The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine will close Monday with defensive backs taking the field for workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The New York Giants appear set at cornerback with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Prince Amukamara and the potential return of Walter Thurmond. Safety is another matter, however, with nothing but question marks at that spot.
Veterans Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps are all free agents. Young players Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor are untested and unproven. So, let's focus our attention on safety. Almost certainly, that is what talent evaluators for the Giants will be doing.
Landon Collins of Alabama is the clear No. 1 safety in the 2015 NFL Draft class. Is he worthy of the No. 9 overall selection, which is where the Giants pick? That is a debatable, and today's on-field workouts could sway opinion on that. Scott Wright of Draft Countdown calls Collins a "borderline top 10" pick.
Wright said Collins is "very physical, he'll throw his body around. He's also shown the ability to get the job done in coverage and be a play-maker in the back end as well."
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said Collins is "big enough to take on a run but certainly quick and athletic enough to cover running backs and tight ends."
Mayock lists Shaq Thompson of Washington as a safety, but Thompson sees himself as a linebacker and that is the position group Thompson worked out with at the Combine. Giants GM Jerry Reese said Thompson is a "Swiss Army knife" who can be used in a number of ways.
A couple of other strong safeties to note would be Jacquiski Tartt of Samford, Ibraheim Campbell of Northwestern and Jordan Richards of Stanford.
Free safeties of note include Cody Prewitt of Ole Miss, Gerod Holliman of Louisville, Derron Smith of Fresno state and Durrell Eskridge of Syracuse.
Mike Mayock's Position Rankings
Cornerback
1. Trae Waynes, Michigan State
2. Marcus Peters, Washington
3. Jalen Collins, LSU
4. P.J. Williams, Florida State
5. Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
Safety
1. Landon Collins, Alabama
2. Shaq Thompson, Washington
3. Derron Smith, Fresno State
4. Jaquiski Tartt, Samford
5. Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern