2013 NFL Draft: Why Safety John Boyett Provides Great Value in the Later Rounds

Former Oregon safety John Boyett is arguably one of the best bargains in the 2013 NFL draft. 

Though he entered the 2012 season as a potential All-American candidate, Boyett was sidelined after one game due to injury. 

It really is astounding how far his draft stock proceeded to fall.

Unanimously considered one of the top safeties in the country only a season ago, he is now just hoping to be drafted at all, as many scouts and coaches question his toughness.

However, the only reason Boyett missed so much time in 2012 was because he was, well, too tough. He was forced to undergo surgery for two partially torn patella tendons, a condition that he had played through for the entire 2011 season. 

In fact, Boyett's endurance appears to be one of his strong points. After earning 10 starts during his freshman season in the wake of T.J. Ward's injury, the reliable safety started 28 consecutive games up until his injury. 

Consistency accompanied that endurance throughout his career. Boyett led the Ducks in tackles in 2009 (90) and 2011 (108), coming in second on the team in 2010 with 78. 

The former Duck also tallied 10 career interceptions. 

At 5'10" and 205 pounds, many question Boyett's size and strength as an NFL safety. 

However, only Shamarko Thomas (28) recorded more bench-press repetitions than Boyett (27) among defensive backs at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

The four-year starter also has deceptive hit power, regularly flying to the ball with reckless abandon. Just ask former USC receivers Robert Woods and Ronald Johnson. 

Scouts may also question Boyett's relatively underwhelming 4.6 speed. However, his speed is more impressive on the gridiron than in the 40-yard dash. 

His will to get to the ball and outstanding closing speed make him a dangerous weapon in the backfield. Boyett looks like a missile in the secondary, and he has never had much of a problem keeping up with receivers or beating a back to the corner. 

He also has outstanding intangibles, including a high football IQ, and was considered by head coach Chip Kelly to be the "quarterback of the defense."

In fact, Boyett, a high school signal-caller, was famous for pestering Kelly to let him play quarterback throughout his career.

The former Oregon standout was a leader on the defense throughout his career, and he should have no problems making a name for himself at the next level.

The biggest knocks on Boyett are his relatively unspectacular physical tools and his injury history. But these concerns can easily be dispelled by watching his tape. He always played bigger, faster and stronger than his size and 40-time would indicate, and his toughness was never in question among Ducks fans. 

Boyett should be picked up somewhere in the latter two or three rounds of the 2013 NFL draft, making him one of the best bargains at defensive back in this year's class.