STRENGTHS
Daxton is what I call a hybrid Defensive Back. He is a quick-twitch athlete with good size, speed, cover skills, and sure tackling skills to play any position in your defensive backfield. He can play up on the line or back, in the slot, or out on the outside. His style and ability to tackle in the open field remind’s me of former Bills, Steve Tasker. By that I mean, he has those quick feet and the speed and agility to change directions while running full speed to his target like a hypersonic missile. Daxton has good overall cover skills and will make a play on the ball when it’s in the air. He’s a playmaker who can excite his teammates and fans by making a tackle or making a play to intercept the ball. He can be used on any special teams’ unit because of his “missile-like” ability to tackle in the open field and his athletic talent to return punts and kicks. Daxton is an impact football player. He is the playmaking type of player, that every team needs to have to be a dominating playoff defense.
CONCERNS
Because Daxton is listed as a safety most teams will devalue his position unless his combine numbers show them otherwise. I believe those numbers will show that he has the cover skills of some of the best corners in this draft and when teams go back to his film, Daxton will move up quickly on most teams’ boards. The key for Daxton as a defensive back is to develop his communication skills. Players with Daxton’s talents struggle to tell others what they are about to do on the field because they are just reactionary players. Until the ball is snapped, they really don’t know what their next move will be. Other players rely on a script to make their next move. Players like Daxton rely on instincts and athletic talent, similar to former Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu.
BOTTOM LINE 1.42
I will always rate corners and safeties who tackle, higher on my board than most other evaluators who may consider great “cover skills” as their priority in their evaluations. Daxton has excellent size and outstanding athletic talent. Add to that his ability to tackle in the open field, a high football IQ like Daxton has, and cover skills are a given, in my opinion. I believe Daxton can play any position in your defensive backfield in any style of defense but that’s just me, others might feel that he is just a safety and if that’s what they believe then that thinking will affect his draft status. Personally, I hope they do, so my favorite team has the ability to select him. He’s a winner as a safety or cover corner or lined up in the slot. You don’t pass on selecting a quick-twitch athlete with Daxton’s size, speed, and open field tackling skills just because on film, you don’t see the coverage skills of a cornerback. At least I wouldn’t.
