Shaq Thomspon, possible safety project?

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470108/article/mike-mayocks-position-rankings-for-2015-nfl-draft

 

Mayock has him as one of the top safeties even though he played linebacker (and running back) in college. Word on the street is is that some scouts feel as if he is too small to be an NFL LB in the NFL. Would you be up for the experiment?

[davos]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470108/article/mike-mayocks-position-rankings-for-2015-nfl-draft

 

Mayock has him as one of the top safeties even though he played linebacker (and running back) in college. Word on the street is is that some scouts feel as if he is too small to be an NFL LB in the NFL. Would you be up for the experiment?

 

A reverse Thomas Davis...hmm.

 

If he drops a little bit more to under 210, I think he could be a solid safety prospect.  Really interesting guy. 

[TylerVagyler]

I would 100% take him if he's there at #25. He will find a spot on the team.

[*FreeFua*]

I said this awhile back...

Draft Shaq and he can replace Harper for now and then Davis down the road if need be. He's a playmaker.

[C47]

He's not going to be there, but he can play either position. He actually came to Washington as a Safety. He covers extremely well (both in Zone and in Man on Tight Ends), and plays well in the box. Personally think he could be a better Safety than Linebacker. 

[Ken]

Would love to have him and team might pass on him depending on the what position he wants to play etc.

 

I really think it's possible he's there at #25.

 

As for how he fits for us, I think SS would be ideal. Maybe play as a nickel LB.

[philw5289]

Would love to have him, if we have running back issues he can also play there he had RB success

[IamSoClutch]

Would love him in the first. He may fall.

[jumpman910]

No hesitation if he would still be available at 25

[Frank Hollywood]

I want a WR but would love to get him if he's there at 25.

[gettlemanjack]

interesting Mayock likes him best at safety. His college coach, Chris Petersen said he's not sure if safety isn't his best position. If, like a lot of people think, he's as good at safety as OLB, he be a perfect pick for us (he could play S until he takes over for Thomas Davis...and it's another bonus he has potential at RB too)

While Landon Collins is rated the best S in the draft, Shaq is rated the best 4-3 OLB in the draft, and compares to fellow undersized-but-awesome 4-3 OLBs Thomas Davis and Lavante David. For a 3-4 team, he projects as the weak-side inside LB which isn't his ideal fit, meaning a lot of people aren't going to mock him to a 3-4 team, dropping him lower in their mocks. Note how low some of these mocks have him, and it could be a very real possibility he is available when we pick:

Shaq Thompson

-not in 1st R - Mel Kiper 2.0, Feb 11

-not 1st R (Landon Collins isn't either)- NFL.com Charles Davis Feb 10

-not 1st R - NFL.com Daniel Jeremiah Jan 14

-#27 - Scott Wright DraftCountdown Jan 30

-#24 - DraftTek February 11

-#21 - NFL.com Lance Zierlein Feb 5

-#13 - FOX Sports Peter Schrager, Feb 9

-#7 - NFL.com Bucky Brooks Jan 19

#24 overall - DraftTek February 11

"Shaq Thompson is the #1 ranked prospect at the OLB43 position and any time you can draft the #1 prospect at pick #24 at ANY POSITION, you exercise that opportunity."

#27 overall - Scott Wright DraftCountdown Jan 30

"OLB Shaq Thompson is simply too talented..to pass up at this point. ... his best fit will likely come on the weakside in a 4-3 front. Think Thomas Davis without the durability concerns.

Regardless of where he lines up, Thompson has proven to be a big-time playmaker with a nose for the ball. It will be interesting to see where a true ‘tweener like Thompson ultimately comes off the board but the tape is extremely impressive and screams first round talent."

#13 overall - FOX Sports Peter Schrager, Feb 9

"Thompson will be a first-round pick. The question is just where he'll go in that first round. He could be a top-10 selection or a bottom-third guy... Thompson looks like a safety at times, with his playmaking ability and size, but so does Lavante David and he's a perennial All-Pro consideration in Tampa."

article pointing out he is under-sized:

"Analysts have made the same mistake in the past with guys like Telvin Smith and even more so with Lavonte David, a nearly perfect college linebacker who was simply undersized. Drafted in the second round in 2012, David was a first-team All-Pro by 2013."

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2357488-shaq-thompsons-unique-skill-set-versatility-makes-him-rare-defensive-talent

NFL.com

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts

FOX Sports

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/mock-draft-nfl-marcus-mariota-jameis-winston-leonard-williams-020915

Mel Kiper 2.0

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/2/11/8018495/2015-nfl-mock-draft-mel-kiper-2-0-espn-eagles-marcus-mariota-peters

DraftTek

http://www.drafttek.com/2015-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round1b.asp

DraftCountdown

http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-C.php

[section543]

Would love him to fall to us. No OL will be impact next year but Shaq could help immediately

[ecu88]

Kam Chancellor 2.0

[gettlemanjack]

thoughts on his Combine performance:

10 Year NFL OLB Scott Shanle @scottshanle 1h

Shaq Thompson by far the most athletic looking 4-3 weak

side linebacker prospect.

NFL.com Gil Brandt @ Gil_Brandt 21m

Talked to 2 teams, both say Shaq Thompson 's position in

NFL has to be SS. Had excellent workouts, really smart.

#NFLCombine

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko 2h

Shaq Thompson 's movement skills in drills on another level.

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko 2h

Shaq Thompson beat Kam Chancellor's 4.60 in the Simulcast

Mike Loyko @NEPD_Loyko 2h

I just went back and timed Shaq Thompson myself (yea I

know) had him right around 4.60

NFL Network @ nflnetwork 2h

Shaq Thompson officially ran a 4.64