CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN'S DRAFT TRADES
kYLE DUGGER
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-1
215 pounds
24 years old
BIG PICTURE
Perhaps the top small school player in the draft, Kyle Dugger out of North Carolina's Lenoir-Rhyne has all the physical traits to be an imposing safety, and his monstrous combine surely put him on team's radars even more. Dugger didn't have Division-I interest because of a somewhat limited high school career, but he bloomed late physically to become a college standout. Ended his Division-II career with 10 interceptions, 36 passes defended and seven return touchdowns on special teams. The fact that he's already 24 lowers his value some.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.49 40-yard dash (6th)
17 bench reps
42-inch vertical (1st)
134-inch broad jump (2nd)
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
2 out of 5. We'd discussed the Vikings' apparent hesitance to nab safeties early in the draft. Would they break that trend for a D-II product?
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "It's rare to find a safety with elite size, speed, explosiveness and production at a Power 5 school and almost impossible to find one at a Division II school. Dugger crammed the stat sheet full and used those elite traits to dominate the opposition. At times, he seems bored with his level of competition, but his engagement can be instant and urgent when it needs to be. He plays with controlled violence and carries an alpha demeanor on the field. He has soft hands and is rangy, but needs to train his eyes and improve his fundamentals before he's coverage-ready. Dugger is a versatile, scheme-friendly safety who helps immediately on special teams and could develop into a talented NFL starter."
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: "The debate with Kyle Dugger lies with where he's best implemented. A bit of a tweener, Dugger is at his best in instances where he's tasked with rallying to the football. There's a terrific skill set to work with, mold and develop at the next level but Dugger is an elite athlete who entering the league would benefit from a "find the football" role. Likely puts him on the field as a WILL to start but his dynamic athleticism and stature project best as a developmental SS and special teams ace."
WHAT PFF SAYS
Considered No. 5 safety in draft
2 forced incompletions in Senior Bowl
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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