In a pass-driven league, it has become popular to put a premium on hybrid defensive backs who have shown versatility at both cornerback and safety. One of those prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft is Maryland’s Sean Davis, who in my eye, could make an immediate impact as a box safety that could maximize his talent and physicality close to the LOS.

CB/SS Sean Davis

College: Maryland
Year: Senior
Birth Year: N/A
Height: 6-1
Weight: 201
Arm Length: 31 3/8
Hand Size: 9 1/2

Combine Results

40 Time: 4.46
Bench: 21 reps
Vertical: 37.5 inches
Broad: 126 inches
3-Cone: 6.64
Short Shuttle: 3.97
60-yard Shuttle: 11.53

Analysis

One of the main reasons why I am so drawn to Sean Davis as a prospect is because of his physicality and talent in run support. This right here is a textbook open field tackle and he also showed some nice reactionary quickness to put himself in the position necessary to make a play like this. He ranked second in school history with five forced fumbles this season as well.

Another big part of his game is his aggressiveness and play strength at the POA in both run support and coverage. This is his calling card in the run game as he is always flying to the ball at full-speed, but he is also able to stay under control and bring down the ball carrier with fundamentally-sound wrap up skills. This is also evident in Press as he is able to re-route a receiver’s path with his hand strength and technique at the LOS. If he were drafted to play cornerback, this is where he could have some success, as he did in his career at Maryland.

Sean Davis had three interceptions this past season, including two in the same game against South Florida. This kind of production will translate to the next level at either cornerback or safety because of his ability to track and locate the football in front of him, or with his back to the football and looking  for it over his shoulder. It’s not just interceptions though in that he was among the team leaders in pass breakups throughout his productive, durable career at Maryland. His length and size also gives him a major advantage that other defensive backs do not have in contested situations.

I said it to begin the scouting report that Davis is a versatile, hybrid defensive back, and he may get drafted a lot higher than people expect because of that. We have seen similar players like Aaron Williams, Jimmie Ward, and Eric Rowe all go high in the draft, and if this trend continues, don’t be surprised to see Sean Davis at the top part of Day 2. Another big advantage Davis has in terms of his draft stock is that he never missed a game in his career at Maryland. With this proven durability, it will give him yet another additional advantage over other defensive back prospects in that range.

The problem I have with Sean Davis playing cornerback is if he is asked to play in Off coverage like this. He bites on the double move by Rutger’s Leonte Carroo with his eyes fixated on the quarterback, and as a result, he completely loses the feel for the receiver as he finds himself chasing Carroo downfield. Davis is lucky that this ball was severely under-thrown, or else he would’ve given up a touchdown. He simply does not have the technique or discipline to play in man coverage off of the LOS at the next level. When he is in a shaky situation, he would rather grab the receiver’s jersey to gain an advantage than trusting his feet to get himself back in position. I think it is a lack of patience on his part to stay disciplined in Off, but this also shows up in Press as well when he is initially beat off of the release and will grab as a result. He drew four defensive pass interference penalties, and he will be targeted as a “grabber” at the next level by officials.

Here we are again with Davis in Off coverage, but this time he gets way too high in his backpedal and is unable to react as quickly as he would’ve liked to as a result. He took mirroring the receiver to a whole new level and the receiver took advantage as soon as he got high in his pedal. This is yet another indictment that I believe Sean Davis does not have the feet to consistently play cornerback at the next level. Davis brings down the receiver quickly for the tackle, but again, this play just shows the uncertainties I have with Davis in man coverage in terms of his lack of quality footwork, stiffness in his COD, and raw technique.

I wasn’t surprised by any of Davis’s times except his 3 cone time at 6.64 seconds. I’ve always thought he had pretty solid recovery and deep speed to run vertical with most receivers, but his tape showed a stiff athlete when moving laterally and changing direction. If he showed the proper technique and discipline in man coverage, the 3 cone would’ve shown up on tape, but he didn’t play that quick because he was left guessing most of the time.

All in all, I think Davis will intrigue teams a big, physical press cornerback who can be experimented in Cover 3, but I am more inclined to play him close to the LOS as a box safety where he can be allowed to play to his strengths as a strong, aggressive, fundamentally-sound run defender. His ball skills will translate to productive numbers at the next level, but teams may also have to deal with his deficiencies in technique and discipline in man coverage, which will lead to a large amount of penalties early on. However, if he is played as a guy close to the LOS where his responsibilities in man coverage are limited, his talent could be maximized as a durable, starting strong safety in this league.

Grade: 3rd Round