2021 NFL Draft Profile: Darrick Forrest

Darrick Forrest 2021 NFL Draft Profile

Darrick Forrest enters the NFL Draft after being a three-year starter for the University of Cincinnati. He and fellow 2021 draft prospect James Wiggins created quite the duo in the Bearcats defensive backfield. Marking the first time since 2009, that Cincinnati will have multiple defensive backs selected in the draft. Forrest is a versatile player, who played in the box, slot, and deep defensive backfield for the Bearcats. Forrest started out as a backup early in his collegiate career before exploding on to the scene in 2019. In 2019 as a junior, Forrest recorded 106 tackles and three interceptions en-route to First Team All-ACC honors.

In 2020, Forrest saw a dip in production but led the team as the defensive captain. Forrest didn’t have much draft buzz, until his impressive pro-day prior to the draft. Forrest recorded a 4.42 40 time and a 39-inch vertical jump, impressing NFL scouts and putting to rest some athletic trait questions. While teammate James Wiggins is garnering more draft buzz, Forrest has begun to gain some steam in draft circles. The tape shows a player that can make plays and contribute all over the field. Although he may struggle at times processing plays, he generally puts himself in a position to make plays and seems to learn from his mistakes.

Strengths

Run defense is great, major alpha in this area

Has the strength to cover tight ends when needed

Three-year starter, plenty of college reps

Smart at processing the play in front of him

Has shown flashes on special teams

Weaknesses

Lacks make-up speed to make up for mistakes at the NFL level

Below average change of direction skills, gets caught leaning

No stand-out traits

Open field tackling needs improvement, arm tackles too often

Can play the ball better, passes defended numbers need improvement.

NFL Comparison: Vonn Bell

Projection: Day 3 pick

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Bottom Line on Darrick Forrest

Often times with late-round picks, teams are shooting for the high ceiling. In Forrest’s case, his ceiling may not be extremely high, but his floor is higher than most late-round dart throws. He is seasoned at the safety position and was able to get plenty of college reps at Cincinnati. While he isn’t generating a ton of buzz, his versatility and the leadership abilities that he’s shown bring appeal to NFL teams and coaches.

He’s got good adequate athletic skills to provide a good depth player right away at the NFL level, combined with his scheme versatility, his options on draft day should be plentiful. An underrated part of his game that will help raise his stock more is his ability to contribute on special teams, a vital part of the game for late-round picks in the NFL. Predicting the draft slot for Forrest is difficult, considering how many offensive players are expected to go in the top 150, but with his pro-day and track record on the field, he should expect his name called in the top 150.