By Pat Kirwan | NFL.com
Senior Analyst
Pat Kirwan's take: It wasn't too long ago that there was a strong distinction between strong safeties and free safeties. Those days are gone; a true strong safety that lives down in the box in run support has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Offenses attack with multiple personnel groups and endless formation possibilities in hopes of creating the matchup they need to win. It has become very easy to expose safeties with poor open-field coverage skills. Look at the issues that surround Roy Williams in Dallas. Titans coach Jeff Fisher told me this winter that the need for safeties that can cover like corners has put some fine athletes on the field, but they can break down when they have to get up in run support.
In the past few years, we have seen a number of safety/corner hybrid players jump up into the first round, and it might happen again this year. The popular opinion just a few weeks ago was there might not be a safety taken in the first round. Right now it looks like there's a chance for two safeties to go in the top 31 picks. When you look at the NFC East, every team has a vertical-threat tight end -- Jeremy Shockey (Giants), Chris Cooley (Redskins), L.J. Smith (Eagles), and Jason Witten (Cowboys), which means opponents better have a new breed safety or they are in trouble.
1. Kenny Phillips, Miami
Height: 6-2 Weight: 212
College stats: 33 starts, 241 tackles, 15 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles.
Vital numbers: 4.48 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 34 vertical
Phillips is the top safety on most draft boards, if not all, but Tyrell Johnson is making a late run for the top spot. One GM described Phillips as a great tackler but without the range of some of the other great Miami safeties. Has better strong safety (in the box) skills than he has free safety skills but he can play in the deep hole or half field. Draft projection: Round 1.
2. Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State
Height: 6-0 Weight: 207
College stats: 45 starts, 353 tackles, 28 passes defended, 13 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.41 40-yard dash, 4.42 short shuttle, 39 vertical
Johnson is a fast riser on draft boards and is now capable of being a first-round pick. He is a fine tackler, can line up and cover a wide receiver or tight end. One defensive coordinator likes his mechanics over all the other safeties. The Arkansas State competition seemed to be a concern earlier in the process but the workouts puts those concerns to rest. Some might feel he could play corner. Draft projection: Round 1-2.
3. DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State
Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
College stats: 12 starts, 225 tackles, 15 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.56 40-yard dash, 4.41 short shuttle, 37 ½ vertical
Morgan is listed as a one-year starter but after talking to him he pointed out how much he played the previous year. He's not a great tackler but is smooth in transition in the open field. He has better range in zone coverage than his 40 time would suggest. He can get trapped making mistakes on the field and a good quarterback can bait him into mental errors. Draft projection: Round 2.
4. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
Height: 5-11 Weight: 211
College stats: 47 starts, 300 tackles, 15 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.44 40-yard dash, 4.04 short shuttle, 32 ½ vertical
Zbikowski really intrigued me at the Senior Bowl practices. He plays faster than advertised; he really understands offenses and how to play formations and routes. He may not be great at the next level but he will be a reliable pro who could be a starter down the road. In the meantime, he will be ready to come off the bench quickly. Draft projection: Round 3.
5. Quintin Demps, Texas-El Paso
Height: 5-11 Weight: 206
College stats: 46 starts, 275 tackles, 41 passes defended, 17 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash, 4.14 short shuttle, 34 ½ vertical
Demps did not jump out at me during Senior Bowl practices. He has great measurables and production. His open-field tackling leaves something to be desired but he does make plays on the ball. He can return punts, play on kick coverage units and be a third safety in his rookie season. Draft projection: Round 4.
6. Craig Steltz, LSU
Height: 6-1 Weight: 213
College stats: 20 starts, 184 tackles, 18 passes defended, 11 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.60 40-yard dash, 4.19 short shuttle, 35 vertical
Steltz is a very good college safety who some feel will fail in the NFL. I've talked with Steltz and watched a number of his game tapes and I see him playing in the NFL for a number of years. He may be a special teams guy and a reserve safety but he knows the game and plays it with passion. There is still room for men like that in the NFL. He didn't start at LSU right away, but when he got his chance he proved he belonged. He will do the same thing in the NFL. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
7. Simeon Castille, Alabama
Height: 6-0 Weight: 195
College stats: 29 starts, 176 tackles, 31 passes defended, 12 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.56 40-yard dash, 4.36 short shuttle, 31 ½ vertical
Castille only had eight reps on the bench and doesn't have exceptional speed but he does make plays on the field. Some grading systems will place him in the seventh round because of measurables. His 43 plays on the ball in 29 starts will intrigue a few teams that look for football players. He defies the numbers with football instincts. He will get hurt in the NFL if he doesn't improve his strength. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
8. Jamar Adams, Michigan
Height: 6-2 Weight: 212
College stats: 34 starts, 172 tackles, 18 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.62 40-yard dash, 4.59 short shuttle, 34 vertical
His forty time is a concern and his short shuttle says he will struggle in space but his height may help him overcome some of the problems. He made 15 big plays in 13 games this past season and may be coming into his own. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
9. Josh Barrett, Arizona State
Height: 6-1 Weight: 223
College stats: 27 starts, 174 tackles, 19 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.35 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 31 ½ vertical
Barrett was benched last season. When I asked him about the experience, he gave me a mature answer. He said the coaches felt he needed to get off the field and think about what an opportunity he had in front of him. When he returned, he was a better player. He is really an old-fashioned strong safety candidate and that is a dying breed. He may become a weak inside backer in some schemes much like Thomas Davis did for the Panthers. His drop off in production from his junior year to his senior campaign has raised some questions. He came away with 44 less tackles, and 4 less tackles for a loss are an issue. Draft projection: Round 5.
10. Thomas DeCoud, California
Height: 6-1 Weight: 207
College stats: 16 starts, 203 tackles, 8 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.50 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 35 ½ vertical
The more tape I watch of DeCoud, the more I like him. He is capable of playing quarters coverage, back peddling on the snap of the ball, reading run and making a play near the line of scrimmage. DeCoud has corner experience, as well as the size and movement skills to play at the next level. A cover 2 team may like him at corner and he has a history of blocking kicks as a special teams player. If the injury bugs bites him like it did in college, he will fall back in the pack and his career will be short. Draft projection: Rounds 6.
Senior Analyst
Pat Kirwan's take: It wasn't too long ago that there was a strong distinction between strong safeties and free safeties. Those days are gone; a true strong safety that lives down in the box in run support has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Offenses attack with multiple personnel groups and endless formation possibilities in hopes of creating the matchup they need to win. It has become very easy to expose safeties with poor open-field coverage skills. Look at the issues that surround Roy Williams in Dallas. Titans coach Jeff Fisher told me this winter that the need for safeties that can cover like corners has put some fine athletes on the field, but they can break down when they have to get up in run support.
In the past few years, we have seen a number of safety/corner hybrid players jump up into the first round, and it might happen again this year. The popular opinion just a few weeks ago was there might not be a safety taken in the first round. Right now it looks like there's a chance for two safeties to go in the top 31 picks. When you look at the NFC East, every team has a vertical-threat tight end -- Jeremy Shockey (Giants), Chris Cooley (Redskins), L.J. Smith (Eagles), and Jason Witten (Cowboys), which means opponents better have a new breed safety or they are in trouble.
1. Kenny Phillips, Miami
Height: 6-2 Weight: 212
College stats: 33 starts, 241 tackles, 15 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles.
Vital numbers: 4.48 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 34 vertical
Phillips is the top safety on most draft boards, if not all, but Tyrell Johnson is making a late run for the top spot. One GM described Phillips as a great tackler but without the range of some of the other great Miami safeties. Has better strong safety (in the box) skills than he has free safety skills but he can play in the deep hole or half field. Draft projection: Round 1.
2. Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State
Height: 6-0 Weight: 207
College stats: 45 starts, 353 tackles, 28 passes defended, 13 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.41 40-yard dash, 4.42 short shuttle, 39 vertical
Johnson is a fast riser on draft boards and is now capable of being a first-round pick. He is a fine tackler, can line up and cover a wide receiver or tight end. One defensive coordinator likes his mechanics over all the other safeties. The Arkansas State competition seemed to be a concern earlier in the process but the workouts puts those concerns to rest. Some might feel he could play corner. Draft projection: Round 1-2.
3. DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State
Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
College stats: 12 starts, 225 tackles, 15 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.56 40-yard dash, 4.41 short shuttle, 37 ½ vertical
Morgan is listed as a one-year starter but after talking to him he pointed out how much he played the previous year. He's not a great tackler but is smooth in transition in the open field. He has better range in zone coverage than his 40 time would suggest. He can get trapped making mistakes on the field and a good quarterback can bait him into mental errors. Draft projection: Round 2.
4. Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame
Height: 5-11 Weight: 211
College stats: 47 starts, 300 tackles, 15 passes defended, 8 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.44 40-yard dash, 4.04 short shuttle, 32 ½ vertical
Zbikowski really intrigued me at the Senior Bowl practices. He plays faster than advertised; he really understands offenses and how to play formations and routes. He may not be great at the next level but he will be a reliable pro who could be a starter down the road. In the meantime, he will be ready to come off the bench quickly. Draft projection: Round 3.
5. Quintin Demps, Texas-El Paso
Height: 5-11 Weight: 206
College stats: 46 starts, 275 tackles, 41 passes defended, 17 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash, 4.14 short shuttle, 34 ½ vertical
Demps did not jump out at me during Senior Bowl practices. He has great measurables and production. His open-field tackling leaves something to be desired but he does make plays on the ball. He can return punts, play on kick coverage units and be a third safety in his rookie season. Draft projection: Round 4.
6. Craig Steltz, LSU
Height: 6-1 Weight: 213
College stats: 20 starts, 184 tackles, 18 passes defended, 11 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.60 40-yard dash, 4.19 short shuttle, 35 vertical
Steltz is a very good college safety who some feel will fail in the NFL. I've talked with Steltz and watched a number of his game tapes and I see him playing in the NFL for a number of years. He may be a special teams guy and a reserve safety but he knows the game and plays it with passion. There is still room for men like that in the NFL. He didn't start at LSU right away, but when he got his chance he proved he belonged. He will do the same thing in the NFL. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
7. Simeon Castille, Alabama
Height: 6-0 Weight: 195
College stats: 29 starts, 176 tackles, 31 passes defended, 12 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.56 40-yard dash, 4.36 short shuttle, 31 ½ vertical
Castille only had eight reps on the bench and doesn't have exceptional speed but he does make plays on the field. Some grading systems will place him in the seventh round because of measurables. His 43 plays on the ball in 29 starts will intrigue a few teams that look for football players. He defies the numbers with football instincts. He will get hurt in the NFL if he doesn't improve his strength. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
8. Jamar Adams, Michigan
Height: 6-2 Weight: 212
College stats: 34 starts, 172 tackles, 18 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.62 40-yard dash, 4.59 short shuttle, 34 vertical
His forty time is a concern and his short shuttle says he will struggle in space but his height may help him overcome some of the problems. He made 15 big plays in 13 games this past season and may be coming into his own. Draft projection: Rounds 5.
9. Josh Barrett, Arizona State
Height: 6-1 Weight: 223
College stats: 27 starts, 174 tackles, 19 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Vital numbers: 4.35 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 31 ½ vertical
Barrett was benched last season. When I asked him about the experience, he gave me a mature answer. He said the coaches felt he needed to get off the field and think about what an opportunity he had in front of him. When he returned, he was a better player. He is really an old-fashioned strong safety candidate and that is a dying breed. He may become a weak inside backer in some schemes much like Thomas Davis did for the Panthers. His drop off in production from his junior year to his senior campaign has raised some questions. He came away with 44 less tackles, and 4 less tackles for a loss are an issue. Draft projection: Round 5.
10. Thomas DeCoud, California
Height: 6-1 Weight: 207
College stats: 16 starts, 203 tackles, 8 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles
Vital numbers: 4.50 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 35 ½ vertical
The more tape I watch of DeCoud, the more I like him. He is capable of playing quarters coverage, back peddling on the snap of the ball, reading run and making a play near the line of scrimmage. DeCoud has corner experience, as well as the size and movement skills to play at the next level. A cover 2 team may like him at corner and he has a history of blocking kicks as a special teams player. If the injury bugs bites him like it did in college, he will fall back in the pack and his career will be short. Draft projection: Rounds 6.