Today’s NFL puts a premium on versatility, especially as defenses continue to deploy multiple looks and hybrid schemes at all three levels.
That should make a prospect like Washington’s Myles Bryant extremely valuable in the 2020 NFL draft.
Bryant recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience playing all across the Huskies’ secondary, how his time at Washington prepared him for the next level, and what kind of player he’ll be in the NFL.
JM: You played safety in 2019, but some may view you as a nickel corner. What position do you think you’ll play at the next level?
MB: I think I bring a lot of value in the sense that I can play anywhere. In 2017, I played half of the season outside at cornerback. I played the other half of 2017 at nickel. I spent the entire 2018 season at nickel. I played free safety in 2019 just like you said. I think that makes me a valuable guy. You can play me anywhere really. I was able to make plays and help the team win games no matter where I lined up.
JM: Has playing every position in the secondary improved your overall knowledge of how the defensive back group works as a unit?
MB: It really helped me understand the rotations. I understand the “why” now. When we’re rotating to the boundary, I get it. It depends on the formation we’re seeing. It helped me better understand what offenses are trying to do as a whole. As the nickel, I was closer to the line of scrimmage. It gives you a great vantage point. You’re able to really hone in on the quarterback and his offensive linemen. Of course I have the responsibility of the tight end or wide receiver in front of me as well.
I can see the whole formation now. I can see all 11 guys and understand how they work as one. Not counting myself, it gave me knowledge on the other 21 players on the field. You get to see how it all plays out. It helped me understand the game from a better, clearer perspective both defensively and offensively.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
MB: It was a good experience. Just to be there was a dream come true. I’ve been watching the combine since I was six years old. To go out there and have a meeting, to go there and compete with the best collegiate talent in the nation was very humbling. It was a lot of fun to stand next to those guys. It was a great time.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews out there?
MB: I didn’t have any formals, but I had somewhere between 20 and 25 informals.
JM: Did you get any private visits or meetings in before the COVID-19 outbreak?
MB: No, I didn’t. Unfortunately, everything I had scheduled was for a later date. I had a few scheduled for after my pro day, but this virus has everything up in the air right now.
JM: Who were some of the teams that you were scheduled to meet with?
MB: As of right now, I was supposed to workout for the Falcons, and I was gonna meet with the Titans as well. The Titans were gonna come down here to Seattle and work me out.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
MB: I wasn’t asked anything out of the ordinary. I’ve heard some stories but everything was pretty straight forward for me. I didn’t have any complaints.
JM: Some people have labeled you as “undersized.” How do you respond?
MB: I would just tell them to put on the film. I don’t think I’ve ever had a situation during my time at Washington where my size had a negative outcome on a play. I’ve yet to run into that problem. I feel like I’ve made plays against taller and bigger guys. I actually used my size to my advantage. It allowed me to blitz without an O-linemen being able to get down to my level. They have a tough time staying with me. I’m a good tackler. I haven’t had any issues bringing somebody down to the ground. I play with great leverage.
JM: Who are some of the best players you’ve competed against?
MB: N’Keal Harry from Arizona State was a good one. Saquon Barkley is of course a special talent. I played against him at Penn State. J.J. Taylor from Arizona was a good one. Those are the ones that stick out to me right now.
JM: Why should an NFL team use one of their draft picks on Myles Bryant?
MB: I just think I bring a lot of value to the team. I’m always trying to make everybody around me better. From the players to the coaches, I’m gonna show everybody in the front office on a daily basis that I’m determined to get better. I always work my tail off. My attitude and work ethic was contagious at Washington and I hope that it’s contagious at the next level as well. I tried to make everybody at Washington better. I’m only going up from here.
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