Tampa Bay Buccaneers have UDFA gem in S Lukas Denis
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a UDFA gem in Boston College safety Lukas Denis, who picked off a whopping seven passes in 2017.
In today’s NFL, being a safety not known for contact is not necessarily a deal breaker. Especially if you have the ball skills of a player like Boston College’s Lukas Denis.
Denis, a converted wide receiver, has slowly but surely adjusted to his role in the secondary and showed in 2017 what he’s capable of doing as a ball-hawking defensive back.
Denis’ 2017 campaign was outstanding, and he finished with seven interceptions, two forced fumbles, 10 pass breakups, and 83 total tackles.
The production he sandwiched that big 2017 season with was nowhere near as impressive and of course over his final season at BC, Denis’ game was picked apart.
His lack of aggressiveness as a tackler was noticeable. When the interception numbers were down, the difference making was also not quite there.
Good players have to find a way to make a difference regardless of whether or not the ball is coming their way, and I think Denis can do that in the NFL as a slot defender.
Although Denis’ 4.64 in the 40-yard dash at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds is not ideal, he showed the style of short-area quickness and change of direction skills required of a slot player in today’s NFL.
Can Denis hold up strength-wise against players in tight man coverage? That remains to be seen. With that said, it’s hard to fault a former receiver for not being a great tackler, something that could come in time.
Denis was also not perhaps the best tackler but he did make some big plays as a tackler.
He will have to prove he can make the Buccaneers on special teams, but his 6.89 in the three-cone drill is a very solid number and an indicator — in my estimation — that he is capable of getting a shot as a slot man.
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Anytime a guy has seven interceptions in one season, you have to find out if he can take on a sustainable role in the NFL. The Buccaneers will give Denis a shot and if he can prove he’s capable of being effective as both a deep safety and nickel/dime defender in man coverage, he could find a role quickly in the NFL.