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NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalen Ramsey, Safety, Florida State

Jalen Ramsey is one of the most versatile and athletic prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, having success at both free safety and boundary corner in college. 

Jalen Ramsey - S, Florida State Seminoles

Position: Safety
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 204
Year: Junior
Hometown: Smyrna, Tennessee
Experience: Jr. - 3 year starter

Measurables:

40yd dash: 4.41 Seconds
Broad jump: 135 Inches
Vertical: 41.5 Inches
3-cone: 6.94 Seconds
20yd. Shuttle: 4.18 Seconds
Bench Press: 14 Reps

Career Notes:

Jalen Ramsey has had success at a variety of positions throughout his decorated college career.  Committing to Florida State, Ramsey was a consensus top five cornerback from a variety of outlets coming out of high school.  He started all 14 games as a freshman at both cornerback and free safety.  Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles completed an undefeated season with a win in the BCS National Championship.  Jalen Ramsey was a key contributor to a defense that ranked third overall and first against the pass.  Ramsey showed playmaking ability handling running backs at the line of scrimmage and on passing downs.  He was voted to several freshman All-American teams and continued to play safety the following season.

Ramsey's sophomore season was phenomenal as he amassed 80 total tackles, 10 for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.  Ramsey was a clutch performer and an impact player on a team that only lost one game.  The Associated Press granted him All-American Second Team for his efforts. At a solid 6'1'', 204 pound safety/corner hybrid, Ramsey began making waves in the scouting community.   With the losses of top cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby, Ramsey took his talents to the outside corner position for the majority of his junior season. 

Taking his physical toughness to the outside, Ramsey's production wasn't quite as eye-popping as his previous two years, but his physical prowess was often too much for receivers to handle.  Ramsey became one of the largest, most physical cornerbacks in the NCAA in 2015.  With less stars in the secondary, Florida State's defense wasn't quite as dominant this past season, but Ramsey's skill as a lockdown corner flourished.  He was a consensus All-American at cornerback, adding to his impressive pedigree as a safety.  Ramsey is viewed by some executives as a top 5 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft while others feel he doesn't have a natural position in the NFL.  As NFL teams continue to search for tall, strong defensive backs to cover the star receivers in today's game, Jalen Ramsey will almost certainly go within the first half of the first round. 

Injury Report:

Ramsey has been incredibly durable in his tenure at Florida State.  He has started every game possible in his three-year career, starting 41 straight games.

Career Stats:

For a full breakdown of Jalen Ramsey's career statistics, follow the link below:
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jalen-ramsey-1.html

Analysis:

Man Coverage: 3.0/5.0  During the 2015 season Jalen Ramsey showed he has the ability to lock up with receivers one-on-one in man coverage.  He is physical at the line of scrimmage, constantly using his large frame to shift receivers off their routes.  He is plenty fast but still has issues with losing receivers on deep routes.  He can get caught watching the quarterback for too long which causes him to play catch-up with the receiver.  Ramsey was forced to play over the top on speedier receivers which caused issues defending short hitches and out routes. 

Zone Coverage: 4.0/5.0   Ramsey plays very aggressively in zone coverage where he has the ability to analyze the play and react to the quarterback.  He has great closing speed after the catch.  When in zone near the line of scrimmage, Ramsey makes it impossible to gain extra yardage on a short gain.  He plays better near the line than in a 2-Deep set over the top.  Receivers have shown they can get behind him as he focuses on the quarterback.

Against the Run: 5.0/5.0: Jalen Ramsey earns a perfect grade as a defensive back against the run.  During his sophomore season at free safety, Ramsey played in the box almost as frequently as he played off the ball.  His size and physical nature of play made him an extra linebacker with great coverage ability.  He was actively used to blitz from the safety position.  He uses his explosive athleticism to take on blockers and dislodges to make the tackle on the ball carrier.  His tackling ability is impressive for a defensive back and he knows how to use his size well.  In his junior season Ramsey near the ball carrier as often, but he continued to make sound tackles on receivers after the catch.  He effectively eliminated outside runs to his side of the field by tossing receivers aside and forcing the ball carrier inwards.  Ramsey has elite tackling and block shedding ability, traits a 6'1'' cornerback or safety could utilize to thrive in the NFL. 

Speed/Quickness: 3.5/5.0: Jalen Ramsey did not thrive at Florida State due to elite speed or agility.  He's plenty fast especially for his size, but those long strides tripped him up at times. He closes on ball carriers extremely well covering ground with deceiving acceleration.  He has quick hips given his size but can get tripped up when turning to chase a receiver.  I think he poses better at safety than boundary corner where I think he could be beat one on one. 

Impact Play Ability 3.0/5.0: Ramsey was responsible for just 6 turnovers in his three years at Florida State.  He had his hands on quite a few passes, many of which he should have caught.  Regardless, he gets his hands on quite a few passes, especially when blitzing the quarterback.  Ramsey's athletic ability when blitzing allowed him to jump and deflect passes at the line of scrimmage.  He diagnoses plays well but doesn't run with a downhill ferocity to consistently force fumbles. 

Overall Grade: 4.0/5.0  

Summary:  Jalen Ramsey has unique ability as a player that can thrive at a variety of positions in the NFL.  He could line up at safety and crowd the line of scrimmage, be used as a physical presence on the outside against big receivers, or play as a weak side outside linebacker with exceptional coverage ability.  He is a physical presence against the run with exceptional ability to decipher offenses.  His closing speed and athletic ability should mask any deficiencies he has when missing coverage.  NFL executives would love to have a player of Ramsey's caliber and versatility on the defensive side of the ball. 

If drafted by the Packers:

The Packers need one more impact player in the secondary for the full makeover to be complete.  After drafting two athletic cornerbacks in the 2015 draft, Ted Thompson could look to add another defensive back through the draft and let Casey Hayward walk in free agency.  With approximately $20 million in cap space for the 2016 season, Hayward may be able to find better money and a starting job from another team.  Hayward has expressed interest in playing more boundary corner in 2016, a position he struggled at over the first half of the Packer's season.  With Damarious Randall and Sam Shields almost certainly heading into the offseason as the starting pair on the outside, if Thompson resigns Hayward it will most certainly be to play the slot.  Ted Thompson should allow Quinten Rollins to man the slot and look for further depth through the draft. 

Like several other players Thompson has drafted, Jalen Ramsey could play both cornerback or safety for the Packers.  I think he translates best as an in-the-box downhill safety due to his physical play and ability to attack the line of scrimmage.  Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett seem to have the starting positions filled for 2016, but the depth behind them is lacking.  Micah Hyde has shown flashes of playmaking ability but gives up way too many open passes to tight ends over the middle.  Ramsey could be the big physical player the Packers need to cover large targets over the middle.  Plus, the depth behind Sam Shields and Damarious Randall on the boundary is severely lacking.  Undrafted player LaDarius Gunter showed flashes in the preseason and on limited snaps during the regular season, but he is not a very athletic player and does not have enough experience to fill in immediately.  With Sam Shields's injury history, a player like Ramsey would give the Packers a very deep and young secondary to compete in today's NFL.

Although some executives believe that Ramsey doesn't quite have the coverage ability to play at the next level, his size, potential, and versatility will be too tempting to pass on.  Ted Thompson's Best Player Available approach to the draft would almost certainly lead to the drafting of Ramsey with the 27th pick.  More than likely, Jalen Ramsey will be drafted much higher than the 27th pick, and I don't see the safe Ted Thompson hindering multiple draft picks to trade for a defensive back. 

Video:

Jalen Ramsey vs. Notre Dame(10/18/2014):

 

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Comments (2)

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oldfart's picture

March 06, 2016 at 07:19 pm

winning the division is no longer good enough. it is time for TT to surround aaron rogers with top talent. we are wasting the years of many good players. if rogers does not leave green bay with as good a record as peyton manning we don't have a good enough general manager or head coach. maybe it's time for the fans to hold some feet to the fire. go pack...........

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Kevin Carpenter's picture

March 06, 2016 at 11:05 pm

Honestly Ted will probably go after a lineman on either side or a linebacker. We all know how much he loves his big guys. With that said however, he has taken a defensive back in the first round of last 2 drafts. Who's to say he won't go for a third? We're not necessarily missing talent in the middle of the field, we are missing speed. The majority of our players, both linebackers and safeties, are all on the slower side. That doesn't bode well against big fast tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. Perhaps Ramsey could be the link that completes the chain, and even replace Joe Thomas as the dime backer with his tackling ability. This is all hypothetical, of course. But it pays to wonder.

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