Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 206 pounds
School: Delaware Blue Hens
Nasir Adderley 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Nasir Adderley boasts some interesting familial connections to the NFL. His cousin Herb Adderley enjoyed a standout pro career with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. While a member of the Packers, he totaled 39 interceptions which is currently the third-best total in franchise history.
The younger Adderley played safety and wide receiver while also putting in work on special teams at Great Valley High School in the Philadelphia area. During his time there, he tallied 1,025 receiving yards, returned three of his nine interceptions for touchdowns, and had a whopping seven scores on kickoff returns. Still, he didn’t receive a lot of interest from major programs and took the FCS route to the NFL, committing to Delaware.
Adderley made an immediate impact, starting all 11 games and leading the Blue Hens with eight pass breakups as a true freshman. A year later, he emerged as one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s top defensive backs and received third-team all-conference honors at season’s end. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he solidified his status as one of college football’s top shutdown safeties, regardless of division. In that time, he registered nine interceptions and garnered first team all-conference recognition both seasons. As a senior, the AP named him an FCS second-team All-American.
Strengths
- effortless hip swivel when tracking receivers downfield;
- has the requisite range to cover sideline to sideline in single-high looks;
- a high motor prospect who brings competitiveness and intensity;
- solid ball skills with the ability to high-point the football;
- impressive reactive athleticism and closing quickness;
- relentless in tracking runners at the line of scrimmage;
- can literally bull rush blocking receivers to get to the ball-carrier;
- has the versatility to play both coverage and box safety;
- not afraid to mix things up physically;
- a potential weapon on special teams;
- boasts immense experience as a four-year starter in college.
Weaknesses
- inconsistent read and react skills in downfield coverage;
- tends to bite on where quarterback’s eyes go to at the onset of plays;
- can take inefficient pursuit angles when attacking runners;
- too often concedes yards after contact when wrapping opponents up;
- needs to learn better technique when tackling in the open field;
- obvious concerns over the level of competition he faced during college career.
NFL Comparison: J.J. Wilcox
Teams With Need at Position: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Late first round
Bottom Line
An experienced prospect who garnered consistent starter-level reps over a four-year period in college, Adderley’s ceiling is fairly high for a non-FBS player. He’s highly athletic with the burst, lateral agility, and hip fluidity you look for in an NFL-caliber defensive back. Other traits to like regarding his potential at the next level are his physicality and overall competitiveness. He looks to be the kind of player who will put in the work to earn the respect of his teammates as well.
But there are some things Adderley needs to clean up in order to optimize his ability to become a consistent contributor. Quarterbacks who are adept at using their eyes to move safeties away from their intended target could force him into busted coverages. And his coaches are definitely going to need to work with him in terms of exhibiting better overall tackling technique. Having said all that, Adderley has all the makings of a future starter and could hear his name called by Roger Goodell on day one of the draft.
