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Mel Kiper, Todd McShay mock drafts: 5 takeaways to snack on

By Peter Bukowski

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before taking on the Georgia Bulldogs during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before taking on the Georgia Bulldogs during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated Georgia 26-23 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Derwin James
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Derwin James /

3. The age of the overhang defender

Two safeties go in the top-11 and neither are traditional center-field free safeties or box enforcers. Alabam’s Minkah Fitzpatrick goes consensus at No. 9 to the 49ers and Derwin James at 11 to the Dolphins.

They can play here, there and everywhere. These types of players are so non-traditional, we’ve had to popularize the term “overhang defender” because players like Fitzpatrick and James defy description via traditional football mainstream terminology.

Kiper has Justin Reid, who played more nickel corner and de facto linebacker than any true safety position at Stanford, going in the top-25 while McShay has him at the top of the second. These types of versatile chess pieces have become en vogue and will require us to reevaluate how we value these types of players.

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