Fansided

10 best players available after Round 1 of the NFL Draft

By Logan Jakubajtys

ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 23: D'Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball during a game between Texas A&M and the Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 23: D'Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball during a game between Texas A&M and the Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 26: Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Gophers looks on during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at TCF Bank Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Terrapins 52-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 26: Antoine Winfield Jr. #11 of the Minnesota Gophers looks on during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at TCF Bank Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Gophers defeated the Terrapins 52-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

3. S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota

Safety is a position that didn’t get any attention in the first round of the draft, but that doesn’t mean that the players lack talent. In fact, there are quite a few safeties ready to go in day two.

Antoine Winfield Jr. could, and should, be the first of those safeties to go. He is productive against big tight ends, even with his lack of size. Winfield, the son of former a All-Pro cornerback, can also come down as a thumper in the run game. He is a quick processor and excels in reading the field. That said, he lacks the twitch to make him a true ball hawk. Winfield always finds a way to produce though, and that was evident in the fact that he stepped in to start nine games as a true freshman while at Minnesota.

Winfield Jr. could be a great option for the New England Patriots, who traded down from pick 23 in the first round to 37 on Friday. The deal was made with the Chargers, who also gave up pick 71. The Patriots could look to add to their safety group behind Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung, especially after the departure of Duron Harmon. With an aging group, Bill Belichick may be looking to develop for the future.

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