Draft preview: Looking at the secondary
It is no secret that the Eagles are in need of help in the secondary in the upcoming draft.
Draft preview: Looking at the secondary
Paul Domowitch
It is no secret that the Eagles are in need of help in the secondary in the upcoming draft.
As part of the Daily News' series with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, here is his take on the top player, the riser and the sleeper among cornerbacks and safeties:
Safeties
The Best
Earl Thomas, Texas
Height, weight: 5-10 ¼, 202
40 time: 4.37
Projected round: 1
Mayock: "I think he’s what the league is all about today. To me, he should be a top 15 pick. He probably won’t be, but he should be. He’s the most instinctive free safety I’ve seen in a lot of years. He will tackle. He’s a playmaker. He had 8 interceptions. He can cover man. In the passing league that the NFL has become, he’s the ideal safety.’’
The Riser
Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
Height, weight: 6-1 ½, 209
40 time: 4.45
Projected round: 2
Mayock: ``He looks the part (of a safety). He had a great Pro Day. People like him as a free safety. He’s big. He runs well. He’s got range. He will tackle. For me, he’s a little too inconsistent. But he probably goes in the second round, even though his play on the field this year was closer to a third- or fourth-rounder.’’
The Sleeper
Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech
Height, weight: 5-11, 203
40-time: 4.55
Projected round.: 6
Mayock: ``Russ Grimm’s son. He finally cracked the starting lineup last season and had great one-year production. He was always considered too slow or too small or too something. But he had 6 or 7 forced fumbles; a ridiculous number. He’ll be a core special teams player. He’ll be a strong safety. And he’ll be impossible to cut.’’
Cornerbacks
The Best
Joe Haden, Florida
Height, weight: 5-10 ½, 193
40 time: 4.43
Projected round.: 1
Mayock: ``He’s smart, physical, instinctive and tough. He’s a little tight. Doesn’t have elite corner speed. He plays that boundary corner. People might get a little nervous putting him out there with a 6-2 burner. But I like him because he’s so physical and so instinctive. I think he goes in the top half of the first round.’’
The Riser
Kareem Jackson, Alabama
Height, weight: 5-10 ½, 196
40 time: 4.40
Projected round: 2
Mayock: ``He’s a typical Nick Saban corner. Well-coached. Physical. This kid will tackle. He’d make a great compliment to Asante Samuel if the Eagles took him. He ran better than people expected and really helped himself. Some people think he’ll sneak into the first round, but I think he’s a second-rounder.’’
The Sleeper
Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt
Height, weight: 6-1 ½, 203
40 time: 4.42
Projected round: 4-5
Mayock: ``He kind of had a down year last year and fell off a lot of people’s radar. Had some injuries and wasn’t as physical his senior year as he was as a junior. But he’s one of the biggest corners in the draft with extremely long arms (34 inches). He ran well at the combine, and (vertical) jumped 37 inches. He’s a guy somebody’s going to take fairly late and they’re going to get a good football player.’’
No way in the world should they take Taylor Mays, or any safety for that matter, in the first round. Unless one of the elite safeties fell into their lap. If they could get Earl Thomas and Pouncey with their first two picks, it's a successful draft.— beegal99- What about Myron Rolle in the 2nd round? He's a big, physical, athletic safety. He's obviously a smart, high character guy. It seems like people aren't taking him seriously as a football player because the guy's a Rhodes scholar.— soulman386
- that's funny, I would have assumed Eric Berry was the best safety— eagles84
- soulman - myron rolle will be there in the 5th round.— EaglesBleedMoney
- I watched Taylor Mays for years. Not a safety. He doesn't play the ball. He will make a great WILL. Remember Jerry Robinson?— LA Mike
- Berry is absolutely the best S in the draft, as he is arguably the best defensive player in the draft. That being said, the kid Jackson from Alabama sounds exactly like what we need at CB; a smart, athletic kid who is not afraid to put his helmet on the other team and make physical tackles. And Russ Grimm’s kid sounds intriguing, not as the initial starter, more of an special teamer with future SS starter potential.— The Reddgie
- This guy Mayock is out-to-lunch! He doesn't know about E. Berry? I'd take Chad Jones-S-LSU (Round 2 or 3) over Earl Thomas (Round 1). Forget the $ savings. 1) I don't like Big 12 DBs, never have, never will. Chad Jones is a magnet to the ball, equal the athlete Thomas is with equal size. And now we need a CB more than S. The drop off from round 1-2 is steeper at CB than at S. Corner - there's a really good reason Joe Haden scares NFL scouts. Despite his flawless technique, his athletic attributes REALLY don't measure up. Whether it's flat speed, agility or leg strength, Jackson and Kyle Wilson beat him badly. Joe Haden spent his time at FL playing bump-and-run exclusively. What happens on Sundays, when the receivers are bigger and faster, and Haden can't get a lock on them? TOUCHDOWN! Why draft a kid at 10-15 (or even at 20!) if he can't cover the BEST WRs in the NFL? Between Jackson and Kyle Wilson, I'd take Kyle Wilson. He has Haden's flawless technique, and he's an athletic freak! The coaches at the Senior Bowl, from both teams, ALL came away saying the same thing (paraphrase): "Kyle Wilson was BY FAR the best CB here. No doubt at all. Not even close. The separation between him and #2 is vast." Round 1: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St. Round 2: Darryl Washington, OLB, TCU. Round 2 or 3: Chad Jones, S, LSU. POOF! DEFENSE REBUILT!— montgomeryhopkins
- If he considers Thomas to be the best, he has to at least mention Eric Berry and the fact that most scouts consider him the best. This was written as though Berry didn't exist, even though he could get picked between #4 and #8.— tacklinjoe
- They didnt put Berry on this list bc he is going top 7... Would love to get Weatherspoon or Pouncey in first and take allen in the 2nd. If you go Pouncey and Allen, u take Butler with the 2nd pick in round 2. Done! Center, LB, Safety all can start asap. Allen maybe.— fman727
- fricken moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— pevans1
