2019 NFL Draft: Defensive Rookie of the Year sleepers

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Taylor Rapp, Safety, Los Angeles Rams

Another Washington secondary member drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Taylor Rapp is a versatile safety who makes plays all over the field. Receiving accolade after accolade in college, Rapp hopes to be able to make a similar impact early on in the NFL.

As a freshman, Rapp was named Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year recording four total interceptions including two and a pick-six in the Pac-12 Championship Game earning him Defensive MVP of the game as well.

Rapp earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors in each of his final two seasons at Washington, making his presence felt at all levels of the defense. Around the line of scrimmage, Rapp racked up 117 tackles, 8.5 for loss, and six sacks in 2017 and 2018. In coverage, he grabbed three interceptions and four passes defended. He also clearly was constantly around the ball, recovering 3 fumbles.

Rapp has the ability to be a high-end player early on in his career. His versatility should help him find a spot on the field for a potent Los Angeles Rams defense. He is currently behind John Johnson III at strong safety on the team’s depth chart, but he should get a chance to earn some playing time and show what he is capable of.

Juan Thornhill, Safety, Kansas City Chiefs

Another safety who was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Juan Thornhill might be the best ball-hawking safety in this class. Coming out as a senior, Thornhill improved in nearly every statistical category every single year of his college career and will hope to continue that upward climb in the NFL.

One of the players with the most hype this camp and preseason, Thornhill has impressed everyone who has seen him play. He has racked up pick after pick in camp and seems to be one of a handful of players in the league who can nearly run stride-for-stride with Tyreek Hill.

Interceptions are nothing new for Thornhill who totaled 13 in his final three years at Virginia, each year more than the previous. Once he grabs it, he knows how to get even better field position for his offense, totaling 141 return yards on his six picks in 2018.

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He simply has a nose for the football, adding 26 career passes defended including a career-high 12 in 2017. He is also a very solid tackler, with 98 combined and 62 solo tackles in 2018.

He finished his college career about as well as you can, leading the team in tackles and interceptions (fourth in FBS) and earning first-team All-ACC honors.

Thornhill joins a Chiefs secondary (and defense as a whole, for that matter) that was pretty abysmal a season ago. Pat Mahomes led Kansas City to many shootout-type victories despite the poor play from the defense.

As a first move, the Chiefs signed Tyrann Mathieu, in free agency. Then in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, they decided to pair the talented Thornhill with him in hopes of solidifying the back end.

Currently listed behind Daniel Sorenson at free safety on the Chiefs depth chart, Thornhill has already received first-team reps and looks like the clear favorite to start the first game. His talent and potential are off the charts and could be the player on this list with the best chance of winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Nasir Adderley, Safety, Los Angeles Chargers

All three of these safeties were taken in a span of four picks towards the end of the second round. Of them, Adderley might be needed the most by his NFL team given a recent turn of events.

After drafting a first-team All-Pro last year, safety Derwin James, the Chargers selected Adderley in hopes of pairing the two and making a dynamic duo. But with James now set to miss around three months due to a stress fracture in his foot, the Chargers are going to need some new faces to step up and show out.

While Adrian Phillips is expected to fill in for James at strong safety, the Chargers will still need contributions from multiple different players to help replicate the playmaking ability that James brings to the table. Adderley reminded me a bit of a smaller James in his defense at Delaware, doing anything and everything, so LA has to hope he can be that guy at the next level.

With starting experience at both corner and safety, Adderley has done a little bit of everything and could be a versatile piece to move around in the Chargers defense, especially considering their current situation.

His ball skills are exceptional, totaling 11 interceptions and 33 passes defended in his four-year college career. His experience as a corner and ability to make plays on the ball would make him a great fit next to James. But what may help the most to fill in for James is his tackling ability.

For a safety known for his covering ability, Adderley totaled 264 tackles and four forced fumbles. While he may not be living in the backfield like James did a lot last season, Adderley is more than capable of playing around the line of scrimmage, as well as in centerfield.

Adderley was one of my favorite players to watch on tape leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft. He is not the biggest player on the field, but he’s not afraid to take those bigger guys on. He is a tenacious player who plays hard to and through the whistle.

It is hard to gauge where Adderley truly is on the Chargers depth chart, as he has been sidelined with a hamstring issue throughout camp and preseason. But he is back at practice and should be able to make his preseason debut at some point over the final two weeks. Then he will get a chance to display his talent and prove that he deserves a large role the secondary going forward.

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