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One of the few big needs that the New York Giants have going into the draft will be safety. Even with what they have right now, it's still worth a look at a free safety with the ability to cover. Although this draft is pretty light on great safeties, there are still a few with some upside. Derron Smith is one such player, so let's look at him in more detail.
Pros
- Instinctive and smart, will fly to the ball
- Does a good job of tracking the ball in flight
- Fantastic range and has great coverage ability
- Aggressive play-maker with huge production
- Fiery competitor
Cons
- Small build with tiny sub-30-inch arms
- Won't hold up in man-to-man coverage against larger TEs
- Is not a good tackler. Not Gerod Holliman bad, but goes for highlight reel tackles instead of wrapping up.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Yes. The Giants are a transformed team when they have a competent single high safety. The Giants do have some personnel that can try and play Cover 1 but it's important to have depth and upside and that's what Smith would bring. He's not perfect, but the range he brings is outstanding.
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 72
Mocking The Draft - Not in top 100
CBS Sports - 75
Draft Tek - 125
Final Thoughts
Smith is NOT a complete player. He has a lot of work to do in terms of run defense and needs to work on his tackling. However, in a league that is desperate for a player with the ability to play single high well and protect a team that wants to go Cover 1, Smith's stock will be pushed up. I've got him as a solid third- to fourth-round caliber player but it's very easy to envision him going in Round 2 because of the position he plays.