STRENGTHS
Mike is an impact football player. He has the cover skills, speed, and agility to play in the slot. He is an excellent form tackler and outstanding against the run. He comes off his blocks quicker than most defense backs and because of his burst and quickness can be used to blitz from the outside slot position or off the line from a deep safety position. As a former receiver, Mike can intercept the ball and take it to the house. Mike is the same size as impact Buccaneers Safety, Antoine Winfield Jr the difference is, that Mike is faster, but as quick, and has better cover skills. Mike shows leadership skills through his play on the field and in zone coverages and communicates with his teammates better than most slot corners or cornerbacks. Because of his receiver-like hands, and receiver-like skills to make yardage after the catch, Mike should be an asset in the return game on special teams. Mike is a unique player and adds excitement, and playmaking ability to a defense because of his athletic talent and his high football IQ.
CONCERNS
That’s it…lack of size will be THE reason teams will downgrade Mike. They might also downgrade him because they may feel he will have to change positions. If he is used as a slot corner he will be taken advantage of by those big, pass-catching tight ends and this too will discourage some teams from selecting him early in this draft. Teams are also worried about the injury factor with a smaller player but that could be a concern with just about any player. The truth is, there are a lot of smaller players starting in the NFL that never have much more of an injury history than many other players have.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.83
Size does matter when evaluating players in the draft but once a player gets on the field size is not an issue, it’s all about production. Ask Buffalo Bills 5’ 11” slot corner Taron Johnson or Buccaneers Safety, 5’ 9” Antoine Winfield Jr or WR Dolphins Tyreek Hill, or former Panthers WR Steve Smith Sr. I could go on but you need to do some of the work yourselves. My point is yes, stature affects where a player is selected in the draft but it has nothing to do with how well a small player will be successful in the NFL. I believe Mike has 1st round talent and at some point, the team that selects him will get the benefit of that talent and production. Maybe he will be a starting Safety and impact like Winfield or maybe a team will use him in the slot to cover and he will impact like Taron. Maybe a team will move him back to receiver and use him in the slot like Julian Edelman or Wes Welker. I really don’t care where a team uses his talents all I’m telling you is that no matter what position he plays or what unit, Mike will impact and make plays, and isn’t that what the draft is all about, selecting players on both sides of the ball that can make plays no matter what size they are? I think that’s exactly what the draft is all about.
