2014 NFL Draft: Ten Prospects the Packers Could Target on Day Two

Stanford Cardinal safety Ed Reynolds (29) chases down UCLA Bruins wide receiver Shaquelle Evans (1). Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Ed Reynolds – Free Safety, Stanford, 6-2, 206 (4.54)

Reynolds was a late entry to this year’s draft class. The underclassmen from Stanford waited until the last week of draft eligibility in early January to declare, so Reynolds really only recently entered the discussion for top safety prospects available in May.

Reynolds had a monster season in 2012 as a first-year starter. He recorded five pass breakups, six interceptions, and returned three of those interceptions for touchdowns. Reynolds may be the best cover safety available in the draft.

In 2013, teams learned to throw away from Reynolds, so his production against the passing game went down. He only tallied one interception and four pass breakups, but you can’t blame the guy if teams don’t throw in his direction. Reynolds did make his presence known, however, as a tackler. He finished his junior year with 86 tackles and showed better ability against the run.

Reynolds may fly under the radar because of his non-descript 2013 campaign, but teams who study his film know that all the tools are still there from his outstanding 2012 season.

Reynolds will provide excellent value in the second round for a team looking for safety help. He’s got great size and athleticism for the position and has the instincts to excel in coverage.