STRENGTHS
Armani is a ferocious player who reminds me of a bigger version of Tyrann Mathieu Cardinals. He is a playmaker and will track the ball and intercept it like a receiver. Armani is a bit of a guesser and likes to make plays on the ball that excite his teammates and motivates them. He doesn’t just make a tackle or just intercept the ball; he flashes and drops a player in stride for an impact tackle or intercepts the ball and runs it back for a pick six. Armani is a tackling and interception machine. He is an excellent special team’s player taking pride and making an impact any way he can, as a returner, gunner or blocking punts or kicks. He makes impact plays as a free safety or on special teams at least three or four times a game and when he makes plays on special teams he makes them with the impact former Bills Steve Tasker had on special teams.

CONCERNS
As a Free Safety Armani is an injury waiting to happen. His tackling (although impacting) is also seriously inconsistent and at time dangerous. He dives into players legs dropping his head and not wrapping up. Like I said he makes impact tackles that will make fans and coaches rise up and cheer. The problem is he will make mothers take their children off the playing field the next day. That being said this kid is an impact special team’s player and that alone is well worth selecting him early in this draft.

BOTTOM LINE
Armani’s style of play on special teams reminds me a lot of Steve Tasker and there is no doubt in my mind that playing on any unit on special teams that Armani will make at least one impact play a game. He will block a punt or kick, drop a returner in his tracks timing his torpedo type tackling to the catch or return a punt or kick at the most important time in a came flipping the field in favor of his team. Personal I think to save this kid from destroying himself I would work him out at slot receiver because I have no doubt he can be an impact player at the position also and that might extend his career from injuries. Armani is a playmaker but he is the type of playmaker who can impact not only as a free safety but as a top special team’s player and those are few and far between. You do have to wonder what round a player like Armani will be selected in. I do wonder, and even though I feel his talent to make players is equal to a 1st round grade I don’t believe for a minute he will be selected in the first round of this draft, then again…I’ve been wrong before and some playoff team or super bowl teams looking for an impact player just might surprise us all. Nevertheless no matter what round Armani is selected in that team will be selecting 1st round talent to impact and make plays…if he can stay healthy. Tyrann Mathieu was selected in the 3rd Round by the Arizona Cardinals and just recently was cut and signed by the Houston Texans in free agency. Steve Tasker was selected in the 1985 Draft in the 9th round by the Houston Oilers number 226th pick. He was picked up off waivers by the Buffalo Bills on November 8, 1986. These players among many others are proof that you can find 1st round talent in any round and that 1st round talent can be cut or released for any number of reasons in spite of how well a player plays. That’s the politics of the draft and the NFL.

Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018