The 2018 NFL Draft is thin in the secondary. Has Florida State safety Derwin James done enough to be the first defensive back off the board?
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Entering the 2017 season there were fewer players regarded more favorably than Florida State safety Derwin James. James cracked the top 10 of every list of college football’s top players, that came in spite of an injury shortened sophomore campaign.
An obvious selection for first team All-ACC in his junior season, James made the decision to leave school early for the NFL Draft. Can he follow in the footsteps of fellow FSU defensive back Jalen Ramsey (2016 NFL Draft) as a first round pick?
Strengths
Derwin James is a leader and a tone-setter. Few play the game with more intensity than James. That passion applies to his preparation before the game and his on-field performance. Whether he’s being asked to stand up in the box and rush off the edge or drop back as a deep safety, James can do it all.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, James looks the part of an NFL safety too. A vicious ballhawk, James has a quick first step and rarely misses. He doesn’t sit back and wait for the receiver to come to him, rather he interjects himself into plays and creates opportunities for the defense.
Watch him read the Delaware State quarterback, attack the football and continue the play until it’s over – with James standing in the endzone with the ball and six points for FSU.
Weaknesses
James lacks polish as a run defender. He’s proven himself comfortable when the ball is in the air, but hesitates to initiate contact when he’s met with a ball carrier in space. James makes most tackles, but his tentativeness at the line of scrimmage does not always put him in the most optimal position.
There is no debating James’ athletic ability, however, his injury history and his effort in 2017 are question marks. Already a victim of a torn ACL, James’ injury history will be noted by prospective teams.
He was healthy in his final season at Florida State, but seemed to give into the “lost season” narrative that enveloped Florida State after the loss of quarterback Deondre Francois and subsequent early losses. James’ lapses of focus are understandable considering the situation, but as the leader of his unit he’s held to a higher standard.
Next: Latest pre-Combine first round NFL Mock Draft
Draft expectations
Minkah Fitzpatrick is the only safety that should hear his name called before James at the draft. Fitzpatrick gets a slight edge due to his experience playing both safety spots and corner at Alabama, but James isn’t far behind when it comes to athleticism and intensity.