The first player on this list is division 2's Kyle Duggar. Duggar has been described as a safety in a linebacker's body, but also brought above average speed, and agility to the table for his size. Duggar at 6'1 217 lbs, ran a 4.49 40 yard dash, leapt 42 inches in the vertical, put up 225 lbs 17 times, and 134 inch broad jump displaying explosion in his lower body despite playing at what most people consider LB size now. However that is why this guy intrigued me prior to the draft, is he a LB in the NFL, or a safety? Or somewhere in between? My intrigue was peaked when he was drafted 37th overall by the New England Patriots. Bill Belichek is a defensive mind who loves versatile guys who can make an immediate impact with an eye toward the future as a starter. This is no different for Duggar except he may play starter level snaps despite actually being the third safety off the bench. With the ever evolving NFL tweener safety/linebacker type players are becoming a luxury that coordinators love to utilize. Some teams are even using safeties as their 3rd LB in base defensive sets allowing for better match ups. Instead of a LB being forced to line up on a speedy back, or shifty slot receiver that hybrid player can match up with that player, or be used to cover larger receivers, or tight ends, as well as being used as a QB spy against certain teams. This is precisely how I see Duggar seeing the field from day 1. New England now plays in a division with Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailo, and Josh Allen. Darnold being the least athletic of the bunch. However during Jets games I expect Duggar to be matching up with LeVeon Bell, and Chris Herndon. Duggar will still be asked to compete for time with another player on the roster in Adrian Phillips. Phillips is not quite the height/weight/speed prospect that Duggar is but he is a crafty veteran who still could take a bite of Duggar's snaps as a third safety. At 5'11 210 lbs, but ran a 4.58 40. But don't count this guy out in 2018 he was voted to the probowl after 94 tackles, 9 pass deflections, 1 int, and 1 forced fumble. That's not to say Phillips is the same player as Duggar. Duggar might actually line up as a LB on passing downs rather than as a safety, where as you likely won't see as much of that from Phillips. We may legitimately see sets where McCourty, Phillips, Chung, and Duggar are all on the field at once. All of these guys present a versatile skill set allowing them to be moved around which could make New England's defense even more difficult to decipher than in years past. Duggar is likely going to replace Chung long term. Chung has been that hybrid player for years in New England but at 32 years old, and facing a potential suspension for a cocaine charge prior to the 2019 season Chung is exactly the type of player the Patriots look to move on from. I wouldn't be shocked to see Chung wind up released midseason if Duggar or Phillips show they deserve to start.
Brian Cole is another guy I was intrigued by as well. At 6'2 213 lbs he played all over for Mississippi State. After entering college as a wide receiver he was released from his scholarship and went the JUCO route making the transition to CB. He excelled at cornerback at the JUCO level before making it back into D1 with Mississippi State as a cornerback. In 2019 he played a hybrid safety/linebacker role for the team and produced 67 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 int, and 2 pass deflections. Ultimately Cole was drafted to develop behind 31 year old Harrison Smith for a season or two before ultimately sliding into the strong safety role. In 2020 Cole could be used as a match up defender to step in when tight ends, or taller receivers come in to the game, and play special teams until Smith's exit in 2021. The Vikings are simply keeping a strength of their defense as such, Mike Zimmer has a background in coaching defensive backs and linebackers, I have a sneaking suspicion Cole is Zimmer's new pet project, I will not be surprised to hear Cole's name mentioned in Probowl talk a couple seasons from now.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire fell into the best possible landing spot for him. The 5'7 207 lb running back was so proficient as a receiver and a runner he became the first SEC player to rush for over 1,000 yards and catch at least 50 passes in a season. He was drafted into an offense that already features Travus Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Damian Williams. So naturally Andy Reid and former RB coach and current coordinator Eric Bienemy went out and drafted the most versatile running back in the draft. Edwards-Helaire will make an immediate impact as a receiver on third downs, and could possibly even contribute in the return game at first. I expect him to split carries with Williams at first but this guy can be a starter in KC with as much as Reid passes the ball. I could see him even as a rookie putting up around 1,500 yards total between the run game, thru the air and as a returner.
Extra Credit:
Khalil Tate, this guy is more of a long shot. After going undrafted this year as a qb he was signed by Philadelphia as a wide receiver. He is one of 14 players trying out at wide receiver however not many offer the skill set Tate does as a former qb. Tate may actually have an edge on the others as a practice squad player due to what is expected to be a gadget package for QB Jalen Hurts. If this package truly develops as Philly is selling it will, keeping a guy like Tate who can act as a psuedo backup in this new role, while further developing as a receiver on the practice squad it's a win win for Philly in my eyes.
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