Rookie Report: 1st-year safeties proving to be quick learners
The Rookie Report highlights first-year players, focusing on how they might perform in their debut season and beyond.
Mykkele Thompson, S, New York Giants
Safety is one of the Giants' biggest question marks entering training camp due to a lack of experience at the position. That's a good thing for Thompson and the rest of the team's rookies because it means they have a legitimate shot at a starting job.
Thompson, a fifth-round pick out of Texas, has been making the most of his opportunity so far. Giants safeties coach David Merritt was particularly impressed with the mental progress Thompson has shown since being drafted.
"He is going to take what I say literally and take my word for it and go out and try to execute it," Merritt said during minicamp, via the team's official website.
"Now I am starting to see that the kid actually has some football awareness, where I didn't think he had much of it when we first started off. The (missed alignments) that started at the beginning of rookie minicamp and OTAs have drastically gone down. Mentally, he has excelled past my expectations."
Second-round pick Landon Collins looks like the front-runner for the starting strong safety job, leaving Thompson to battle it out at free safety. ESPN's Dan Graziano believes Thompson could emerge as a starter, noting the Giants "like his range and instincts."
Clayton Geathers, S, Indianapolis Colts
Like Thompson, Geathers will have an opportunity to earn playing time immediately with the Colts and could challenge for a starting job with LaRon Landry and Sergio Brown both gone.
The fourth-round pick impressed the coaching staff with how quickly he picked up the system during offseason workouts and has the ability to play both safety positions in Chuck Pagano's system.
"He's going to be one of those guys that in today's football you can play inside as a dime (linebacker) and get faster, get more speed on the field and matchup with the tight ends that we've got to cover now, the backs out of the backfield and things like that," Pagano said of Geathers, via Mike Wells of ESPN.
"He's going to contribute, not only on defense, but he should be an outstanding special teamer as well."
Even if Geathers doesn't earn a starting role out of the gate, he could make a significant impact in his first year. A four-year starter at UCF, Geathers was named the Knights' most outstanding defensive back at the conclusion of his senior season and finished third in school history with 383 career tackles.
Quick Hits
- NFL Media's Conor Orr doesn't think Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess is crazy for setting his sights on winning the Offensive Rookie Year of the Award.
- Funchess isn't the only rookie with high aspirations. Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shane Ray told NFL Media's Kevin Patra he doesn't see "anything less than Defensive Rookie of the Year."
- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver DeAndrew White was a draft-day snub, but he still feels like he belongs in the NFL.
- Tennessee Titans undrafted rookie J.R. Tavai saw plenty of action with the first team during OTAs due, in part, to injuries at linebacker. Now he's eager to impress during training camp.
- The NFL Rookie Symposium is restricted to drafted players only, but the league made an exception this year, inviting Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman La'el Collins to attend.