Safety first? Not this year with slim pickings
Teams looking for immediate safety help in the draft this year, like the Bears, probably can't afford to wait.
It's a weak class. There's only one safety expected to go in the first round - Alabama's Landon Collins - and the drop-off after that is steep. There probably are only a handful of safeties who will be taken on Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) of the draft, and there's no consensus on the order in which the best of the rest will be selected.
Collins should go earlier than former teammate and fellow safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix went a year ago - 21st to the Green Bay Packers - because he's the more complete player.
While he isn't quite the ball hawk that Clinton-Dix is, Collins can run and cover just as well and, at 228 pounds, Collins has better size and can make more of an impact in the box as a run stopper.
The Bears have a real need for someone with Collins' skill set in an area that has been a team weakness for several years. But it's rare for any safety to go seventh overall, where the Bears are scheduled to pick, so they'll likely wait a day or two to look for safety help.
Utah's Eric Rowe, who some teams will look at as a cornerback, has been climbing up draft boards since his exceptional performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder showed off a rare strength-speed combination in Indianapolis, running a 4.45 40, second-fastest among safeties, and benching 225 pounds 19 times, tied for fourth at his position. He also had a 39-inch vertical jump (second best), a 3.97-second 20-yard shuttle time (first) and an 11.48-second 60-yard shuttle (fifth).
Rowe was a three-year starter at safety for the Utes before switching to cornerback as a senior. Teams that are convinced he can remain at corner in the NFL could give Rowe first-round consideration.
Among the safeties who are expected to be available on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7) is Ibraheim Campbell, a 45-game starter at Northwestern despite missing four games last season with a hamstring injury.
At the combine, Campbell led all safeties with 23 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.
The 5-11, 208-pound Campbell is the youngest of 11 children and has eight older brothers, which he considers an advantage.
"It was a tremendous help," he said. "The brother that was closest in age to me (Rashad) attended Cornell University. For me, I felt like almost my entire life leading up to college was following after him, and he set a great example. He made my life that much easier. I'm extremely grateful for having him and the rest of my family be so supportive."
Campbell followed in his brother's footsteps by attending a school with an elite reputation for academics. While developing his football skills to the NFL level, Campbell also earned a degree in economics. Accomplishing both, he says, can only help him as he prepares for life as a professional.
"I was going to say it's a rough life, but it's all I know," he said. "You just get used to it. You're really never off the clock. You're constantly preparing, whether it be for class, whether it be for practice … you've really got to be productive.
"Especially playing at a high level of football, you've got to always know that you're being watched. It's that much more pressure. I think those kinds of things prepare you for the level of the NFL."
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NFL draft primer: top safeties
TOP TEN SAFETIES
Landon Collins, Alabama 6-0 228 4.53 Cream of the crop has cover ability and size to support vs. run.
Eric Rowe, Utah 6-1 205 4.45 45-game starter with nice size-speed combo who might have the skills for CB.
Derron Smith, Fresno State 5-10 200 4.60 Much better vs. pass than run and could factor as extra DB in nickel.
Damarious Randall, Arizona St. 5-11 196 4.46 Likes to play physical but may lack the bulk to do so in NFL.
Jaquiski Tartt, Samford 6-1 221 4.53 Has coverage limitations but is a physical tackler in the box.
Anthony Harris, Virginia 6-1 183 4.56 Tough run supporter with ball skills but lack of bulk is a concern.
Kurtis Drummond, Michigan St. 6-1 208 4.65 Flashes cover ability and has ball skills but is inconsistent.
Durell Eskridge, Syracuse 6-3 208 4.63 Impressive in coverage but doesn't play as tough vs. run as size would indicate.
Adrian Amos, Penn State 6-0 218 4.56 Despite good size is too passive vs. run but shows good range in coverage.
Cody Prewitt, Mississippi 6-2 208 4.60 Lacking in man coverage but had 9 INTs past 2 yrs. and supports vs. run.