With the 21st pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers need a safety.
Nick Collins celebrates his pick-6 giving the Pack a big lead in Super Bowl XLV.Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson have been searching for a safety ever since Nick Collins suffered his career ending hit requiring neck surgery. The three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl pick-6 hero last played for the Pack in 2011 and has been missed ever since.
Micah Hyde plans to be an every down db moving from corner to safety after a stellar rookie year. Still, it would be wise to have a traditional safety who’s bulky enough to fly in the box and be a ball hawk. Part of playing safety is understanding angles from deep. What Green Bay needs is someone who will eliminate the big play.
There’s no doubt the Packers need help in the secondary. The Pack’s 25th ranked defense is largely due to the mediocre safety play. The Packers are the only team where neither starting safety picked off a ball last year. The amount of missed tackles by the Green Bay safeties can make up a blooper video all by themselves.
Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor out of Louisville are the top prospects in this year’s draft. Both are projected to be picked up early in the first round.
Wishful thinking keeps either Clinton-Dix or Calvin Pryor on the board. So who’s the next best thing?
Deone Buchanon jumps for the catch at the Scouting Combine.Deone Buchanon out of Washington State is a good choice as a 6’1 strong safety weighing 211 lbs. Buchanon is a First Team All-American and First Team All-Pac-12 selection, leading the Pac-12 in tackles. His ability to read runs and close downhill quickly makes Buchanon the enforcer Green Bay needs.
- 40 Yard Dash-4.49
- Bench Press (225 lbs)-19 reps
- Vertical Jump-36.5 inches
Buchanon’s combine results speak volumes as the third fastest 40 time, fourth most reps, and fifth highest vertical jump by the safety position; all ironically better than Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor.
Buchanon plays old school. He’s built like a corner who looks for contact. Buchanon’s physicality combined with rare speed would be a great pick for the Pack at 21.
As the last line of defense, Buchanon can be the new game changer in a struggling secondary. He punishes ball carriers and can be a special teams captain next to veteran Jarrett Bush.
Ultimately, Buchanon can set the tone for Green Bay’s new defense making anyone who goes over the middle think twice.
