The Pats need a wrecking ball strong safety. Who is the best player that fits this in the draft?
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1.Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) and #
2.Matt Elam (Florida) are both excellent safety prospects in the upcoming draft, but my concern is that they'll be gone by the time we pick at #29. In a perfect world Elam would still be around, but we know how that usually works..
After that there is some talent dropoff in other 1st/2nd rd prospects, although I'm sure there's a gem in there somewhere as many have argued their favorite choice in many ways lately. I'd say that anyone from this point on can be had in the 2nd and maybe even 3rd round:
The #3 ranked safety would be
Eric Reid (LSU), but he struggled in pass coverage a lot and there has been talk that he probably should have stayed in school another year. The players in the secondary who left last year were Morris Claiborne (#6 overall pick to DAL), and Tyrann Matheiu (kid they call the 'honey badger' who I'm sure you've heard of..he was kicked out of school) so those 2 players alone may have made Reid look better in 2011.
#4 may be a better fit and that's
TJ McDonald from USC. He can play both SS and FS and is an enforcer as far as hitting/tackling.
Another name you'll hear a lot is
Philip Thomas from Fresno St. He'd probably be my #5, and maybe even my #4 depending upon your feelings about McDonald from USC (he struggled against the spread attack vs Oregon terribly). Thomas led the nation with 8 INT's, but missed the year before in 2011 with multiple season ending injuries with a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. Thomas had an excellent Senior Bowl, so he is considered to be a riser and could be taken even as high as the 3rd safety, depending upon preference.