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Measurables
Matt Elam, S Florida (Junior)
- 5'10"
- 202 lbs
- Projected 40 Time: 4.50
Stats
- 4 INT
- 76 Tackles
- 11 TFL
- 2 Sacks
- 8 Passes Defended
- 1 Forced Fumble
Positives
Matt Elam is the kind of safety offensive players don't want to meet in the open field. He will lay the wood on you, and you will remember it the next time you get the ball. Elam has all the physical tools to be an amazing box safety at the next level. Matt has the physicality to take on TEs in the slot. What he lacks in height, he makes up for in tenacity. Elam is a quick thinker, and can diagnose plays very quickly. I wouldn't want to run a screen pass against him.
Negatives
Elam does show signs of inconsistency when the game is no longer in front of him. He becomes susceptible to taking bad angles. Like Landry, Matt only possesses average ball skills. Sometimes his aggressiveness gets him into trouble, by over-pursuing. Elam is also more likely to lay the smack down on a ball carrier, then actually tackle them. He will need to work on his form at the next level.
Elam and the Jets
Matt Elam made a wise decision to declare for the 2013 Draft. He will undoubtedly be a 1st rounder, and most likely the 1st safety taken overall. This is saying a lot considering how deep this draft will be with safety talent. Elam is a hard hitting safety that isn't afraid to sacrifice himself to make a play. If this sounds familiar, it should. We currently have a vicious safety, by the name of Landry, who plays with the same killer instinct. Unfortunately for us, Landry is a free agent, and will be looking for big money this offseason. With Revis, and all the other moves that need to be taken care of, Landry will most likely be left to find a new home.
Elam might not toe the line of insanity like Landry does, but his strong physical play can equal his any day. With a new regime coming in, we can only hope that bloated contracts for older players, are a thing of the past. A new philosophy of building through the draft can finally take root. Elam would be a solid addition to a team, most likely in need of a safety.
Overview
As talented as Elam is, he will probably won't go much further than the middle of the 1st. To take him at 9 would be a reach in my opinion. Maybe our new GM will try to grow our stockpile of picks by trading back. With more picks, and a solid mid to late 1st rounder; I wouldn't mind Elam at all. Matt would fit right in on this defense, and would be a much cheaper option than Landry.