It’s a new year, and the Cincinnati Bengals are going back to the drawing board in their search for a viable option at free safety.
Is the answer in this year’s draft? Let’s take a look and see.
Disclaimer: I have chosen to use comps in my evaluations, but they are intended only to compare the player’s play style to an NFL player and NOT their ability. Comping a player to a Hall of Famer is not a prediction of that player’s success, nor is comping him to an underachieving player a slight on his abilities.
1. Caleb Downs – Ohio State – 6’ – 205 – 21 years old
Starting his career at Alabama, Caleb Downs has been a defensive leader in two of the most storied programs in NCAA Football. Now he is the top safety prospect and widely considered to be one of the best players in the draft.
Pros:
- Extremely versatile player who thrives against the run.
- Gets downhill and involved in the stop, almost like a linebacker who aligned a little deeper, making him almost impossible to block.
- Shows excellent burst when he breaks down hill to make a tackle.
- Explodes through tacklers with his hips, bringing a lot more power than you might anticipate
- Consistently runs in-phase underneath receiver routes in man coverage
- Excellent reflexes, making interceptions with his quick reaction time
- Known as a leader and tone-setter.
Cons:
- Productive and powerful tackler, but his technique leaves something to be desired (Instead of bringing his hips through like a power clean, he lunges at the ball carrier’s knee,s and even when he makes the tackle, he ends up on his face)
- Does not track the ball carrier’s near hip well, and often has to rely on his agility and reflexes to adjust and make the tackle
- Focuses more on the pass catcher than the ball and lacks ball production as a result.
NFL Comp: Eric Weddle
Bengals Projection: Anyone who says that Downs fits a “need” at free safety is sadly mistaken. Downs is not a free safety. He can play in the deep field zones, but he fits better into a strong safety, nickel, or dime role.
Plugging him into Geno Stone’s role would be a waste of talent. Shifting Jordan Battle to free safety and having Stone play strong would make more sense, but it still leaves the team without a true free safety.
The Bengals should address the free safety position in free agency, allowing them to utilize Downs’s skills and versatility more effectively if he is the pick at 10.
2. A.J. Haulcy – LSU 6’ 222 – 22 years old
A.J. Haulcy is well-traveled, with stops at New Mexico, Houston, and LSU, but with that comes a wealth of experience that bodes well for his ability to make an immediate impact on Sundays.
Pros:
- Patient and makes excellent reads
- Ballhawk with 8 interceptions in the last two seasons
- Comes downhill with bad intentions to make run stops
- Hustler who is never out of a play in the run or pass game
- Gets to full speed quickly
Cons:
- Doesn’t always play from a good stance, causing laborious transitions
- Inconsistent tackling technique, often throwing his shoulder wildly rather than wrapping up
- Excellent zone defender, but man coverage skills are still developing
NFL Comp: Geno Stone
Bengals Projection: Haulcy reminds me of what the Bengals thought they were getting in Geno Stone. He is a smart player who can create turnovers and fits well into the robber role.
His tackling is a bit suspect at times, but he is a much more willing and violent tackler than Stone.
Haulcy would be a good pickup in Round 2, who could be a high-level starter if he cleans up his technique.
3. Jalon Kilgore – South Carolina – 6’1” 211 – 21 years old
Jalon Kilgore is perplexing to watch. He moves like he’s 3 inches short and hits like he’s 20 pounds heavier. Yet somehow, he is not getting the love he deserves so far in the draft cycle.
Pros:
- A tightly packed ball of energy, swagger, and bad intentions
- Ball hawk with 7 interceptions in the last two seasons, who is an even bigger threat once he gets the ball (69 return yards)
- Excellent burst and closing speed
- Physical tackler with a surprising knack for block destruction, even against larger tight ends and offensive linemen
- Leadership and football smarts are praised by the coaching staff
Cons:
- Can run with anyone, but lacks technique in man coverage
- Heavy hitter who is often reckless, diving wildly at knees
NFL Comp: Troy Polamalu
Bengals projection: Kilgore is an excellent athlete with the strength, toughness, and demeanor to be an enforcer in the secondary.
His versatility will truly be unleashed if he can clean up his tackling and develop his man coverage skills.
Similar to Downs, Kilgore would be best if he is moved around the defensive formation and not forced into a specific role.
Unlike Downs, he will be there for the taking on Day 2.
4. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – Toledo 6’2” 202 – 21yo
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren played four years of college ball, and just in case that wasn’t strange enough in today’s world, they were all for the same team. His length and smooth hips are a rare combination that would intrigue any talent developer.
Pros:
- Makes decisive reads and plays the ball
- His smooth hips are rare in a player of his size
- Demonstrates good change of direction speed
- Effective in multiple safety roles and alignments
- Effective tackler who brings the wood
- Created 14 turnovers in his career (5 interceptions and 9 forced fumbles)
Cons:
- Matches up better with size than quickness in man coverage
- Body hasn’t filled out, and he could struggle tackling grown men in the NFL
- Inconsistent pursuit angles and technique as a tackler
NFL Comp: Israel Mukuamu
Bengals Projection: McNeil-Warren has an attitude and physicality that would make him a welcome addition to the Bengals secondary. He may not have as much range as you would like, but he will still fit well into the free safety role.
He has some maturing to do, both physically and as a football player, but his potential makes him worthy of a Day 2 selection.
5. Kamari Ramsey USC – 6’ 199 – 21 years old
Kamari Ramsey is an intriguing prospect with versatility and intelligence. However, he also has a major hole in his game that will need to be addressed.
Pros:
- The best tackler in the draft at his position
- Delivers high, hard hits that make a lasting impression
- Like a magnet to the ball carrier, he is excellent in run support and always around the football
- Makes excellent reads in zone coverage and demonstrates an understanding of offensive schemes
- Plays well in man coverage, particularly against tight ends and big slots
Cons:
- Only 2 interceptions in 3 seasons as a full-time starter
- Makes tackles on receivers but rarely gets his hand on the ball
- Shows burst over short distances, but not the range to cover the deep middle
NFL Comp: DeShon Elliott
Bengals projection: Ramsey is a glorified linebacker with a nose for the football. He is also skilled in coverage, but he needs to show that he can make a play on the ball. Scouts will have to ask themselves whether or not they think he can improve in this area as they determine his grade.
He has shown enough on film to be worthy of consideration on Day 2.
6. Dillon Thieneman – Oregon 6’ 205 – 21 years old
An Indiana native, Dillon Thieneman transferred to Oregon after two seasons at Purdue. In three college seasons, he totaled 306 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
Pros:
- Takes good angles and does not overpursue the ball carrier
- Works his way through traffic without blocking himself
- Quickly strikes and disengages from blocks
- Shows the long speed and range to be a centerfielder
- Makes excellent reads on the quarterback
- Always looking to make a play on the ball, but has the discipline to know when not to
Cons:
- A bit stiff and not a twitchy athlete
- Solid tackler, but not powerful, may struggle with bigger backs
- Better at in-depth field coverage than in underneath zones, where he seems to react more slowly
- Shifty slots can give him fits in man coverage
NFL Comp: Reed Blankenship
Bengals Projection: Thieneman would fit nicely into the free safety role with the Bengals, but there is something strange about him.
It’s a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde situation, where he thrives in the deep field zone, but is slow to react to both the receiver and the ball in underneath zones.
He needs to be kept out of bad situations in man coverage, particularly with quicker slots.
Overall, I can visualize him as an immediate starter and upgrade at free safety worthy of a Day 2 pick.
7. Bud Clark – TCU 6’2” 185 – 24 years old (estimated)
Bud Clark spent 6 years in college, but unlike Tommy Callahan, he was highly productive with 15 interceptions in the last 4 seasons,. .
Pros:
- Produces interceptions
- Makes some plays on the ball that look like a glitch in the game
- Good reads and reactions in deep field coverage
- Looks good in man coverage in the slot
Cons:
- Reliable tackler, but can be a passive
- Tends to error on the side of caution in pursuit
- Lacks ideal bulk
NFL Comp: Rodney McLeod
Bengals projection: Clark would fit well into a free safety role that allowed him to stay in the deep field zone, occasionally coming down to play man on a slot.
He has been effective as a tackler, but his tackles lack gusto. He also takes very conservative angles, allowing more yards than he should.
His tackling and age push him down my board, but he would be a good pick on Day 3.
8. Zakee Wheatley – Penn State – 6’2” 201 – 23 years old
Run the ball or pass the ball, with 170 tackles and 4 interceptions over the last two seasons, Zakee Wheatley will make a play.
Pros:
- Excellent speed and burst
- Makes decisive reads and flies in like a madman
- Excellent ball skills and quick reflexes
- Wins in man and zone from multiple alignments
- Has good length to match up with bigger slots and tight ends
Cons:
- Quite literally hit or miss as a tackler
- Gets out of phase in man coverage
- While he has the speed to play in the deep field, he saw much of his success underneath
NFL Comp: Jabrill Peppers
Bengals Projection: Length and speed set Wheatley apart from most of the class. He has excellent ball skills and a penchant for making plays.
Tackling is an issue, though it is certainly not for lack of trying.
Not unlike Downs, Wheatley’s best projection is as a moving piece in the secondary who can take a heavy load in the run game. Unless they add someone else in free agency, that would mean playing Battle in the deep field zone and Wheatley more in the box.
A 23-year-old not being further along is concerning, but he has the tools to be worth the risk on Day 3.
9. Michael Taaffe – Texas 6’ 189 – 23 years old
Michael Taaffe is a productive safety with 7 interceptions in the last three seasons. He is tough against the run and makes good reads in the pass game.
Pros:
- Strikes and quickly disengages from blocks on the perimeter
- Good tackler who runs his feet on contact
- Makes good reads in zone coverage
- Knows when to undercut the route and gets his hands on the ball
- Breaks downhill to make tackles in underneath zones
Cons:
- May not have the speed to stay on top of all NFL receivers
- Lacks ideal bulk
- A bit stiff for a player of his size
NFL Comp: Andrew Mukuba
Bengals projection: Taaffe is a good tackler and an excellent processor. His NFL success will be dependent on how much weight those things carry compared to his physical limitations.
Taaffe’s brains and toughness make him an intriguing prospect for Cincinnati on Day 3, but I would want to see him in camp before projecting him to any major role on the defense.
10. Jakobe Thomas – Miami – 6’1” 200 – 22 years old
Jakobe Thomas had 5 interceptions in one season at Miami after previous stops at Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State.
Although it took him a while to get to The U, Thomas is an exemplary example of old-school Miami Hurricane swagger.
Pros:
- Shows nice burst and closing speed
- Hustler, who always gets himself involved in the play
- Plays bigger than his size
- Makes good reads in zone coverage
Cons:
- Tackling technique is rough, tends to lead with his head, and often ends up on his knees
- A bit of a berserker, who throws his body around but doesn’t always havea good reason to do so
- Man coverage skills are underdeveloped, and his athleticism sets a low floor
NFL Comp: Brandon Meriweather
Bengals projection: Thomas probably fits better into a box or slot-type role than a traditional safety.
He is a high effort/energy player who will need to contribute on special teams to stick around, but could find a nice role for himself within Cincinnati’s defense.
He would be a good late pick up for the Bengals, who lack depth at the safety position, particularly if he can add value on special teams.
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