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Panthers NFL Draft targets: Safety

By Brandon Scott

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers is hit by Ronnie Harrison #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide diving towards the endzone during the third quarter of their game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Kerryon Johnson #21 of the Auburn Tigers is hit by Ronnie Harrison #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide diving towards the endzone during the third quarter of their game at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NFL Combine - Day 5
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 05: Stanford defensive back Justin Reid (DB62) looks to catch the ball during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

JUSTIN REID, Stanford (6-foot, 207 pounds)

Projected Round: 1-3

Reid would fit nicely into the Panthers defense and the team has shown interest but some feel the bottom of the first-round may be a stretch for the former Stanford Cardinal. A lot will depend on how the NFL Draft plays out and if the safety class is thinning then Hurney could elect to pull the trigger.

If selected, it would be the first time in franchise history that two players from the same college were taken in consecutive years with the team’s initial pick.

"Reid played really well for a lot of 2017, impressing NFL scouts. Sources who are tough graders said they think Reid has early-round potential for the 2018 NFL Draft. They say that Reid doesn’t have Earl Thomas-like range as a free safety or Kam Chancellor-like size as a strong safety, but he does everything well. Reid is a good free or strong safety with the ability to run and tackle. They say that he is a polished, clean, good all-around safety similar to HaHa Clinton-Dix coming out of Alabama. Evaluators said that Reid didn’t close out the season as well and had some rough tapes late in the year, including a game against USC in which the Trojans targeted him and exploited him in man coverage on slot receivers all night. That could end up pushing him to Day 2 in the 2018 NFL Draft."

*Analysis via Charlie Campbell at WalterFootball.com

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