DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2018 NFL Season 2018 NFL Draft Free Safety Prospects

Hey guys..

What Free Safeties are you all looking at?

All I know of is Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama.. outside of that, I have no clue who's getting hyped.

I haven't been following. I sure would appreciate it if others shared their knowledge on FS's.

And no SS's please. LOL

He's the only one I've paid that much attention to. Marcus Allen from Penn State stood out in the few games I watched of theirs.

I think the bold distinctions between SS and FS are becoming more muddled. There are quite a few prospects, in recent years and this year, that look like they can play either position. Peppers is a prime example of this. The top safeties who aren't Minkah Fitzpatrick also fit the role of SS/FS hybrid. Derwin James, Marcus Allen, Justin Reid, and Deshon Elliot can play both safety positions. So I am now just wondering what we need our other starting safety to do well, in hopes of developing a criteria to see if one of the aforementioned players can fit that role. However, the only criteria I have is that they must be able to cover a TE. It's a very hard position to look at imo.

Not to take away from the point of this thread, but I don't think Peppers has proven much as a FS. This year is pretty much a wash for him.

I can understand his struggles defensively as he adjusts to the NFL and playing a new position for him but I expected a lot more in the return game then what he has shown.

I am not knocking you. We all have our opinions and you expressed yours. However, I totally disagree w/there not being much of a difference between FS's and SS's.

Our D is experiencing just how bad it can be when you have two SS's and not one FS.

Some guys I have seen mentioned as possible NFL FS candidates are Armani Watts from Texas A&M, DeShon Elliott from Texas, Jordan Whitehead from Pitt., Marcus Allen from Penn St. and Quin Blanding from Virginia.

I totally agree with your disagreement, because I did not say that. I mentioned the top prospects ambiguity. Have you watched them play?

Who is supposed to cover TE's in our defense? We currently have no one who can cover them. So do we draft a safety or a linebacker to do this?

I think we need both.

My bad. I misunderstood you.

I already said I haven't watched the guys and was hoping that you guys could educate me. I just specified that I wanted to hear about FS's rather SS's. I think we have two SS's on our team but no FS's. That's all.

That's all you need to know because if the Houston pick holds, or gets a little better, Fitzpatrick might be that at 4-5. If so, take him.

Kameron Kelly, CB/FS, San Diego State is the FS outside of Fitzpatrick that I'm most interested in so far. Still a long way from Fitzpatrick to him. Whitehead is kind of interesting, too.

I'm looking at Quin Blanding and Jordan Whitehead. Both are sure tacklers that play the run & pass. Both have ball hawking skills. I think if Minkah is there at five we have to take him (or Saquon) but if we don't or can't one of these two (or both) might be an option.

Chris Hawkins at USC could be a day 2/3 guy.

I take it that safety class isn't as strong as last year's????

Virginia senior S Quin Blanding accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Blanding (6'2/205) has been a stalwart on the Virginia defense in his time as a Cavalier, and led all safeties in tackles this year with 121. He also intercepted five passes. If Blanding shows he's adapt in coverage over the event, he could see his current early Day 3 draft stock move up into the first three rounds.

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/cfb/college-football/?ls=roto%3acfb%3amorenewsbottom

I've watched a few Deshon Elliot games and I think I'm in love. He has such a high football IQ and is able to do anything on the field. Texas runs him as both the SS and FS and skill set shows why. He's very good at being physical within the box. Has very little problems with tackling offensive players. And he's quick off of any blitz. I'd like to see him take on blockers a little more frequent, than trying to run around them. But he's an A+ in the run game.

His coverage ability is also a positive. While he wasn't asked to cover TE's much, he did a very good job at jamming them when they came in contact. He's great at looking into the backfield as part of his coverage. It seems to help him understand the play better. I haven't seen him have to cover slots WRs as much, so I'm curious on how he works against double moves. But overall I think he has enough talent to get selected into the 1st round.

FWIW (nothing) Drafttek.com has Elliot being drafted at #96 which is the las pick of round 3.

Take a peak at Quin Blanding S Virginia.
I'd be interested in a comparison.

Any games you suggest watching? I'm going to try to get to it later this weekend, I think I'm going to watch Indiana, Miami, Louisville as they seem like the better passing teams Virginia faced this year.

I haven't seen him play so my game suggestions wouldn't be any better than yours. I just read good things about him.

When I watch videos tp scout players, I like to pick his teams toughest opponents.

The big name guys have already been covered.

Here are a couple late round safety prospects I liked from last year:

Andrew Wingate
Dominic Sanders

Just got done watching the Miami game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaPyA9wC9og

What I noticed is that he is not a good tackler. He never wraps up, just launches himself into legs and hope that it takes the player out.
Doesn't fight through blocks very well, if at all.
He plays a lot of zone coverage and not too much man. I wanted to start with Miami to see how he would play against Berrios, one of the best slot WRs in college football imo, and didn't really see a lot of this matchup. When I did Barrios got the better of him.
I really do like his football IQ. He'd always run underneath routes when getting into his zone. That makes a tighter window for QBs to throw into. He seems to be an average athlete.

Overall, I'm pretty unimpressed. I'll have to see how he does against Louisville, GT and Indiana, but I think he's around a 5th round talent.

This year is hilarious to me. Fitz is the go to FS even though he's never played FS. Anyone who watches tape can see that. He's played CB and the same position Jabrill played essentially. Yet he makes even less plays than jabrill did. He's safe and smart but he's not a playmaker and hasn't proven he can play in space. It's a projection. He does his job, doesn't blow plays and is versatile.

Yet the top true safety in Derwin is deemed a SS because of his size even though he actually plays more snaps at safety than anyone but maybe elliot and is easily the most gifted athlete of the bunch despite being 20lb and a few inches larger. The draft profiles are really bugging me this year if you cant tell.

Anyways. Fitz is safe but not a difference maker. Derwin is risky but a generational level talent with flashes of elite ability. Elliot has the production and experience and I expect him to produce most day 1 but maybe has a capped ceiling. Reminds me of Gipson. More of a clean up FS than a disruptor/playmaker. Whitehead is a feisty little dude who could fit really well as angel and has some good upside but there's not a lot of tape yet. Very instinctive and flies. Those 4 are the only potential day 1 plus starters imo

I think it reflects the changes in the game. With today's modern passing game your SS needs to be able to cover TE/RBs while also being able to play in and around the box. The FS needs to be able to cover slot WRs, play that deep range role and make some plays in the running game.

I like your takes and agree with them. Minkah's lack of elite speed, is a knock on him as a top 5 pick. And while I like Whitehead a lot, he has been suspended a few times from the program due to failed drug tests.

Have you checked out Justin Reid?

This is untrue. Fitzpatrick has played plenty of FS and deep safety in general. He's the total opposite to Jabrill Peppers. Fitzpatrick is used much more closely to how the Honey Badger was used at LSU. Much more conducive to a natural fit at FS, and very much a "nickel safety" as opposed to Peppers just outright being used as a linebacker.



Jabrill Peppers had 1 interception and 11 passes defended in college. Derwin James has 3 interceptions and 15 passes defended. Minkah Fitzpatrick has 9 interceptions and 23 passes defended. On top of that, he's been impressively productive with tackles for a loss, sacks and tackles overall. The kid isn't just limited to coverage, he's a fantastic thumper in his own right.

So, he's not less productive. He's more productive in spite of the opposition avoiding Fitzpatrick like the plague because he's so deadly in coverage.

I suppose that's why, just this week, an AFC Executive told NFL.com that Fitzpatrick is every bit the player that Jamal Adams is.



You make it sound like people hate Derwin James. The kid is going top 15 at worst, and very likely top 10. There is nothing wrong with him, he's a fantastic prospect, he just isn't the top FS.

James isn't as athletically gifted as Fitzpatrick, he isn't as versatile nor talented in coverage, and his quickness is a real concern - that size and speed is great until teams start scheming to get undersized, ultra fast receivers breaking routes on him. His change of direction and fluidity is suspect even though his top speed is not. That's why he's a SS prospect; and a damn fine one, but he's behind Fitzpatrick in every way.

If anyone actually wants some facts on Fitzpatrick, check out some of these great pieces. He's the kind of kid you want on your team, and he's got all the talent to back it up. He's not a quarter the loser that predator is ignorantly trying to portray him as, here is some recommended reading, because the kid is the truth;

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27416...-nfl-stars-body

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...p;sf177157715=1

https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/12/19/minkah-fitzpatrick-alabama-crimson-tide-playoff-nfl

https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ma-db-nfl-draft

Its going to be hard to find a top level safety prospect that plays Single Post FS.

Most college players don't play single post anymore AND the ones that do rarely put there best 'athletes' there.

The problem with projecting other positions CB/SS to Single Post FS is the angle and instincts and discipline are all different.

Like both Minka and Derwin.

I've seen Minka play CB (2016), S (Wash) and as Nickle DB/LB (Ark).
I probably like Minka as a CB more then a S though. He's got the size and length to cover-up WRs and TEs and the strength and fluidity to press and run. Someone like that makes a huge impact.

What are you basing the James is a FS on? Makes me think of Peppers, if he had been at safety more. Great athlete, looks the part, but ball skills and pass coverage are questions.

I see Minkah as the "he is a FS" guy. Ed Reed-like. He's the ballhawk we need.

I haven't seen either prospect play many snaps at Single Post FS.
Both imho are projections to that position.

It is rare for a secondary's best player to man the single post FS in college. Therefore its gonna be hard to find those prospects. 2 that i liked from last year were Eddie Jackson and John Johnson because you could watch tape of them play Single Post FS. Neither player plays single post in the NFL though. Johnson is SS and Jackson is half-field S because Amos plays the post more often.

I just don't think you can point to either prospect and declare that they're going to come in ready to be a playmaking single post FS let alone a good one.

I think both have the skillset to possible make the transition....and I also don't think the book is closed on Pepper's either....although I suspect he would be better in Troy Polamalu role...playing FS takes time. Very view come in right away and own it.

Overall as prospects I have them very close. I lean towards Minka because he was the more versatile college player. I think Minka can play CB and if good enough to play CB then that's where I want to play him.

For me a lot of the separation for DJ and Minka will come from:
tackling efficiency numbers
40 time, shuttle time, how fluid/stiff they look in the drills
3 cone, explosion numbers

Excellent review, thanks Blanding is now on my list of guys to avoid.

Here a couple other FS prospects that I hear good things about as well. Though my sources for Blanding weren't very good.
Again, I haven't seen any of these guys thoughI doubt that would make a difference.

Justin Reid Stanford
Armani Watts Texas A&M

Marcus Allen PSU seems highly rated but it looks like he doesn't have any interceptions in his caree which bothers me alot.

Has anyone evaluated Josh Jackson of Iowa?

I thought he was a Cb?

Yeah, you're right....never mind

Jessie Bates declared. I have no idea who that is and I haven't watched a Wake game all year, but I guess I'll have to now.

https://www.bloggersodear.com/2018/1/5/1...awson-mike-elko

Did his dad own a motel?

I don't watch a lot of College mainly because I don't have cable. I mainly begin paying attention once the losing begins and I start to read who we may be targeting in the draft and I watch highlight reels and their bowl games. Since reading this I have been watching some vids on this dude and I am amazed more have not mentioned him. From what I see I would be very happy with this guy. What is his weakness?

1) Minkah Fitzpatrick - This is the Free Safety we want. He has a huge range and you could also slap him in a Left Corner and he could cover any team's #1 WR quite well.

2) Derwin James - A freak athlete that could play both SS and FS but does not have the same range or coverage ability as Fitz

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3) Justin Reid - Another FS/SS hybrid type. Good at lots of things, but nothing projects as elite.

4) Armani Watts - Has an excellent nose for the ball but lacks high end speed and doesn't do well in man coverage.

5) DeShon Elliott - 6 INT's this year. If he was just a bit faster he would be higher on the list. He's a classic over achiever.

6) Jordan Whitehead - He reminds me a lot of Peppers and probably should be played like him. I'd prefer him at dime LB.

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7) Armani Watts - Has a good nose for the ball but is slow for a FS. Is a liability in Man coverage.

8) Siran Neal - Played corner a Jax St, but will probably play safety in the NFL. I don't know much about him but I'll be watching in the Senior Bowl.

9) Marcus Allen - I'd play him at SS, but he's too slow to play FS in my opinion.

10) Quin Blanding - Same issues as Marcus Allen.


There is a pretty big drop from the top 2. A lot of these guys are tweener types that might not have enough to excel at either position. After the top two picks, it's more like buying a lottery ticket. We might want to hedge our bets in FA.

I heard Jordon Whitehead would be ideal free safety from one of the draft gurus i respect on twitter....expects him to rise to be 2nd round