Nick Cross NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6′-1″
Weight: 215 pounds
School: Maryland
Nick Cross 2022 NFL Draft Profile
After spending three years with Maryland, safety Nick Cross has decided to forego his Senior year and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Cross is coming off of yet another impressive season, allowing 21 receptions on 28 targets for 258 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions while recording 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, and three sacks.
Cross originally entered the college football ranks as a four-star recruit. Signing with Maryland, Cross immediately became a key rotational piece of the defense and even earned a starting job down the stretch. The Maryland native retained the starting role over the next two seasons while establishing himself as one of the best safeties in the nation.
Strengths
- Hard-nosed, physical run stuffer that can deliver punishment;
- Elite straight-line speed – ran a 4.34 40-yard dash;
- Has the build and athleticism to cover just about any tight end;
- Fast acceleration to reach maximum speed;
- Made an impact on the defense every year he was at Maryland;
- Doesn’t miss many tackles and never lets runners fall forward.
Weaknesses
- Does not change direction well;
- Gambles when playing deep, which can lead to big gains;
- Needs to improve processing speed – slow to close gaps in run support;
- Doesn’t always take the most direct angle to get to the ball carrier;
- Can get too physical in man coverage and draw flags.
NFL Comparison: Kyle Dugger
Teams With Need at Position: Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: Round 2
Bottom Line on Nick Cross
Nick Cross is an old-school type of player that is just a blast to watch. The Maryland product plays with a rare type of ferocity and aggressiveness that is hard to find in today’s NFL. Thanks to his combination of size, speed, and acceleration, Cross is able to deliver punishing hits over the middle of the field, both in coverage and while playing the run. His elite build is for more than just tackling, as he also possesses the size to match up with tight ends and the speed to keep up with running backs when playing in man coverage.
Cross is going to be a good player, and on paper, he has the tools to develop into one of the better all-around safeties in the league. However, if he’s ever going to reach that potential, he’ll need to improve his football instincts. While his 4.34 speed means he has the raw ability to play deep safety, Cross isn’t the best at changing direction, and he likes to take risks. These are two dangerous qualities, as deep safeties are generally the last line of defense and messing up can lead to a massive gain. Additionally, Cross is slow to recognize blocking schemes and predict where the running back is going to go with the ball. It’s not the biggest deal since he’s so fast, but he’s reacting, instead of acting.
Even if Cross never improves from his college days, he’s going to be a solid football player. However, if the right coaching staff is able to teach him how to process opposing offenses at a high level, then he could be one of the NFL’s better safeties.
Main photo:
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