2016 NFL Draft: Could Giants select another Boston College player in Justin Simmons? [UPDATED]

The New York Giants will probably address their safety position with free agent acquisitions long before the 2016 NFL Draft. However, with the bevy of young safeties to finish the 2015 season on the injured reserve, it wouldn't be surprising to see them draft a safety to bolster their depth chart.

If you asked 100 casual fans which school had the best defense in college football, it's unlikely that many of them (if any at all) would say "Boston College". Could the Giants look to BC's free safety Justin Simmons to help build their depth chart?

Measurables

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 202 pounds

40 Time: 4.61 seconds (Combine)

3-Cone: 6.58 sec

Short Shuttle: 3.85 sec

Vertical Jump: 40"

Broad Jump: 10'6"

Bench Press: 16 reps

Pros

• Great length for the position, though a bit lanky
• Rangy athlete who can cover the deep middle of the field. Showed impressive athleticism at the combine. Finished first in vertical jump, 3-cone drill, and short shuttle, fourth in broad jump.
• Heady player who makes decisions quickly and commits fully, reads QBs eyes and adept at knocking down passes
• Generally a sound tackler, closes fast on the ball carrier
• Played both free safety and corner for Boston College

Cons

• Though he played corner, he is a more natural safety
• Explosive and agile, but has limited long speed.
• Decisiveness can mean that if he misreads a play, he will find himself way out of position
• Can play high, limiting his change of direction ability in man coverage

Prospect Video

Big Board Rankings

CBS - 401st overall

Draft Tek - 331st overall

Does He Fit with The Giants?

He's a smart player who plays a position where the Giants have exactly two healthy players -- Landon Collins and Nat Berhe, though we should hope that Cooper Taylor's concussion is better by now, which would make three -- only one of whom have started a game in the NFL.

His intelligence and decisiveness would work well within Spags' scheme, which requires communication and throughout camp he demanded that his players play fast, even if they made mistakes. He also has the build and athleticism the Giants have historically liked in their defensive backs, looking somewhat like Bennett Jackson did coming out.

Final Thoughts

He has a lot of intangible traits -- processing speed, decisiveness, football IQ, motor -- that coaches love. Scouts might also find themselves taking a second look at his game after a good Shrine Game and a very impressive combine workout. He isn't as heralded as some other defensive backs in this class, but Simmons could be the kind of steal the Giants need.