2015 Atlanta Falcons' Potential Draft-Pick Profile: CB/S Josh Shaw

The Atlanta Falcons need some better secondary fits for depth at cornerback and safety in the draft. Atlanta could be very interested in Josh Shaw out of Southern California because he's a great fit for the kind of cornerback or safety Dan Quinn loves to have.

He's physical. He's fast. He's intelligent. He understands how to make plays on the ball and create turnovers with the best of them. The only real questions that come from Shaw are related to an off-field incident that he wound up missing a good portion of his senior season for.

Josh Shaw

Cornerback/Safety

University of Southern California

Combine/Pro-Day Measurements

Height: 6'0" Weight: 201 lbs

Arm Length: 30 ¾" Hand Measurement: 9"

40-Yard Dash: 4.44 sec. 10-Yard Split: 1.54 sec.

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.12 sec. Three-Cone Drill: 7.01 sec. Bench Reps: 26 reps

Vertical Jump: 37 ½" Broad Jump: 10'10"

Stats

2014: 3 Games Played, 11 Tackles

2013: 14 Games Played, 67 Tackles, 5.5 Tackles for Loss, 4 Interceptions, 7 Pass Deflections, 1 Defensive Touchdown

2012: 13 Games Played, 30 Tackles, 2.0 Tackles for Loss, 2 Interceptions, 6 Pass Deflections

Transferred from Florida to Southern California

2011: 10 Games Played, 22 Tackles, 1.0 Tackle for Loss, 1 Pass Deflections

2010: 1 Games Played, Redshirted due to injury

Scouting Report

Strengths

Shaw is a technically adept cornerback and safety who has experience at both spots and has the physical tools to play either spot as well. His footwork and recovery skills are some of the best in the draft, and his hips are very fluid, allowing him to change directions at ease.

He doesn't get off balance easily and tackles extremely well. He possesses enough strength and mirrors well when he's in press coverage and is technically adept. He breaks well on the ball in the air and is an extremely intelligent football player on the field.

Weaknesses

Shaw's biggest questions come off the field, not on it. He's suffered multiple injuries to his knees and legs, stemming from the fall off a balcony in his 2014 off-field incident. He also had a knee injury in 2010 that led to his medical redshirt at Florida.

On field, he needs to get better taking angles in run coverage and could improve in this aspect of his game. He also is a misfit for many schemes at cornerback and doesn't come off as a great safety fit for others. In Atlanta, he projects best as a free safety or outside cornerback.

How Does He Fit the Comrade Filter?

Shaw had an incident that stemmed from an argument with his girlfriend, leading him to jump out of the window because he was scared of the cops. He wound up hurting both ankles and getting suspended for the first few weeks of the season.

Even though he did nothing wrong (no charges were filed against him), he's still a knucklehead for lying to his coaches about saving his nephew. Before the incident, he was a senior captain for the Trojans and one of the best members off the field for Southern California's football team.

Overview

Shaw has a first-round level of talent on the field if he doesn't get injured as much as he has or have the off-field questions stemming from the incident before his senior year. If a team uses him right, Shaw could be a good chesspiece to have within a defense.

Any team who gets him will enjoy the game-changing plays he makes in the back level of the defense. The Falcons could be his ideal team fit, as they have the right kind of locker room to mentor him and make sure he keeps his head on straight. But he has to show the willingness to do so on his own.

How He Would Fit into the Falcons' Plans

If Shaw is there in the third round, the reward could outweigh the potential risks he may have off the field for the Falcons. If so, the Falcons could take him and use him as competition at both cornerback and safety. Ideally, he would play free safety in the scheme though.

Playing in the deep-center third of the field allows him to keep things in front of him and make plays that way. Since he's very football-smart, Shaw could be extremely dangerous as a free safety within the Falcons defense and could be a steal in the third round if he has his troubles behind him.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.

Follow @ScottCarasik