NFL Mock Draft 2017: Another QB on top?

S. LSU. Jamal Adams. 18. player. 30. <p>It is sometimes seen as a reach to take a safety with a first-round draft pick, but that is silly in my view. High-end safeties like Earl Thomas are undoubtedly worthy of their lofty draft position, but even above-average players at the position are becoming increasingly valuable, and the common sentiment that you “can find safeties anywhere” is becoming a myth in the pass-happy NFL.</p> <p>With that in mind, I frankly can’t believe Jamal Adams lasted this long.</p> <p>Adams has all the makings of an elite NFL safety. He brings size to the table at 6-foot-1 and more than 210 pounds, and Adams has shown the ability to play both safety spots at the next level. For me, Adams projects as a roving free safety more than anything else, and he flashed nice ball skills (and coverage ability) during the 2015 season at LSU.</p> <p>With an NFL safety, you want a sure tackler, and Adams also brings that to the table, with 67 stops in 2015. LSU’s success rate when it comes to defensive backs at the NFL level is up and down, but there are success stories with Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, and Adams just might be the next one in that lofty line of athletes.</p>