5 defensive prospects the Commanders should monitor at 2024 Senior Bowl
By Jonathan Eig
Commanders should monitor Beau Brade
- Safety | Maryland Terrapins
- What to look for: Zone recognition
From River Hill High School and the University of Maryland, local fans have seen Beau Brade make a lot of plays over the past few years. Unlike Ty’Ron Hopper, he is a safety through and through.
Brade is a tough tackler who can make plays close to the line of scrimmage. He has the size and speed to stay with most tight ends all over the field. This is an absolute necessity in the modern-day game.
The defensive back has not been as consistent in playing deep zones, which will be crucial at the next level. From what I’ve seen, he looks more like an aggressive cornerback in a safety’s body. This could make him a hybrid of sorts, something the Washington Commanders got last year when they spent a second-round selection on Quan Martin.
Coaching will be important to his development. If Brade can show greater comfort dropping into deep coverage during his Senior Bowl engagements, that will allay a lot of fears.
Just how much of a need the safety position becomes is dependent on whether the Commanders can work out a long-term extension with Kamren Curl. Given Percy Butler's indifferent sophomore campaign, adding another capable rotational performer wouldn't be the worst idea in the world even if Curl sticks around.
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