Boise State safety Darian Thompson hasn’t generated a ton of attention at this point in the 2016 draft season, but a strong Senior Bowl and some impressive tape with the Broncos is expected to change all that in the coming months.

S Darian Thompson

College: Boise State
Year: RS Senior
Age: 22
Height: 6-1 7/8
Weight: 215

Analysis

Following a strong Senior Bowl week during which Thompson received the North team’s Most Outstanding Player Award, the Boise State safety final began to garner some of the recognition his play deserves during the pre-draft process. A three-and-a-half year starter whose well-rounded game should have him flying up boards, all Thompson needs to do is test well in order to continue to gain traction as a first round prospect.

Not many safeties at Thompson’s size can move like the rangy safety, showing a smooth pedal and the ability to break on the ball in a flash. Thompson’s instincts on the back end are exceptional, reading quarterbacks’ eyes with active feet and the range to play single-high. His length and ball skills are evident at catch points, where Thompson won’t hesitate to challenge receivers in the air. He’s extremely aggressive too, reading routes beautifully to come downhill and close on the football.

Thompson does occasionally struggle in man coverage, but not due to a lack of athleticism. The safety tends to be overaggressive and can get manipulated out of position by savvy quarterbacks and wide receivers who have mastered the art of route fakes. A lot of teams will love that attacking aspect of Thompson’s style, but there is no doubt that it can get him beat at times.

What impresses me the most about Thompson is his ability to process the game and maintain top-notch play speed. He sees route combinations coming on the back end and knows how to position himself to make a play on the football. The experienced defender avoids penalties by beating receivers to the spot, showing the ability to identify quarterback’s tendencies and jump routes. Thompson excels against the run, reading his keys and flying downhill with terrific angles to take on ball carriers.

What makes Thompson so special is his ability to play a variety of roles with virtually no drop off. He has the size, physicality, and vision to play in the box and be productive as a run defender, while Thompson’s range and ball skills make him an ideal center fielder or zone safety. His ability to identify routes and break on the ball suggest a dangerous playmaker in an underneath “robber” role, which could make him attractive to more creative defensive minds at the next level. The fifth-year safety has all the tools to be excellent in man coverage as well, showing quick, fluid feet and the length to be physical with receivers all over the field.

What scouts may be concerned about is Thompson’s long speed, but I haven’t seen any issue on tape. I think the safety will run in the high 4.5s at worst, and his long strides help him cover plenty of ground quickly in deep zones on the back end. Thompson told me during Senior Bowl week that he’s currently working hard on his tackling to become more consistent, as he’ll occasionally overrun his target and fail to break down properly in space.

With safety play at a premium right now in the league, I expect Thompson to be seen by most teams as a first round pick this spring. His combination of physical traits, athleticism, and football smarts are simply too tantalizing for teams to bypass. Thompson is a very self-aware and vocal presence on the back end, showing his leadership during Senior Bowl week as one of the loudest defenders on the field. He’s also dedicated to his craft off the field, reportedly spending a ton of time in the film room. There’s simply very little to dislike about the safety’s game, as Thompson could begin to generate top 20 projections with a strong combine performance.

Grade: 1st Round