Why the Slide?: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
By Charlie Campbell, @draftcampbell
Four years ago, we started a series of articles on why certain prospects went undrafted. In that series, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. We got a lot of positive reader feedback about the series, so we decided to expand in the genre to investigate why some prospects slid in the draft. Three years ago, we started the Why the Slide? series, and this year it is back. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
The 2018 NFL Draft was known to have two potential studs at safety with Alabama’s Minkah Fizpatrick – 11th overall-pick to the Dolphins – and Florida State’s Derwin James – 17th-overall pick to the Chargers. After those two prospects, Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison was considered to be the favorite to be the third safety off the board. Surprisingly, he fell until late in the third round. It was obvious there was something else that was factoring into the decision for so many teams to pass on Harrison as other safeties who were lesser college players and not even close to being as big and fast were selected ahead of him. He had one of the most shocking slides in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Sources say the reason that Harrison slid was character concerns. Leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft, contacts from multiple teams said that as a player, Harrison had graded out as a late first- or early second-round pick. However, the character issues were significant, and a lot of teams did not want to bring Harrison into their locker room and work with him. That was the reason why he fell two rounds below his caliber of play.
The Jacksonville Jaguars ended Harrison’s fall late in the third round with the 93rd-overall selection. Unless there is a camera around causing him to change his behavior, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone is known to be as one of the biggest jerks and meanest people in the NFL. Thus, Harrison being a surly player probably won’t bother Marrone. Harrison also is a very good fit in the Jaguars’ defensive scheme. His physical and brash style of play should fit in perfectly with cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye.
Before long, Harrison could be a starter for Jacksonville. Tashaun Gipson has been a disappointment as a free agent acquisition, and the Jaguars could use an upgrade over him. After taking some time to develop, Harrison should replace Gipson and be an improvement while also saving Jacksonville money. With the talent that the Jaguars have on the defensive line and at cornerback, Harrison could end up being an impactful safety for the Jaguars and a huge steal as a late third-round pick.
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