The 2020 NFL Combine concluded their on-field drills on Sunday with the safeties wrapping up the event.
With the Lions investing a third-round pick at the safety position in each of the last two drafts, it may appear they are not in the market for another, but that’s not necessarily the case. In the Lions base 3-3-5 scheme, they deploy three safety sets roughly 50-percent of defensive snaps, and with Tavon Wilson a potential free agent, adding another safety could end up being a sneaky important need.
Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
5-9, 203, 40 y/d: 4.45, vertical: 36″, broad: 10’4″
The Lions need playmakers who can create turnovers in their secondary and Winfield is a ballhawk who would fit in perfectly at the Lions single-high safety position. In on-field drills, he showed off his traits with speed, quickness, burst to point of attack, high-pointed the ball, and sure hands to wrap up the catch.
Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyme
6-1, 217, 40 y/d: 4.49, vertical: 42″, broad: 11’2″
If the Lions think they can handle the single-high position between Tracy Walker and Will Harris, Dugger is a legitimate candidate for the Wilson role as a box safety who can cover the slot and intermediate/middle of the field. Like Winfield, he has great speed, is explosive when tracking the ball or offensive player, and can create turnovers. If you are an Isaiah Simmons or Miles Killebrew fan, Dugger is right up your alley.
Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
6-3, 221, 40 y/d: 4.45, vertical: 41″, broad: 11’6″
Not only did Chinn check the boxes in timed/measured drills, but he was one of the more impressive players in the final group. He was incredibly smooth in his backpedal, located and tracked the ball with ease, and consistently high-pointed and secured the catch — Chinn made it all looked very easy.
Like with Dugger and Simmons, Chinn is a box safety with coverage skills and is comfortable in the slot. If the Lions are in the market for a Wilson replacement, his name has to be in the mix.
Tanner Muse, Clemson
6-2, 227, 40 y/d: 4.41, vertical: 34.5″, broad: 10’4″
Despite coming out of Clemson, expectations were low that Muse would have a solid Combine — and then he blew those expectations out of the water.
Muse’s game film indicated he wasn’t the most fleet of foot, but his 4.41 40-yard-dash time indicated the potential is there. He looked sharp in on-field drills but did have some wasted movement in transitions, which match his film in coverage. Because his coverage skills still need work, he projects more of a Killebrew-like replacement — a box safety/WILL linebacker who can be a four-phase special teamer — rather a Wilson level replacement.
Notes:
- Xavier McKinney (6-0.5, 203, Alabama) injured his hamstring during his first 40-yard dash, so take his 4.63 second time with a grain of salt — he plays faster.