2019 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Darnell Savage

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Darnell Savage, 5-11/198 Safety Maryland

Darnell Savage Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Instinctive

Fast defender

Rangy free safety

Can start at nickel corner

Covers a lot of ground on the back end

Good instincts

Makes plays on the ball

Put together well

Deep centerfielder to prevent big plays downfield

Jumps routes

Recoverability

Disruptive defender on the back end

Vision

Ability to diagnosis plays quickly

Special teams contributor

Weaknesses:

Not an interchangeable strong safety

Can’t be the eighth man in the box

Undersized

Misses some tackles

Not twitchy at corner

Summary: It has been a slow built, but Darnell Savage has finally become a hot prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft. Savage is having a great leadup to the draft, and part of that was an excellent NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.36-second time in the 40-yard dash. Of all the prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft, Savage could be the leader for the most pre-draft visits, as there are 10 teams and counting that are hosting him. He has to chance to go much higher than expected.

Savage broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and totaled 59 tackles with an interceptions. He then showed improvement as a junior, recording three interceptions with 59 tackles and eight breakups. Savage played really well for the Terrapins in 2018, almost helping them pull off an upset over Ohio State. Maryland’s defense did a nice job in the early going of holding the Buckeyes’ play-makers in check, and Savage was a key part of that. In 2018, Savage totaled 52 tackles with four interceptions and two passes broken up.

Savage has a special skill set with the ability to contribute as a free safety and nickel cornerback. In the deep part of the field, he is good in zone coverage, possessing the potential to be a true single safety. He can play the deep center field and cover a lot of ground to shut down long gains. With his good instincts, speed and athleticism, Savage is an asset to prevent big plays downfield and keep offenses from scoring quickly. In coverage, he is a very disruptive defender, covering up receivers, tipping passes, and creating turnovers. His instincts are superb, leading him to make a lot of big plays. With his vision and closing speed, Savage is dangerous to jump routes and create big plays for his defense.

Savage also is put together well with the ability to tackle downfield. He is not an eighth-man-in-the-box run-defending strong safety, but that is not a big deal because NFL defenses are in nickel 70 percent of their snaps, so Savage’s coverage skills will be needed. On top of being a true free safety, Savage can play nickel corner on slot receivers. His 4.36 speed allows him to run with receivers, and he has enough fluid athleticism to run with wideouts downfield.

I think Savage is going to become a good starting free safety and could end up being a Pro Bowl player. After the first-rounders go off the board, Savage is my choice for the best second-day value pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. I think Savage is going to be an excellent pro and an impactful starter in the NFL. He is a safe bet to get selected in the opening round of Friday night.



Player Comparison: Antoine Bethea. There are a lot of similarities between Savage and Bethea. Both are rangy free safeties who make big, clutch plays for their defenses off of instincts and speed. Bethea (5-11, 206) and Savage are almost identical in size. At the combine in 2006, Bethea weighed in at 196 and ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds, almost identical to Savage. In the NFL, I could see Savage having a long productive career like Bethea has had.

NFL Matches: Los Angeles Rams, New England, Arizona, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Tennessee, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas

The Rams could consider Savage late in the first round after losing Lamarcus Joyner in free agency. Arizona and San Francisco could be options for Savage at the top of the second round. The Cardinals have to replace some veterans they lost in free agency, and D.J. Swearinger might not be viewed as a long-term player. San Francisco needs more talent at safety.

Tampa Bay made a mistake passing on Derwin James last year, and the Buccaneers need a safety to go with Justin Evans. Staying in the NFC South, Carolina needs a safety to pair with Eric Reid, and it would be surprising if the Panthers pass on Savage if he gets to their second-round pick.

In the AFC South, Savage has a few landing spots. The Titans could use a strong safety to pair with Kevin Byard. Houston signed Tashun Gipson in free agency, but he has been a liability in coverage for a few teams, and Savage could be a long-term safety to go with Justin Reid. Indianapolis could use more talent at safety, and Savage could form a nice tandem with Malik Hooker.

Dallas has a need at safety, and Savage would be an excellent value for the Cowboys in the second round.

The Patriots have some old safeties and could stand to get younger. Savage could be in play for New England at pick No. 32.

2019 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2019 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Trey Adams, OT, Washington Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky Zach Allen, DE, Boston College DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State Garrett Bradbury, C, N.C. State A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State Devin Bush, LB, Michigan Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State Noah Fant, TE, Iowa Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan Will Grier, QB, West Virginia Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State Damien Harris, RB, Alabama N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Joe Jackson, DE, Miami Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama Jalen Jelks, DE/OLB, Oregon Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State Daniel Jones, QB, Duke Dremont Jones, DT, Ohio State Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss Drew Lock, QB, Missouri Bryce Love, RB, Stanford Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson Byron Murphy, CB, Washington Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Ed Oliver, DT, Houston Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State Shea Patterson, QB, Michigan Jachai Polite, DE, Florida Taylor Rapp, S, Washington Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State Darnell Savage, S, Maryland Jeff Simmons, DT, Mississippi State Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State Devin White, LB, LSU Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson Greedy Williams, CB, LSU Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama Oshane Ximines, LB, Old Dominion Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

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