Detroit Lions Draft 2016: Adding a ‘Money Linebacker’
By Erik Schlitt
Su’a Cravens, USC, Strong Safety
Cravens like Cash is listed as a strong safety but spent most of his time around the line of scrimmage. Cravens isn’t quite the athlete that Cash is but he specializes in blitzing. Cravens will get dinged for an average 40 time, slightly below average explosion numbers and a SPARQ percentage of 27%, but he wins with his quickness and agility, and the metrics back that up (3-cone and short shuttle).
Cravens is the type of player who I think could out perform his metrics. Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar interviewed Cravens and they broke down the art of safety blitzes.
ICYMI: Watching tape with USC's Su'a Cravens -- a master class in position versatility and safety blitzes https://t.co/Cg6g26YNDU
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 14, 2016
Like Cash, Cravens would require a second round pick to get him on the Lions roster. It shouldn’t be overlooked that he is the player most evaluators compare to Deone Bucannon. Cravens met with Detroit at the combine, USC pro day, and is rumored to be visiting Lions headquarters in Allen Park soon.
If he’s there at 46, I think Quinn is considering him as a real option.
Next: Miles Killebrew