The Atlanta Falcons have several options for their depth chart at safety behind starters Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen, but adding to those options should be a legitimate priority this offseason. Atlanta needs more depth especially if Damontae Kazee slides over to slot cornerback full-time.
After the 2019 season, Neal has a fifth-year option to exercise and Allen has two more years on his three-year deal. Kazee is also signed through the 2020 season. All that being said, don’t be surprised if the Falcons do look at safety prospects a little early. Here are six potentials to watch in this year’s draft class.
Round 1: S Nasir Adderley, Delaware
At six-foot, 195 pounds, Adderley would represent a size boost over Allen. His speed and playmaking ability are also better. As a rookie, he could contribute in the slot at nickel or even at deep safety until Allen is fully recovered from his Achilles injury. In 2020, he might foster a legitimate competition with Allen as the starter. Adderley’s not much of a hitter, but his ability to create turnovers, break up passes and find loose balls make him an ideal fit at free safety.
Round 2: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson would be another safety who could compete at nickel corner like Adderley. Gardner-Johnson has the perfect build for a Dan Quinn free safety and the requisite skill-set. Equally effective in zone and man coverage, his versatility would give the Falcons another chess piece to play with. Gardner-Johnson does do better closer to the line of scrimmage, but Quinn could use this to his advantage when he wants to play more dime and nickel.
Round 3: S Jaquan Johnson, Miami
Jaquan Johnson is a better fit at strong safety due to a lack of refinement in his coverage skills. However, there is a lot to like about Johnson in terms of football IQ. He understands which angles to take in coverage and shows better range than his athleticism would suggest. He’d offer a definite upgrade over Jordan Richards as the backup strong safety if Neal goes down again. The Falcons would only use him on special teams early.
Round 4: S Mike Edwards, Kentucky
Another good candidate for the strong safety depth role, Mike Edwards from Kentucky has been a solid man coverage player against slot receivers. In zone coverage, he’s better as an intermediate defender than as a deep defender. He’s also a better wrap-up tackler than a big hitter. The Falcons will be able to use him on all four of the core special teams units due to his straight-line speed and ability to wrap up. His athletic testing will be important because he shows a lack of fluidity in coverage at times.
Round 5: S Evan Worthington, Colorado
Evan Worthington might be one of the best open space tacklers in the draft this year. He rarely misses and takes great pursuit angles to allow for more effective positioning. In coverage, he’s able to man up with tight ends and slot receivers equally and is effective in multiple coverage styles. Like Edwards and Johnson, he’s very much a box safety like Keanu Neal. However, he’s not a hard hitter and his coverage doesn’t look great if he has to defend the deep third.
Round 6: S Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
Mark McLaurin is an excellent coverage safety who delivers the boom. Johnathan Abram gets all the media coverage out of Mississippi State, but McLaurin fits what the Falcons’ need at strong safety more. If Neal gets injured again, the Falcons will want someone who’s the kind of heavy hitter that McLaurin is. His issues come more from his technique and inability to cover the deep third. The Falcons would not ask him to do things that don’t highlight his abilities, though.
