Part 5 of a 10-part series previewing the NFL draft.
The widespread buzz about this being a bad year to draft a safety doesn’t infuriate Alabama’s Nick Perry. It’s just further motivation to shut folks up.
“I know I have the talent to play in this league,” he said.
Perry’s teammate Landon Collins tops this year’s safety class and he could be the only safety selected in the first round.
But the demand for safeties has arguably never been higher. The importance and stature of the position grows with every giant, pass-catching tight end entering the league.
The Bears’ needs at safety are very evident. There are only three of them on the roster: Antrel Rolle, Ryan Mundy and Brock Vereen.
Collins and Perry have both received a good look. Perry was snubbed from the NFL Scouting Combine, but a good showing at his pro day on March 11 has improved his standing. He met with the Bears following Alabama’s pro day.
Perry could be an ideal late-round option with major upside. He’s heard from more than 10 teams over the last two weeks and has had private workouts with Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots.
“[The Bears] said they were probably looking at the safety class this year,” Perry said. “They said they were impressed with what I did at my pro day. That’s all I can really ask for.”
Perry and Collins are the next wave of safeties from Alabama. He has four former teammates — Mark Barron (St. Louis Rams, No. 7 in 2012), Robert Lester (Carolina Panthers, undrafted free-agent signing), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Green Bay Packers, No. 21 in 2014) and Vinnie Sunseri (New Orleans Saints, No. 167 in 2014) — in the NFL.
Perry received a medical redshirt in 2013 for a torn labrum in his shoulder. But he’s 100 percent now and started every game but one last season next to Collins.
“Competing with those guys, that’s another thing I have an advantage on,” Perry said. “I’ve been competing for playing time since I got [to Alabama] with NFL caliber safeties. I don’t think other safeties in this draft class had to go through what I went through.
“There are four safeties actually playing in the NFL right now. I was able to play in that secondary for three-plus years and make a name for myself. Having to compete with those guys made me a better player.”
That competition also made Perry versatile. He played nickel back and Alabama’s “money” position, a hybrid linebacker role. He’s a physical tackler, trailing only Collins in solo stops last season.
Perry also handled all the calls in the secondary in 2014.
“I loved it,” he said. “You have to take a leadership approach to that because if something is messed up back there, you’re going to be at fault.”
Now, it’s time to prove himself at the next level, pundits be damned.
“All you have to do is impress one of 32 teams and you have a shot,” said Perry, who has a Master’s degree in sports management. “When somebody says this draft class is thin, that kind of motivates myself because I’m part of that safety draft class.”
POSITION SPOTLIGHT: SAFETY
Rating the Bears’ need: High
Safety has been longstanding problem for the Bears and it’s their thinnest position. Help and depth beyond Antrel Rolle, Ryan Mundy and 2014 draft pick Brock Vereen is an absolute must. Vereen’s best role might be as the Bears’ fifth defensive back in sub packages.
New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and secondary coach Ed Donatell have very high standards for their safeties, especially after their success with the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers spent first-round picks on safeties the past two years, selecting Jimmy Ward with the 30th overall pick last year and Eric Reid at No. 18 in 2013. Reid made the Pro Bowl his rookie season.
Donte Whitner, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, also was a two-time Pro Bowl safety for San Francisco under Fangio and Donatell.
Best of the best
It’s Alabama’s Landon Collins and then the field. It’s widely regarded to be a thin class for the safeties this year.
NFL Network analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis said it’s difficult to evaluate safeties because many players that fit the typical mold for safeties are playing linebacker in college to counter all the wide-open offenses. Washington’s Shaq Thompson is an example.
Other options
Northwestern’s Ibraheim Campbell, Ole Miss’ Cody Prewitt and Alabama’s Nick Perry are on the Bears’ radar. Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones also has their interest and has playing experience at safety.
Email: ajahns@suntimes.com
Twitter: @adamjahns
