Last time we took a look at the top of the draft with regards to the safety position. This time around we’ll look at day two and day three players.

As I mentioned before, there are plenty of good, quality prospects to be found. A couple of these guys might even move up and become day one picks based on their combine performances (such as Obi Melifonwu).

Let’s take a look at the rest of the safeties.

The Crop

There are still some really good prospects here, and some of them are definitely day two guys. If any of them were to fall to day three (which I doubt) they’d be a steal.

• Marcus Maye (Florida)
• John Johnson (Boston College)
• Obi Melifonwu (Connecticut)
• Lorenzo Jerome (St. Francis (PA))
• Desmond King (Iowa)
• Eddie Jackson (Alabama)

Of this group, I think Eddie Jackson is the only one who leans towards being a free safety. Marcus Maye, Lorenzo Jerome and John Johnson are more interchangeable, being able to play either-or.

Desmond King and Obi Melifonwu are more strong safety candidates. Obi Melifonwu and Eddie Jackson both have a chance to be day two guys, but the rest of this group will probably fall on day three, albeit early on day three. I really like John Johnson, and if he’s available in round four, I’d pull the trigger. Johnson has the ability to play free, with really solid ball skills and great athleticism. He can also play in… wait for it Steelers fans… man coverage! He’s a good ball-tracker and has receiver like “soft” hands. It’s his coverage skills that I like a lot, and I would seriously consider him if he’s still on the boards.

I’d think about Melinfonwu in round three if he’s around. Frankly, as I hinted at above, he probably won’t be there, because he tested extremely well at the combine. Melinfonwu was going to go sooner anyway because of his size. Since he’s more of a strong safety, he doesn’t really fit the Steelers’ “need” either. Melinfonwu’s 6’4” and 219, which is a big safety. His athletic skills are top end, and was a 4-year starter at Connecticut, so there is good tape on this kid. He has great hand-eye coordination and is good at undercutting routes. However, his coverage skills are not as good as Johnson’s. He’s better against the run than Johnson is though, and the combination of his ball skills and size I think will have teams looking at him in round three.

If the Steelers fill other needs, and there isn’t value at a more desired position, they could do worse than picking this kid in the third round.

I think I’d pass on the rest, unless they fell far enough to make them a really strong value. It’s not that they are bad players, or not potential starters – I think all six of these guys have the potential to start. It’s that other than the two I mentioned, I don’t like any of them enough to pass on other potential values at that point in the draft.

The Dregs

These are almost certainly all day three guys, but even in this group, there is value. These players could surprise, and there are still potential starters to be found in this group:

• Josh Harvey-Clemons (Louisville)
• Tedric Thompson (Colorado)
• Jadar Johnson (Clemson)
• Rayshwan Jenkins (Miami
• Damarius Travis (Minnesota)
• Michael Tyson (Cincinnati)

I like Tedric Thompson as a developmental guy. He is very instinctive, and a good athlete with nice speed. He also has really good ball skills. However, he needs to add muscle, and he is baited to often due to his desire to make plays on the ball. I’d like to see him tackle better too.

Someone will take a chance on Harvey-Clemons; but he failed multiple drug tests when he was at Georgia, or he would be higher on the boards. It will certainly make him unlikely to be drafted by the Steelers.

Of this group, Jadar Johnson is someone you would have to consider on day three. He has explosiveness, and almost elite-level ball skills.

Conclusion

In case you forgot, this draft is loaded with talent in the secondary. There are guys who can contribute, and who will definitely be around in the third round, where the Steelers have two picks. Unless there is really unbelievable value in round one (Hooker or Adams) or round two (Williams, Evans, Baker or Peppers) I’d be looking at round three, or lower, to potentially target a safety.

Remember, this is not a strong need for the Steelers. Sean Davis is going to get better in year two, and I think he may be a potential Pro-Bowl level guy next year (you heard it hear first).

If there is value, then I can see using a pick on a safety, because it gives the Steelers depth they don’t currently have. But I wouldn’t focus on this position in the draft: we have bigger areas of concern.

Stay tuned for our next Draft Prep, as we analyze the cornerbacks in this draft.