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NFL Draft 2018: Stanford’s Justin Reid among best players remaining

By Andrew Miller

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Stanford defensive back Justin Reid (DB62) looks to catch the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Stanford defensive back Justin Reid (DB62) looks to catch the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Through the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, there’s still a ton of talent left on the board to make things exciting on day two of the festivities.

We’re now through the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, starting on April 26. The rest of the draft will take us through the weekend, with the middle rounds coming on April 27 and the final rounds coming on April 28. It was a wild first round for the 2018 NFL Draft, capped off by a former Heisman Trophy winner in the Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson selected by the Baltimore Ravens.

Through the first day of the draft, some prospects will always be selected that were reached for. That means that some other players likely deserving of a first round pick, or at least projected at that spot, fall to the second or third rounds. One of those players that you could consider falling into that category is Stanford Cardinal safety Justin Reid.

It seemed like Reid could have fallen to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had the 28th pick in the first round. Instead, the Steelers elected to go with Virginia Tech Hokies safety Terrell Edmunds. That made Terrell and Tremaine Edmunds (outside linebacker) the first set of brothers to both be drafted in the first round together in the same year.

However, some NFL team will be very lucky to land a rangy safety like Reid in the coming rounds. Chances are that he does not make it out of the second round. A ton of teams need help in the secondary, and Reid is a sure tackler and good cover man so he can fill those needs.

He led the way for the Stanford defense in 2017 and could develop into a defensive leader at the next level. He’s got the ability to step in and immediately make an impact for any team who takes the chance on him. Reid is also one of the safer picks for an early round defensive back prospect.

Next: Complete 7-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Whatever team snags him on April 27 gets a solid value safety that’ll provide depth and more athleticism to that secondary. Most football fans would not have been too surprised if Reid fell off the board in the first round, and his availability heading into the second day makes the later rounds that much more exciting.

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