The 2021 NFL Draft is just days away, and with 11 picks, Howie Roseman and the Eagles are facing perhaps more pressure than ever to find starting players throughout the draft.
The safety position is an interesting one for the Eagles. On one hand, they have Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod, both of whom have shown they can play like one of the top safeties in the league. On the other, Harris is one a one-year deal and McLeod might not play until October as he recovers from a torn ACL— meaning they definitely have a long-term need at the position.
So who could the Eagles target as long-term options?
Here are 11 safeties to keep an eye on throughout the draft:
Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 202 pounds
College Stats: 33 games, 124 tackles, 7 INT, 21 PD, 2 FF
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: If the Eagles take a safety high in the draft it will likely be Moehrig. Moehrig has the speed and instincts to be a single-high safety, but has also shown the ability to step to the line of scrimmage and play man cover if needed. He doesn't project as being an immediate help against the run, but he is a solid tackler, so he could develop into one once he spends more time in the box. Moehrig's versatility could make him the pick at No. 37 if he is still on the board.
Richie Grant, UCF
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds
College Stats: 46 games, 290 tackles, 10 INT, 17 PD, 5 FF
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: Grant is likely going to be a safety that spends most of his time in the box at the next level, either playing man coverage in the slot or lining up near the line of scrimmage. Grant doesn't have the speed to play deep safety, which is going to limit his ability to move all around the field, something the Eagles like in their secondary players. Still, he should be able to play right away in a strong-safety role, as he is a strong, physical tackler in the run game that also spent plenty of time in man coverage in college.
Jevon Holland, Oregon
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 207 pounds
College Stats: 27 games, 108 tackles, 9 INT, 10 PD, 0 FF
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Holland's ability to make big plays is hard to ignore, picking off nine passes over the last two seasons and forcing five fumbles — a total of 14 turnovers in 27 games. He should be able to cover tight ends and running backs right away in man coverage, as could step into man coverage to cover slot receivers as well. He is going to need time to develop, but his instincts and man coverage skills make him a prospect worth taking a chance on.
Andre Cisco, Syracuse
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 216 pounds
College Stats: 24 games, 136 tackle, 13 INT, 14 PD, 2 FF
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Cisco is one of the more versatile safeties in the draft, showing the ability to be deep by himself or move up into the box and play man coverage if needed. Cisco has 13 interceptions in 27 games, and that number would likely be much higher if he didn't miss the majority of 2020 with a torn ACL. Cisco might not make it out of the first round if he played all of last season, and could end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft if he returns to the same player he was prior to the torn ACL.
Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 226 pounds
College Stats: 41 games, 206 tables, 6 INT, 11 PD, 3 FF
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Deablo has great size for the position and it helps him cover plenty of space in the secondary when he is the deep safety. He spent a lot of time in zone coverage during his time at Virginia Tech, and although he can move up into the box to play man coverage if needed, he might be at his best lining up deep. Deablo picked off four passes last season, which was nearly the number of catches he allowed (six).
Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds
College Stats: 35 games, 223 tackless, 4 INT, 9 PD, 3 FF
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Nasirildeen spent almost half of his time on the field last season near the line of scrimmage, either in man coverage or in the box. He is a strong tackler and aggressive against the run, showing the ability to bring down runners in the open field when he is lined up deep. His size is an advantage in coverage as he should be able to deal with the bigger, quicker tight ends that more teams are using in the passing game.
Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 207 pounds
College Stats: 34 games, 146 tackles 0 INT, 12 PD, 1 FF
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Gillespie's versatility is going to help him get on the field quickly in the NFL. He has the speed and instincts to play single-deep safety if needed, while also having the experience and ability to step up and play man coverage in the slot. Gillespie is a smart player that doesn't take many chances, which some defensive coordinators will like, but the result was also zero interceptions in three seasons. Gillespie has a high floor, but he doesn't project as having the same kind of game-changing ceiling that other safeties in the draft do.
Jamar Johnson, Indiana
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 205 pounds
College Stats: 31 games, 69 tackles, 7 INT, 5 PD, 2 FF
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Johnson knows how to make a play on the ball when he is around the play, as evident by the seven interceptions, five pass deflections and two forced fumbles in just 24 games. Johnson is excellent at tracking the ball deep as a single-high safety, but his ability to track also showed when he was in man coverage and teams tested him deep. He struggled to tackle in college, however, and could be a weakness against the run — which is going to limit how quickly he gets onto the field.
Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 200 pounds
College Stats: 46 games, 275 tackles, 6 INT, 21 PD, 0 FF
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Hamlin has plenty of experience in zone coverage, something that will catch the Eagles' attention and could make his transition to their defense an easier one. He projects as being a safety that plays closer to the line of scrimmage, however, due to a lack of elite speed. Hamlin is a solid tackler and has experience playing man coverage if needed in the slot. He is one of the older safeties in the draft at 23-years old, with five years of experience in college.
Joshua Bledsoe, Missouri
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 204 pounds
College Stats: 43 games, 130 tackles, 1 INT, 18 PD, 2 FF
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Bledsoe is an in-the-box safety that has great speed and should be able to line up in man coverage against most tight ends, running backs and slot receivers. His speed could allow him to line up deep occasionally, giving him some position versatility.
Jacoby Stevens, LSU
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds
College Stats: 36 games, 190 tackles, 4 INT, 15 PD, 1 FF
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Stevens is a great athlete that moved all over the defense during his time at LSU, and is a bit like Jalen Mills in his ability to play multiple positions without having elite-level speed. Stevens is strong against the run and dangerous as a blitzer, and if he is able to stick with receivers at the next level, he could be a late-inning steal.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
