Aashari Crosswell NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6’-0”
Weight: 205 pounds
School: Arizona State
Aashari Crosswell 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Production doesn’t always make for NFL candidacy when getting ready for the annual draft. Arizona State product Aashari Crosswell comes to the NFL Draft with two solid seasons of production, but also brings suspension baggage as well. Crosswell’s measurables appear solid and when he found the field, he produced. The former Sun Devil looks to shake a recent suspension in the 2020 season, severely damaging his draft stock.
Playing 13 games in 2018, Crosswell was all over the field. His 43 tackles, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups show his knack for being near the play. More of the same production followed in 2019. Thirteen more games saw the safety logging 50 tackles, two interceptions, ten pass breakups and three forced fumbles. Numbers in both the interception and forced fumble category show Crosswell’s versatility in coverage and the run. Both will be needed if he is to land on an NFL roster.
Strengths
- Can play deep safety, in the box, and in the slot;
- Plays through the whistle;
- Shows physicality as a hitter;
- Tracks balls in the air with ease;
- Has a huge tackle radius;
Weaknesses
- Hips are stiff when cutting;
- May take wrong angle – approaches too loosely;
- Lowers for big hit, not the sure hit;
- Lacks chase down speed;
- Maturity issues – suspended in 2020;
NFL Comparison: Kenny Vaccaro
Teams With Need at Position: Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Football Team, Baltimore Ravens
Projection: Seventh Round, UFA
Bottom Line on Aashari Crosswell
A suspension in 2020 may be nothing in the eyes of coaches looking at Crosswell. His statistics look promising for a backup role at either safety spot. Crosswell has experience at every bit of the secondary minus the true corner spot. He plays through the whistle and shows big hit potential. His hands are above average for a defensive back. Crosswell’s hustle finds him near the ball and his production comes in the form of turnovers.
Playing well in front, Crosswell has stiff hips when receivers get into their cuts. His pursuit and lowering for big hits could expose him to whiffs. Croswell posted a 4.4 40 yard dash time, but doesn’t show a chase down like speed. Hard angles leave players as the hero or the goat, and Crosswell typically takes that approach. Coaches concerned by his maturity issues will steer clear in the late rounds.
Teams looking for a competitive safety will find Croswell intriguing. He hits players unapologetically, however, this may leave big plays open. His zone coverage produces interceptions but doesn’t have the polish to stay with pass catchers in man. Given the right system, Crosswell could be a box strong safety, or conversely, a roaming high safety. His talents cover a variety of options teams may need, but if he doesn’t mature on and off the field, front offices could be turned off. Maybe Sean Payton, who has taken troubled prospects before, adds Crosswell to a New Orleans Saints secondary that shows little mercy. The Arizona State product hopes to cause controversy by being selected on April 29th.
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