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Packers 2019 Draft: Safety rankings, potential options in each round

By Ryan Sanville

DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 20: Juan Thornhill #21 and Brenton Nelson #28 of the Virginia Cavaliers tackles T.J. Rahming #3 of the Duke Blue Devils after a catch during their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 20: Juan Thornhill #21 and Brenton Nelson #28 of the Virginia Cavaliers tackles T.J. Rahming #3 of the Duke Blue Devils after a catch during their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Virginia won 28-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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BOCA RATON, FL – NOVEMBER 3: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls is tackled by Malik Gant #29 of the Marshall Thundering Herd as he runs with the ball during second quarter action at FAU Stadium on November 3, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL – NOVEMBER 3: Devin Singletary #5 of the Florida Atlantic Owls is tackled by Malik Gant #29 of the Marshall Thundering Herd as he runs with the ball during second quarter action at FAU Stadium on November 3, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Day 3 option

Malik Gant, Marshall (RS Jr.) (6-foot-1, 200 pounds)

Gant started his career at Marshall as a walk-on, as he did not receive any division one offers coming out of high school, so he is a player who competes with a major chip on his shoulder. Gant went from walk-on to an ultra-productive division one safety, to being able to declare for the NFL Draft after his junior season, and undoubtedly looks the part as an NFL safety.

Over his last two seasons at Marshall, he racked up 195 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and 13 pass breakups.

As his numbers indicate, Gant is one of the best tackling safeties in this draft. Not only is he a sure-tackler, but he is a very aggressive, hard-hitting safety. Game after game he looked like the most intimidating player on Marshall’s defense; he certainly brings the physicality on every single play.

He tackles out in space very well, and is one of the best downhill-hitting safeties in this draft, if not the best. Because of his physicality, he is a very effective box safety as well.

One thing that really stands out on film when watching Gant is how successful he is at shedding blockers and getting to the ball carrier. He’s the type of player that doesn’t allow a blocker to get a stranglehold on him and will find away around or through the blocker by any means necessary.

Everyone knows in order to make it in the league, you need to do whatever you can to help your team, and in many cases for younger players in the league, that means starting off on special teams and working your way into a bigger role on the offense or defense.

Gant is a player that I could see being an absolute stud on special teams. His mix of speed, physicality and relentless pursuit will make for a pretty dangerous player on special teams. That isn’t to say he will not make an impact on the defensive side of the ball, because I believe that he will early in his NFL career, but the more a player can do, the better.

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Gant is someone that can really shoot up draft boards if he has a stellar combine. Right now, I would love if the Packers were able to land him in the fourth or fifth round, but depending on his combine results and how teams shape their opinions on him before the draft, he may not make it that far.

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