Calen Bullock NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6′-2″
Weight: 188 pounds
School: USC
2024 NFL Draft: Calen Bullock Scouting Report
After spending his collegiate years with the USC Trojans, safety Calen Bullock has decided to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. Bullock enters the big event on the heels of yet another strong season, finishing the year with 63 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended while taking away the deep part of the field.
Bullock first saw action during his freshman year back in 2021. Appearing in 12 games, the safety finished his inaugural season with 40 tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defended. He followed this up in 2022 with 48 tackles, a career-high five interceptions, and five passes defended while establishing himself as one of the best players in the nation.
Strengths
- Impressive combination of speed and instincts makes him an ideal free safety;
- Long arms and wingspan let him break up more passes than your average defender;
- Smooth, crisp movement allows him to change directions with ease;
- Above-average ball skills – looks like a wide receiver tracking the ball;
- Plays with an aggressive energy that teams will love.
Weaknesses
- Physically incapable of playing the run at 188 pounds;
- Will miss more than his fair share of tackles;
- Needs to add weight, but can’t have it affect his top speed;
- Tends to gamble on plays with mixed results;
- Trusts his speed too much in the run game and takes poor angles.
NFL Comparison: Duron Harmon
Teams With Need At Position: Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos
Projection: Rounds 2-3
Bottom Line on Calen Bullock In the NFL Draft
Calen Bullock enters the NFL Draft as a player who could be dangerous to opposing teams if utilized properly, and dangerous to his team if played out of position. Taking away the deep passing game has never been more important than it is in today’s NFL, and Bullock has the physical gifts to play that role in single-high looks. Blessed with great speed, reflexes, and movement ability, Bullock can play sideline to sideline while breaking up passes and coming down with interceptions. Despite his smaller build, he’s not afraid to play physically and charges headfirst with an aggression that defensive coordinators will love.
Calen Bullock will thrive as a true free safety, but the NFL Draft hopeful will struggle if utilized in any other role. Some teams love versatile safeties, and Bullock’s limited skill set will be a turn-off for some organizations. Weighing in at 188 pounds, Bullock was too small to consistently stop collegiate running backs, so he’ll struggle to stop NFL ball carriers. This underwhelming build will also prevent him from moving to the slot and playing cornerback in specific packages. Additionally, he’s not a perfect free safety either, as he’s too willing to gamble on downfield progressions. While this can lead to interceptions, it can also lead to big plays when he guesses incorrectly.
Ultimately, Calen Bullock is a good, if limited, NFL Draft prospect who should find some success in the NFL. His best fit would be in a division with a big-armed quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Justin Herbert, as it will allow him to play deep and force those great passers to settle for underneath routes.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
