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Greg Cosell's Draft Preview: Jalen Ramsey and scheme fit (Podcast)

One factor in NFL draft analysis that's underrated is scheme fit. It's important to study the strengths and weaknesses of a player, but it's also important to figure out what role they might play in the NFL.

Here's an example from last year. I saw many mock drafts predict the Philadelphia Eagles would draft Alabama safety Landon Collins. That's because the Eagles needed a safety. Here's the problem: Their defensive coordinator last year, Billy Davis, wanted his safeties to be interchangeable in his scheme, able to play free or strong safety depending on the play. Collins isn't that type of player; he's much more comfortable in the box. If you considered scheme fit, you knew it was improbable that Collins would land with the Eagles. The New York Giants ended up selecting him after the Eagles passed.

(AP)
(AP)

Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey is a different type of discussion, as far as scheme fits. Because he's so versatile, he can play in just about any defense. But the team selecting him will have to figure out his idea fit in their scheme and overall philosophy.

Ramsey started at cornerback and safety at Florida State. As a corner he lined up outside and in the slot, and played a number of different coverage concepts, including press man and multiple zone concepts. On certain snaps you could see him play with physicality from the press man position. "Cover 3" zone teams will like him as a prospect too, because of his skill set. He has the prototype size and athleticism to be a man or zone corner, yet can also play slot corner or safety.

So Ramsey's fit becomes a combination of how you think about him as a player and what you value in your defense. If you believe Ramsey can become a Patrick Peterson-type corner at the NFL level, then you will not utilize him as a multi-dimensional chess piece. He will line up and play corner. Those players are hard to find and they have tremendous value. But with the way teams are using tight ends as chess pieces to move around the formation, and creative use of slot receivers, it's possible the team that picks Ramsey will see value in using him as a chess piece as well to move around and match up.

Like with most players in the draft, on either side of the ball, you have to understand how they fit and consider how you'll use them. This is how coaches think about the draft. There are many players on the defensive side who will have to be drafted to play in a specific scheme, and others who won't really know their position in the NFL until a team selects them. We talked about that concept in depth in our latest podcast episode (here are our two previous episodes on quarterback prospects and a breakdown of the skill position players in the draft):

PREVIOUS NFL DRAFT PREVIEWS FROM GREG COSELL
Comparing Carson Wentz to Andrew Luck is valid
Jared Goff's strengths and flaws
Laquon Treadwell's NFL WR comparisons
The case for Josh Doctson as draft's No. 1 receiver
Ezekiel Elliott's NFL transition
Derrick Henry needs the right scheme fit
Joey Bosa can do it all
Carson Wentz fitz Rams best (Podcast)
A sleeper at running back (Podcast)

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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.