As PFF’s 66th-ranked player on the draft board, Alabama safety Deionte Thompson is one of the high-risk, high-reward prospects in this draft. He is more of a free safety than box safety with great instincts to make plays when in the middle of the field. However, his poor athleticism and inconsistent play make him a third-round prospect in this draft.
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Thompson was great at the start of the season, but as the year progressed, his flaws took over and his play declined. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Thompson was PFF’s highest-graded safety. From Week 11 on, Thompson ranked 108th in the 2019 safety class in overall grade.
The biggest flaw in Thompson’s play is his poor tackling ability. His 14 missed tackles are the most among the top safety prospects.
Despite his imperfections, Thompson is an absolute ballhawk in coverage. His length and exceptional ball skills led to seven of his 36 targets in coverage resulting in a pass breakup or interception. There’s no doubt that Thompson’s ability to disrupt the catch point makes him an intriguing free safety prospect in this draft.
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