Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…
Richie Grant (Safety), University of Central Florida, Redshirt Senior
OVERVIEW:
The Steelers need depth at the safety position. With 2021 being the final year on Terrell Edmund’s rookie contract, the Steelers will need some sort of succession plan if Edmunds doesn’t return. In a draft that is deep at cornerback, wide receiver, and offensive line, safeties are not going to be highly sought after in the first round. It seems as though there are drastic tiers to this year’s class, in clear day one selections and those who will follow. If they are serious about landing a decent safety, Richie Grant may be available for them in the 2nd round.
PROS:
Grant is one of the most versatile safeties in the draft. If teams need him to play deep and be that center fielder, he can. If teams want him to lay in the box as a linebacker, he can. Grant has a great eye for the ball and plays great in coverage. Closer to the line of scrimmage, he is able to diagnose the play and make the stop at the line. Grant has a great burst off the ball and wraps up the ball carrier. A big component to Grant’s draft stock is his high ceiling, as coaches and scouts think his current skill set is underrated and he can take that next step to becoming an elite NFL safety.
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CONS:
Standing just under 6 feet tall and weighing under 200 pounds, Grant is the average size of a safety. This may be a deterrent to some teams if they need him as a strong safety as opposed to a free safety. For those teams who need him as more of a free safety, Grant possesses below average game speed. At his Pro Day, Grant ran a 4.57 second 40-yard dash, which is a bit higher than expected. In addition, Grant’s lateral range is lacking. In college, he was slow to flushing out to the flanks and got beat on quick swing passes.
DRAFT PROJECTION: 2nd Round
The only reason I have Grant going in the 2nd round is simply due to the fact that teams are going to be looking at quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, and offensive line in the first round; there just isn’t enough room on the first day for Grant to be called. With that said, he is definitely going in the 2nd. If I would put money on it, I’d say the first half of the 2nd, as opposed to later. If he is available to the Steelers at the 55th spot, that is a steal.
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VERDICT:
Grant is hands-down one of the best safeties of this year’s draft. He is going to develop into an elite NFL player and is an automatic starter for whichever team lands him. For the Steelers, it’ll come down to a simple question; do we want a safety in the 2nd round, or an offensive lineman? For me, it is offensive line help. But if the Steelers are comfortable with the depth they have at the offensive line and want a sure-thing at safety for 2022, Grant is their guy. Grant is a top tier safety, and will be a major asset to whatever defense lands him.
Where do you think Grant will land this week? Let us know in the comments below!
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