Some thoughts, looking at the current Consensus Big Board pre-season safety ratings:
17. KJ Bolden, Georgia
18. Bruntae Johnson, Notre Dame
50. Koi Perich, Oregon
85. Jaylen McClain, Ohio St.
87. Jelani McDonald, Texas
88. Zach Lutmer, Iowa
89. Xavier Scott, Illinois
90. Marcus Neal, Penn St.
92. Bray Hubbard, Alabama
122. Jackson Bennee, Utah
124. Ty Benefield, LSU
127. Dashawn Spears, LSU
146. Tao Johnson, UCLA
151. Zachariah Poyser, Miami
162. Keon Sabb, Alabama
267. Xavier Lucas, Miami
280. Terry Moore, Ohio St.
465. Faletau Satuala, BYU
793. Amare Ferrell, Indiana
999. Rod Moore, Michigan
My Thoughts:
KJ Bolden, Tae Johnson and Jelani McDonald are the clear top 3 for me, all top 40 talents, comparable to last year's Caleb Downs (12), Dillon Thieneman (25) and Treydan Stukes (38). McDonald is way under-rated at 87, and would be a steal day 2 if he falls in that range, but I expect him to do a Stukes-like rise.
Koi Perich, Zach Lutmer, and Jaylen McClain and Xavier Scott are intriguing. Perich is a little over-rated for me right now but has potential. Lutmer is a bit of a poor man's Cooper DeJean. McClain reported has 4.35 speed and great range.
Ty Benefield, Jackson Bennee, Dashawn Spears and Tao Johnson are all potential risers. Amare Ferrell and Rod Moore are way under the radar, and have top-100 talent. I have Xavier Lucas as a corner, but he's another dark horse worth watching.
I would love to see the Pats grab a rangy safety in rounds 3-5 to pair with Craig Woodson. Safeties are undervalued, and some will slip through the cracks. Jelani McDonald is my binky, though I think he will go high, but there are lots of intriguing guys.
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