• March 18, 2024

2015 Draft Prep: Safeties

collinsThe Eagles need to find a safety to start opposite of Malcom Jenkins. I don’t believe there is a guy currently on the Eagles roster that can fill this vacancy.

Earl Wolff is thought by some as a possible option. He had a few moments his rookie season where “potential” was seen. Do you recall how terrible the other safeties were playing? What we saw out of him was more of a relief and a fresh face opportunity rather than a display of serviceable talent. He has some athleticism that makes you think he could win the job, but he is constantly injured, and time will tell if he has lost a step after the micro-fracture surgery.

Could Jaylen Watkins be a starting safety at the NFL level? Quite possibly as he has experience at the position while at Florida and even took some practice reps during his rookie season. My fear with moving Watkins to safety is there are no other corners besides him and Maxwell on this roster signed beyond the 2015 season. If the Eagles add depth at cornerback in the draft, a move to safety I would fully support, I really liked the potential of Watkins coming out of college.

Chip Kelly hasn’t suggested who would take over at safety only listing the potential replacements. Devin McCourty was targeted in the off-season but he opted to resign with the Patriots. After signing Jenkins last season and pursuing McCourty, Chip certainly has a skill-set he prefers from the safety position. It’s almost as if Chip wants a guy who has played cornerback at either the collegiate or professional level; or at the very minimum, fits more of the “free safety” like mold.

The endless search to a long term solution at safety has become tiresome. The wasted second round draft picks on Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett, trading up in the 2010 draft and passing on Earl Thomas, not moving ahead of the Packers last year for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and then passing on Deone Bucannon who the Arizona Cardinals were thrilled to select after we took Marcus Smith. Nobody expected the Eagles to find a successor to Dawkins, but it’s been a revolving door since his departure and it needs to finally come to an end.

In my opinion based on what I’ve seen from Chip and how he talks about the safety position, several guys I remove from potentially being drafted. Most of these guys are strong safeties, or known for being “in the box” schemed players.

Even if Landon Collins (ALA) were to fall to the Eagles at pick #20, it’s difficult for me to envision Chip drafting him. I think Collins is a very good football player and Chip would agree, but the skill-set that Collins will bring to an NFL team I don’t believe is one that Chip envisions as the correct “fit” for what the Eagles are looking for.

When scouting potential fits for the Eagles, I looked at a few cornerbacks in addition to available safeties that I feel fit the “Chip Kelly” mold. If one were to look at the position of “safety” and the size of several prospects, the list of guys I’m putting together “should” have additional names, but I’m leaving out guys that I don’t believe Chip would draft due to their skill-set.

My guy since seeing him at the combine and then doing some further digging, is the “one” strong safety that I feel could play in our system. Clayton Geathers (UCF) has terrific size, speed and would be a terrific value for the Eagles in the 4th round.

There are certainly some other guys who could battle it out for the other starting safety spot.

Round 2

Damarious Randall (Arizona State)-He is under six foot and two hundred pounds, played cornerback in college but is expected to move to the safety positon at the NFL level. He is a less polished version of Devin McCourty and has already made a pre-draft visit to the Eagles.
Round 3

Eric Rowe (UTAH)- Rowe has a versatile skill-set, played both cornerback and safety , and had a nice showing at both the combine and pro day. Chip was at his pro day in Utah, and the more I thought about it, I could really see him being drafted by the Eagles.

*Rowe or Randall I believe will be drafted by the Eagles in the upcoming draft.
Round 4

Clayton Geathers (UCF)- This would be “my” guy as far as waiting until day three to draft a safety, and focusing on wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback day 1 & 2. Geathers is smooth with his footwork and extremely dedicated to his craft. Not playing against the toughest of competition, the question is whether Geathers can handle both the size and versatility of NFL receivers, but I believe he can and will succeed at the NFL level.

Josh Shaw (USC)- A cornerback in college, Shaw has the build to play safety at the NFL level. Shaw had the infamous “fake” story he gave to the police, which blew up the social media world, and could deter several NFL teams from drafting him. Shaw could certainly contribute immediately on special teams as he has terrific straight line speed; and with the other safeties on the Eagles roster, fight and claw his way for playing time.

Round 5

Adrian Amos (Penn State)/ Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State)- Neither player is going to challenge for a starting role this year, but could surprise like Earl Wolff did in his rookie season.

Amos- athletic and natural with his movements, good technique but needs to improve with ability to see and trust his instincts, can play “safe” at times.

Drummond- has good size and play-making skills when the football is in the air. He isn’t fluid with his stride and can fall for double moves by receivers, but there is enough to see some upside in his overall game.

Round 6 

Jefferson (UCLA)-Played cornerback in college, best suited to play safety at the next level. Smart kid and good tackler but isn’t going to wow you with athleticism. Pac-12 going for him, and you could do much worse in the 6th round.

Round 7

Ronald Martin (LSU)- Big kid who can has a tremendous work ethic and is known best for his leadership on and off the field. Sounds like a perfect special team player to take over for Chris Maragos after the 2015 season.

Jeff Kolsky

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