Landon Collins 6’0 228 lbs Jr. Alabama (#22 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.53 Bench Press: 16 reps Vertical: 35′ Broad Jump: 10’0 3 Cone: 7.38 Short Shuttle: 4.33
Career Stats: 41 Games 190 Tackles 8.5 TFL 5 INT 13 PBU 3 FF
Strengths: Collins is a very good tackler, will deliver a blow, tackle with form, instead of accepting the contact. Really trusts his eyes, fills the run lanes with vigor and bad intentions. Can play the nickel/dime LB spot, similar to how the Cardinals played S Deone Bucannon and the Rams use S Mark Barron. Collins is at his best playing in the box, close to the line of scrimmage. Flashes some ability to play the deep halves. Great special teams cover guy. Some Tampa 2 teams look at him as a “Will” Linebacker. Collins has decent ball skills.
Weaknesses: Lacks the overall speed and agility to play man coverage and the deep parts of the field.
2. SS Ibraheim Campbell 5’11 208 lbs rSr. Northwestern (#41 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
40 Time: 4.54 Bench Press: 23 reps 3 Cone: 6.74 Short Shuttle: 4.21
Career Stats: 46 Games 316 Tackles 7.5 TFL 6 FF 11 INT 24 PBU
Strengths: Campbell, Philly born and bred, is a excellent tackler, reads the run, gets to the ballcarrier with bad intentions. Forced 4 fumbles in just 8 games in 2014. Shows the speed to track down ball carriers on the edges. Excels playing in the box, can be the nickel/dime LB in passing situations. Flashes some ability to play in space away from the line of scrimmage. Has good ball skills, gets his hands on a lot of footballs. Can cover the TE’s and some RB’s one on one out of the backfield.
Weaknesses: Teams use his aggressiveness against him, he bites hard on plays fakes, and misdirection plays. Campbell must become a more disciplined player.
3. SS Jaquiski Tartt 6’1 221 lbs rSr. Samford (#104 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
40 Time: 4.47 Bench Press: 13 reps Vertical: 33′ Broad Jump: 10’3 Short Shuttle: 4.29 3 Cone: 7.03
Career Stats: 44 Games 273 Tackles 6 INT 20 PBU
Strengths: Tartt is a big, fast heat seeking missile at the safety position. Played a lot of cover 2 deep in college, where he made a habit of coming up and laying big hits on WR’s across the middle. Plays a big part vs the run, trusts his eyes, fills the lanes well and is a very good tackler. Very physical football player, who translates to the box as a NFL player. Really opened eyes during Senior Bowl week with his physical play and tackling.
Weaknesses: Bites hard on fakes and short routes in front of him, allowing the deep ball behind him. Struggles at times making tackles out on the perimeter in space.
4. SS Clayton Geathers 6’2 218 lbs rSr. UCF (#118 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
40 Time: 4.55 Bench Press: 22 reps Vertical: 37′ Broad Jump: 10’0 3 Cone: 7.21 Short Shuttle: 4.21
Career Stats: 53 Games 383 Tackles 19 TFL 5 FF 30 PBU 3 INT
Strengths: Geathers has great size, speed and physicality for a box safety. Very hard hitter, damn good tackler, when he trusts his eyes and keys, he’s pretty good. Can cover TE’s one on one. Flashes the ability to play some deep 2. Has a lot of pop, causing fumbles or knocking the ball loose before the WR can secure it.
Weaknesses: Geathers can be undisciplined at times when in coverage, biting on play fakes, giving up the big plays. Has some issues opening up his hips and changing direction in pass coverage. Has to break down and make the sure tackle, misses at times going for the big hit.
5. SS Jordan Richards 5’11 211 lbs Sr. Stanford (#157 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
40 Time: 4.59 Bench Press: 13 reps Vertical: 34′ Broad Jump: 9’3 3 Cone: 6.74 Short Shuttle: 4.22
Career Stats: 54 Games 247 Tackles 13 TFL 9 INT 24 PBU 5 FF
Strengths: Richards has played some deep CF, deep 2 man and in the box where he is at his best. In the box his physical nature, toughness, and tackling ability are on display. Will come down and lay the lumber on ball carriers and WR’s. Has good hands, catches the ones that he gets his hands on.
Weaknesses: Richards lack of speed, athleticism, and agility is exposed when he’s asked to play further from the line of scrimmage. Not rangy enough to cover the deep parts of the field on a consistent basis.
6. S Anthony Harris 6’1 183 lbs Sr. Virginia (#162 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
40 Time: 4.56
Career Stats: 49 Games 289 Tackles 11 INT 19 PBU
Strengths: Harris is a ball hawk, eyes and instincts are good, puts him in position to get his hands on the football. Shows the speed and range to get to the football on the perimeter when playing the deep half. Despite his slim frame, Harris is a willing tackler, not afraid to come down in the box and get involved in the run game. Decent open field tackler. Is a scheme fit in a Tampa 2.
Weaknesses: Harris is recovering from a shoulder injury and hasn’t been able to workout during the draft period. He really needs to add weight and bulk to his frame if he’s to hold up as a S in the NFL. Struggles when asked to cover slot WR’s man to man.
Other prospects with a draft worthy grade:
7. SS Erick Dargen 5’11 212 lbs rSr. Oregon (#207 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
8. SS Kyshoen Jarrett 5’10 200 lbs Sr. Va. Tech (#239 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
9. SS Dean Marlowe 6’1 203 lbs rSr. James Madison (#241 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
10. SS/OLB Sam Carter 6’0 203 lbs rSr. TCU (#256 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
Muslim Football Scout 