2016 NFL mock draft: Pre-Combine

7th Round

Deon Bush – FS – Miami (FL)

Strengths: Incredible athlete who has shown the versatility to be used all over the field.  Bush is a natural ball hawk who looks ideal for covering the middle of the field.  He’s also demonstrated a knack for attacking the ball carrier and separating the ball from the player.  Is a willing tackler and does not shy away from contact.  An ideal candidate for Special Teams.

Weaknesses: Durability is the main concern after this past season.  Can play over-aggressively, often looking for the highlight instead of making the simple play.  Can also be inconsistent in his technique, but that may be a result of dealing with injuries.  Senior season was a major let down.

The Fit: Coming into his senior season, there were many scouts and analysts who had Bush penciled in as the #1 safety in this class.  However, his 2015 campaign was devastated by injury problems, some of which sprung up more than once.  He looked very inconsistent in his game film, but that mostly showed up in games where it was known he was dealing with an injury.  Bush is a boom or bust project who could be a superstar if he reaches his potential…or never play a single down if he can’t get over the injury bug.

These are just a few options, and it is still really early in the draft process.  There are plenty of changes coming, and I will be throwing out more and more scenarios each week.  So be sure to leave your thoughts and check back next week to see if any of your suggestions make the cut in my next mock draft.