The Washington Redskins need some safety depth. They will target some options in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 2018 NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away. As the draft draws nearer, it’s becoming clearer and clearer as to what each team will do. The Washington Redskins are one of those teams.
Right now, the Redskins have three major needs that they’re likely to fill with their first three picks. Those positions are nose tackle, running back, and left guard. Once they fill those needs, they will have to add some depth at certain positions on the roster. And one of those is the safety slot.
D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson are both very good starters, but the team doesn’t have much depth behind them. Deshazor Everett is a great special teams player, but he struggled in coverage at times last year. Adding a player with more upside to be the No. 3 safety in wake of the Su’a Cravens trade would be a sensible move.
With that said, here’s a look at some of the top safeties in this class. Here’s a look at the 10 safeties that should be on the Redskins Big Board.
At Hawaii, Trayvon Henderson had a terrific five-year career for the Warriors. Henderson immediately played a role as a freshman, and he did a great job in his four years as a starter. In the middle of his time with Hawaii, he tore his ACL and missed a full season. But in the two years since, Henderson has played well.
In his final two seasons, Henderson totaled 145 tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and four picks. He made plays all over the field and was a true force for the team. While the Mountain West isn’t a Power 5 conference, he still showed well and should get a chance to prove himself at the next level.
Henderson was outlined as a potential prospect for the Redskins to watch after the Senior Bowl by our own Ian Cummings. Here’s what he said about Henderson.
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"Henderson, 6-foot-0, 200, only has average size. But all throughout the week, he played two inches larger. He was sticky in coverage, grabbing multiple interceptions on the day. He demonstrated impressive footwork, with the innate closing speed to come up on a pass before it reaches its target. Henderson also stood out as a stud in run defense. The Hawaii product isn’t afraid to use his body, and he’s a very solid tackler. He didn’t have an extraordinary Senior Bowl game, but it was more of the same. Solid coverage, solid run defense, and an affinity for the third level."
As a primary backup, Henderson could be a great option. He has all the requisite skills to make him a solid player, and he will probably be available in Rounds 5-7. Henderson would be an ideal backup for the team, and using him as the No. 3 safety could work. The team would certainly get bang for their buck by drafting him.
Kyzir White is an unheralded player from West Virginia and he could end up being a solid player in the NFL. He did well at the Senior Bowl and had a strong week of practice and did a lot to work himself into the conversation as a Day 2 pick.
White only played two seasons at West Virginia, but he vastly improved during his final season for the Mountaineers. He totaled 94 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and three picks. He demonstrated above average tackling ability and held up in coverage as well. For the next level, he is a well-rounded player.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein listed White as a potential Round 3-4 pick, and said the following about his leadership and ability to be a combination player at the next level.
"Like his brothers who also attended West Virginia, White was a late bloomer who was lightly recruited and began his journey at Lackawanna Junior College. Despite being a JUCO transfer, White has become a highly-respected team leader who leads by example with his fearless, physical play. Teams are looking to transition him into a hybrid role with the ability to cover tight ends like a safety and support the run like a linebacker. While he’s nothing special as an athlete, his competitiveness and play-demeanor should earn him a spot as a starter."
This type of hybrid player would be a smart add by the Redskins, as they might be looking to add a combination player in the wake of Su’a Cravens’ departure. The problem is that White may go in Round 3, so it could be hard for the team to land him. That’s why he’s a bit lower than the other options on the list. Because he’s not as realistic of a potential pick.
Natrell Jamerson is one of the sleeper safeties who could develop into a high quality player at the NFL level. He only had one season in college where he was a primary starter, but he flashed enough during that time to warrant fourth-round consideration.
As a senior, Jamerson moved from cornerback to safety full-time after he had previously came to Wisconsin as a receiver. In his new role as a safety, Jamerson was able to use his elite athletic ability properly in that role. Jamerson recorded career highs in tackles with 51, interceptions with two, and showed an ability to function as a blitzer, as he recorded 1.5 sacks as well. It’s clear that he will be able to find a role in the NFL.
Jamerson shined in his performance at the East-West Shrine Game, where he returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown and earned the defensive MVP award. He showed elite speed on the play, and that was backed up by his performance at the Combine, where Jamerson blazed a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and did well in the on-field drills. His athleticism should make him successful in some role at the next level, and a team will definitely want to take him as a role player.
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For the Redskins, Jamerson could be a primary backup, but his elite athletic ability will give him a chance to earn a role on special teams. Perhaps he could be a gunner in punt coverage, and maybe he could work as a kick returner. He had experience as a return man in college, and averaged 20.6 yards on 38 kick returns in college. Those aren’t great numbers, but he has the athletic ability to break a touchdown any time he gets the ball. And that’s something that the Redskins could use.
If Jamerson is available in Round 5, the Redskins should consider taking him. He’s a bit raw in terms of development at the position, but he has the upside to potentially be a starter. At the very least, he should probably be a quality role player and special teamer, and that would help the team on Day 3.
Dominick Sanders may not be the best safety in this class, but he certainly is an undervalued option for the draft. Sanders was part of the Georgia defense that helped get the team to the College Football Playoff, and he was arguably the best part of the team’s secondary.
Sanders provided great coverage for the team, and should have success doing that in the NFL. While he’s a bit undersized and may not have the best athleticism, he has instincts. And that will be key in his development as a player.
In the wake of the Su’a Cravens trade, I identified Sanders as a potential option for the Redskins to target as a replacement for Cravens. At the time, this is what I said about Sanders.
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"Right now, Sanders is considered to be a Day 3 prospect, with WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell ranking him as a Round 4-6 prospect and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has him graded as a Round 6-7 prospect comparable to Andre Hal. While Sanders does lack the requisite size that many look for in a safety, he’s 5-foot-11, 193 pounds, he is a try-hard player with great ball skills. Sanders notched a whopping 16 interceptions during his Georgia career, and if he can continue to track the ball well at the next level, he will be a playmaker. I happen to like the comparison of him to Hal, and I like Hal as a solid starter/role player in the Houston defense."
With the Redskins, Sanders would be a primary backup and would play mainly in necessary coverage situations. That would be ideal for him, as he has the ballhawk ability needed to make an impact. He may not be as versatile or have as much upside as Cravens, but as the No. 3 safety, he could be a very good fit for the team.
Quin Blanding is one of the most productive safeties in the history of the Virginia program. As a four year starter, Blanding recorded at least 115 tackles in each of his four seasons, and also totaled 10 interceptions during his career. He was truly a quality player for the Cavaliers, and he looks like a prototypical starter for the next level.
Thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame, Blanding will have the ability to play the middle of the back seven for whichever team selects him. He is a superb tackler, and should be a sure-fire success in run support at the very least.
Though Blanding has a history of phenomenal production at Virginia, he does come with some concerns, as our own Ian Cummings pointed out in a recent article.
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"Blanding is rather slow for the position, and that may limit his playmaking ability in the NFL. But despite that, he’s perfect for the role the Washington Redskins need him to play: A depth safety. Blanding’s ceiling, based on his lack of top-end speed, is that of a low to mid-tier starter. He has the work ethic and production factor to bend that prediction, but as far as projections go, he’s a player that will go in Round 4 or Round 5. By picking Blanding in one of those two rounds, the Washington Redskins would solidify the safety position, adding a reliable backup who can help the defensive coaches breathe easy if injury is to strike again."
It should be noted that the Redskins did bring in Blanding on a visit recently, so the team is obviously interested in him. He could be a great fit as a backup, but it’s clear that he will be better off in run support. He would be a fine third safety, and could also see some action at linebacker in certain schemes. That could make him an ideal replacement for Cravens, so he comes in high on the big board.
Many are familiar with Tremaine Edmunds, but his brother is going under the radar as a result. Terrell Edmunds is a solid option for the NFL Draft, and he could definitely end up being a quality player.
Edmunds is a a hybrid player who can play both safety and linebacker. At Virginia Tech, Edmunds was a strong tackler and did well in coverage as well. He notched six picks over the course of his final two seasons with the Hokies, and he recorded over 100 tackles as a sophomore. That number decreased a bit during his junior season, but he also played four less games. So, that explains the minor decline.
What Edmunds brings to the table at the next level is great intangibles, fluid athleticism, and an excellent work ethic. He was a team leader for the Hokies and did a lot to inspire their defense. And Edmunds is always hunting for the ball and looking to make tackles. And that will make him a success at the NFL level.
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The biggest area improvement for Edmunds comes when he is taking a path to tacklers. While he is always pursing the ball, he can be a bit too aggressive and take bad angles to the ball. With some additionally coaching, it’s possible for him to clean up on that, so it’s not a major deal.
The problem with Edmunds, for the Redskins, is that he’s probably going to be a second round pick. Given that the team doesn’t need a starter at safety or a hybrid linebacker position, the team really can’t afford to take him.
Every year, it seems like the Alabama defense produces multiple starters at every level. The 2018 NFL Draft should be no different. The team has a couple of solid safety options, and both will be early picks in the draft.
One of those players is Ronnie Harrison. The strong safety for Alabama was an enforcer in the run game, and that was his main role in the Alabama defense. Harrison spent his sophomore and junior years as one of the primary starters, and he fared well against the run. In those two years, he combined to total 157 tackles and also notched five picks. But, his tackling ability really is his best skill.
Harrison is able to come downhill very quickly and thanks to his strong 6-foot-3 frame, he is good at wrapping up opposing players. Harrison will be a really good in the box, and he has the potential to really help out a team’s linebacker corps because of his abilities.
However, Harrison is lacking a bit in the coverage area. While his stats dictate that he has solid skills, he sometimes struggles in man coverage as he doesn’t have the deep speed necessary to keep up with downfield burners. He also tends to try to be a playmaker, and lacks discipline in man coverage as a result. For this reason, he needs a quality center field safety to play alongside him to help mask his deficiencies in coverage.
That said, Harrison could improve on this area during his career, and it’s quite possible that he will be at least decent in coverage. It would be most beneficial for Harrison play in a defense that primarily runs zone concepts in the secondary early in his career. Then, he develop his man coverage abilities.
If Harrison can be a good tackler and a big hitter, that could give him a chance to develop into a really good safety. But, the coverage concerns should do enough to keep him out of the first round.
Justin Reid hasn’t gotten a lot of love, but he’s one of the most well-rounded players in this draft class. Reid is great in coverage and fares well against the run too. And his final season at Stanford showcased what he might be capable of at the NFL level.
Reid had a massive leap in production from his sophomore season, and recorded a career-high 94 tackles and also grabbed five interceptions. In coverage, Reid was able to fare very well in underneath coverage and showed a good ability to locate the ball when he was working with help over the top. He has good coverage instincts, and that will make him a solid player right away at the NFL level.
Reid’s tackling ability is also fairly good, and that will allow him to work a bit in the box. He is more of an above average tackler, but that makes him a solid all-around type player.
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The only thing that might hold back Reid is the fact that he doesn’t have any one elite skill. He really is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none type player, but that shouldn’t detract teams from taking him early. It just may push him a bit further down draft boards if they elect to take players with more potential.
Still, Reid is going to be a solid NFL player. He has a good bloodline, as his brother, Eric Reid, was once a first round pick out of LSU, and he has been compared to HaHa Clinton-Dix, per WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell. If Reid can be anything close to what Clinton-Dix has provided the Packers, the team that lands him will be ecstatic.
There are some who would argue that Derwin James is one of the best defensive players in this draft. And they would be right. He is, and arguably, he could be the best safety in this class. It’s really a tossup between James and Minkah Fitzpatrick for the top spot.
On our big board, James comes in second for reasons that we’ll get into later on. James is one of the more versatile defensive players in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was a great player at Florida State, and he was a terrific tackler during his junior season.
As a junior, James notched 84 tackles and two interceptions and was all over the field for Florida State. Despite the team’s overall poor performance during the season, that was a bit more of a problem because the team lost Deondre Francois at the start of the season. James was the leader of the defensive unit, and he never gave up at any point during the season.
James is an elite tackling ability and has good enough coverage skills to succeed in the NFL. He’s probably going to have a bigger impact as a big hitter and tackler in the run game. But, he’s well-rounded enough to cover tight ends well. So, that will be huge for the team that takes him.
James could be a potential option for the Redskins in the event that he slips to the No. 13 pick. However, it seems highly unlikely that James will slip out of the top 10. The Buccaneers and the Raiders should have a high level of interest in him, so landing James seems unlikely. Still, he’s a quality player for the team to keep an eye on.
There’s no question that Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the top defensive backs in this draft. The Alabama product has been a three year starter, and he has provided phenomenal coverage for the team. He also possesses excellent tackling skills, and should have the ability to be a quality center fielder at the safety position.
However, Fitzpatrick isn’t a traditional safety. He has the versatility needed to play any position in the secondary, and he could be a starter at corner if needed. In fact, he has stated that he would like to play the slot corner position in the NFL, and that is something that he well could do. At the same time, he would probably play in base packages as a safety and move to the slot when needed.
The Redskins are absolutely interested in Fitzpatrick. There have been reports that he will certainly be the pick if he somehow falls to the No. 13 pick. Right now, that is looking like a possibility, but he’s not overwhelmingly expected to be available. But, Fitzpatrick is probably on top of the team’s Big Board no matter what.
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For the next level, Fitzpatrick is a safe, versatile prospect with equally strong pass coverage and tackling ability. He should be a solid secondary weapon for the team that selects him, and he would be an ideal option in the slot and as a depth safety for the Redskins.