Detroit Lions Draft 2016: Defensive Back Metrics

Let’s start with 3-cone drill, we are looking for run of 6.92 seconds or under

• William Jackson III, Houston (Projected round 1 or 2) 6.86
• Jalen Mills, LSU (2-3)                                  6.86
• Justin Simmons, Boston College (5-6)   6.58
• Cyrus Jones, Alabama (3-4)                      6.71
• Sean Davis, Maryland (4-5)                      6.64
• James Bradberry, Samford (5)                  6.91
• Tavon Young, Temple (5)                            6.8
• Morgan Burns, Kansas State (5)             6.6
• Ken Crawley, Colorado (5-6)                     6.84
• Jordan Lucas, Penn State (6)                    6.78
• Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central (7) 6.88
• Jordan Lomax, Iowa (7)                              6.82

According to CBS Sports there are 40 cornerbacks and 30 safeties with draftable grades. Of those 70, only 12 are able to achieve the 6.92 minimum or faster. Side note: the fact that CBS has Justin Simmons ranked as going in the 5^th or 6^th round is bordering on criminal. This is a kid who is easily being underrated by them.

Next benchmark                                            Vertical Jump, 34.5 inches and over

• William Jackson III, Houston (1-2)         did not attempt
• Jalen Mills, LSU (Rd 2-3)                            37
• Justin Simmons, Boston College (5-6)   40
• Cyrus Jones, Alabama (3-4)                      33
• Sean Davis, Maryland (4-5)                      37.5
• James Bradberry, Samford (5)                  36
• Tavon Young, Temple (5)                            34.5
• Morgan Burns, Kansas State (5)              32
• Ken Crawley, Colorado (5-6)                     36.5
• Jordan Lucas, Penn State (6)                     38
• Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central (7)  36
• Jordan Lomax, Iowa (7)                               38.5

We lose two players here, Cyrus Jones and Morgan Burns. Remember, this wouldn’t necessarily take these players off the Lions board, but for the purpose of this exercise they don’t qualify and are removed. On Williams Jackson’s “Did not attempt”, I am giving him a pass on this round because we don’t know what he is capable of jumping.

• Next benchmark                               Short Shuttle, 4.21 seconds or under
• William Jackson III, Houston (1-2)          4.29
• Jalen Mills, LSU (Rd 2-3)                            4.0
• Justin Simmons, Boston College (5-6)  3.85
• Sean Davis, Maryland (4-5)                     3.97
• James Bradberry, Samford (5)                 4.21
• Tavon Young, Temple (5)                           3.93
• Ken Crawley, Colorado (5-6)                     4.4
• Jordan Lucas, Penn State (6)                    4.21
• Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central (7) 4.09
• Jordan Lomax, Iowa (7)                              4.15

We lose another two, including William Jackson who got a pass last round.

Next benchmark                                          Bench Press, min. of 14 reps

• Jalen Mills, LSU (Rd 2-3)                            16
• Justin Simmons, Boston College (5-6)   16
• Sean Davis, Maryland (4-5)                       21
• James Bradberry, Samford (5)                  16
• Tavon Young, Temple (5)                            13
• Jordan Lucas, Penn State (6)                     did not attempt
• Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central (7)  18
• Jordan Lomax, Iowa (7)                                9

Two more leave, and like in the previous round I give a pass to Lucas who was not able to attempt the drill. Tavon Young was only one repetition away from moving to the final round.

On the next slide, I will add one more parameter and then discuss the players who meet all the benchmarks.

Next: Who makes meets all the benchmarks?