5 safeties Colts may pursue in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Indianapolis Colts are focused on evaluating the talent of the prospects entering the NFL Draft.
This year, the team’s needs aren’t as great as they were last. For example, since choosing Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall choice, they no longer require a quarterback.
This year’s draft positions of need are a little more defined. The Colts still need a great edge rusher, secondary depth, another linebacker, and a tight end. The order of choice depends on who you chat with. There are several other open vacancies. However, these are the ones that need the most immediate attention.
Safety is back on the list of requirements. That hinges on how the Colts handle free agent Julian Blackmon. The safety position has moved in a similar direction as the running back. Teams do not regard it as much and believe it is an easier position to fill. If the team re-signs Blackmon, they may not consider drafting one until later, if at all. Last year, the Colts drafted Daniel Scott, who sadly tore his ACL during OTAs. With Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and Scott on the roster, the club only needs one more. It might be Blackmon, another free agent, or a youngster.
Here are five safeties the Indianapolis Colts could target in the 2024 NFL Draft
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson – Texas Tech
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is the most inexperienced collegiate safety on this list. He is, however, another safety who serves as a coverage asset rather than a run-stopper. But that doesn’t mean he’s completely useless in halting the run. He has drawn comparisons to current free agency safety Jordan Whitehead. When comparing his two years of college productivity at Lubbock, he posted nearly comparable results.
Taylor-Demerson is occasionally a step slow, therefore he needs to improve on his route awareness and correction. Because of his short arms, it might be difficult for him to break up passes or get away from blocks. There are things he needs to tidy up, just like with every rookie. Additionally, he needs to grow better at jet sweeps, which let receivers get behind him, and avoid monitoring the quarterback, which makes him bite a lot during play action.
Now, Taylor-Demerson has a lot of positive aspects. He is versatile in covering, and he played as a single high safety a number of times. He does have good recovery speed and route anticipation. Although he can diagnose and make adjustments after the snap, he will need to improve his pre-snap play diagnosis. In coverage, Taylor-Demerson also does a good job of swiftly turning around his head and high-pointing the ball.
Kenny Logan Jr. – Kansas
Kenny Logan Jr., a fifth-year senior, is also on the list. Logan is twenty-three now and turning twenty-four in November, unlike Tyler Nubin. Thus, the question of how much more growth he has left is raised. But after seeing his footage, Antoine Bethea, another former Colts safety, comes to mind. Logan is a good, dependable player on the defensive end; he isn’t a ball-hawking safety like Calen Bullock or a hard-hitting one like Malik Mustapha.
Logan isn’t extremely physical despite his good size, even if he prefers to lower his shoulder for a massive hit rather than just making the sure tackle. At the NFL level, this is something that needs to change. He must either put on weight or just make the tackle rather than going for the big play. Logan, like other rookies, has to improve his technique to become more deft in pursuit situations and less vulnerable to double moves.
Malik Mustapha – Wake Forest
The NFL has produced a number of excellent safety, and as a result, there are plenty of players that the younger generation can want to be like. Bob Sanders is a favorite among Colts supporters. The fan base was therefore aware when Malik Mustapha stated during the combine that he bases his game on Sanders. You may see Sanders’ influence on Mustapha’s play when you see the Mustapha movie.
Sadly, Mustapha’s playing style isn’t as popular as it once was. He gives up a lot of huge plays, so his coverage is somewhat lacking. It’s surprising that he is frequently outclassed given his speed—he once recorded a game speed of 23 mph. And Mustapha becomes nimble after being beaten. He also plays more reactionary than instinctual or anticipatory, which makes him vulnerable to pump fakes because of his aggressive style of play. These factors contribute to his difficulties in pass protection.
Calen Bullock – USC
Calen Bullock complements the player after him on our list in terms of skills. Bullock is also quite thin for a safety, and some people believe that at this level he could be better suited as an NFL cornerback. The team that chooses him and how they think they can best utilize his skills will determine what position he plays. The possibility of some positional versatility can undoubtedly improve his draft stock.
It’s reasonable to wonder if Bullock’s size will hold up over the course of an NFL season. When he can wrap up a ball carrier from the side or at a decent angle, he’s a good tackler. He usually gives up a few extra yards if he tackles a ball carrier head-on. Additionally, this vulnerability can be dangerous because you’re one of the final players to stop a touchdown. His background as a wide receiver both benefits and detracts from his ability to read a quarterback’s eyes when playing coverage. Bullock can be successfully played to to jump routes by quarterbacks.
Tyler Nubin – Minnesota
Throughout his collegiate career, Tyler Nubin, a fifth-year senior from Minnesota, has continuously improved and developed. His physical makeup is perfect for an NFL safety position. However, much like any rookie joining the NFL, he has advantages and disadvantages in his game.
Nubin will be 23 years old when training camp begins, making him older than Nick Cross, a second-year player. posing the query of how much further development is possible. Nubin is not the best player for an NFL safety; he already needs to be more explosive and have long speed. Additionally, a player may become more clumsy due to a lack of quickness, which may result in penalties. Additionally, because he lacks the necessary quickness to recover, his positioning and angles must be precise. Based on his tape, it appears like he might be more successful as a strong safety than a free safety.
In relation to exercising strong safety, Nubin causes havoc in the passing lanes and during downhill pursuits. He demonstrates great leadership and communication skills, which are essential for the role, as a fifth-year senior. He does, however, perform best in zone defense due to his excellent ball-tracking abilities and fluid mobility and adaptation in coverage, even if his profile is better suited for run support than coverage.
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