2021 NFL Draft Preview: Safety sleepers and Broncos fits

Broncos general manager George Paton handed out a huge contract to safety Justin Simmons earlier this offseason and he brought back Kareem Jackson on a new one-year deal to complete their duo at the safety position. Now, Paton must turn his attention to the future. That is where the 2021 NFL Draft comes into play.

It’s a good thing for the Broncos that there are quite a few safeties in this draft class who could fit the bill. They are unlikely to take a safety at No. 9 overall, but if they moved back in the first round – or up in the second round – taking one would make sense.

In this article, I will look at the market for the position. I will also write about sleepers at the safety position and some players who could fit what the Broncos need in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Market Watch

Trevon Moehrig (TCU) is a favorite safety in this class, and he should be a first-round pick in the draft – perhaps even the first safety off the board. The Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2020, Moehrig only allowed two touchdowns over the last two seasons.

He has good range and good speed for the position, but it is his timing that makes him a special player. Moehrig knows how to disrupt the passing game of an opponent and anticipates plays well. His coverage ability is fun to watch, but as a tackler, he’s sound as well where he uses his length to properly wrap up. Moehrig has special teams experience and is known as a coachable player with a strong work ethic. Any team in need of safety help would love to have a player like him on the roster – and in the starting lineup.

Jevon Holland (Oregon) has the potential to be a late first- or early second-round pick. He started only 16 games for the Ducks, but he came away with nine interceptions in those games. Holland opted out of the 2020 season and has been preparing for the pros for the last several months. His game is about speed and instincts.

He has a rare blend of fluidity in terms of movement and aggressiveness when it comes to stabbing his foot into the ground and attacking the run. Holland’s aggressive play style can be used against him as he will bite on pump fakes and play fakes as he’s seeking to blow up the play.

I like Richie Grant Jr. (UCF) and would not be surprised if he snuck into the end of the first round based on his skill set and potential. A three-year starter, Grant knows how to get the ball back to his offense (17 career turnovers forced). Grant was a former track star in high school and that speed shows up on film when he’s playing defense.

He doesn’t lose much speed when changing direction and he has great ball skills when attacking a pass at the highest point. He’s a player to target in the first round if the Broncos move back from the No. 9 pick.

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Sleepers

TCU has more than one safety in this class that teams are excited about. In addition to Moehrig, his teammate, Ar’Darius Washington, is a player scouts are interested in. He is a small-bodied prospect (5-foot-8, 176 pounds), but he makes up for it with speed, athleticism, and tenacity. He plays much larger than his size when it comes to physicality and tackling ability. In coverage, I appreciate his hip turn and transition from backpedal to sprint. His click-and-close ability helps him fly to the ball when the play is in front of him. Despite his size, Washington’s skill set is worth adding early on day three of the draft.

Jamien Sherwood (Auburn) has a unique skill set and is one of the most intriguing safety prospects out there. He’s got rare length for the position and that helps him make up ground in a hurry. Sherwood is not the fastest or quickest safety prospect out there, but he does a good job of anticipating where a play is going to go and that puts him in position to make a play. His intelligence and toughness should translate easily to the NFL. He’s seen as a late-round pick.

Marcus Murphy (Mississippi State) is an aggressive player with a Swiss Army knife skill set and versatility to play both safety spots. He has limited experience (only nine games started) due to a suspension in 2019 and opting out of half of the 2020 season. He’s a missile when fired at the ball-carrier and does not shy away from contact. In coverage, Murphy is better in man than he is zone, but I feel like better discipline can be coached to him. With special teams experience, Murphy is worth taking a look at as a late-round pick or priority free agent.

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Broncos Fits

James Wiggins (Cincinnati) seems like a perfect fit for what the Broncos need at the safety position. I liked what I saw on film from Wiggins, but I was disappointed I didn’t get to see him at the Senior Bowl earlier this year. He accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl, but he was unable to participate due to a calf injury. When healthy, he’s a player that could develop into a fine starter one day.

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio loves great tacklers, and Wiggins is just that. He had zero missed tackles in 2020 and his form and technique are so good that you would use his film to teach younger players how to tackle properly.

Wiggins is known as a high-intelligence player who knows where to go on the field before the play breaks down in front of him. He has the athleticism to stay with tight ends in coverage and can play all over the formation. In addition to his ability on defense, Wiggins has experience as a return specialist, and he could provide special teams value in the NFL.

Wiggins missed the 2019 season due to a knee injury that required multiple surgeries to repair. The medical checks are going to be big for his draft stock. Wiggins should go higher than others in this class, but teams may look at him as a day three pick. That represents value for the team that takes him if he stays healthy and plays up to his potential.

Follow @CecilLammey