Jordan Lucas NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Dolphins Rookie

POSITIVES

A two-year player at cornerback, Jordan Lucas made the move to safety in his senior season and brought a physical, agile style to the position.

A former Bill O’Brien recruit, Lucas has the size and speed to be a matchup defender against slot receivers or tight ends. A strong safety by alignment, he is versatile enough to shift around in the formation and give you coverage ability while being a box run-stuffer.

Lucas will impress you with his closing speed and ability to get off the turf and attack the ball in the air. With a 38 ½” vertical jump on a 6’0” frame, he makes up for his shorter arms (30 ⅛”) and has proved to be adept at locating and going after the football.

Versatility is the buzz word in NFL secondaries right now, and Lucas offers plenty of it. He’s quick enough to be a slot corner but physical enough to help at either safety spot.

NEGATIVES

A lack of ball skills will be an issue if you’re wanting to capitalize on Lucas’ ability in coverage. He had just three interceptions in college, and they came back in 2013 while he was playing cornerback opposite Adrian Amos.

The 4.45 time Lucas posted in the 40-yard dash at his pro day is not reflected on tape. He has good closing speed in short areas but doesn’t have the long speed to track the ball over the top or carry a receiver on a vertical route. The move to safety was not only best for Penn State but also best for Lucas, as he never proved himself to be a playmaker at cornerback.

Lucas sat out the Senior Bowl with a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the final three games of his career. He was fine to work out at his pro day but didn’t do the bench press, which could point to a lingering issue that teams must investigate.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 5'11 ⅝"

Weight: 201 lbs.

40 Time: 4.45s

3-Cone: 6.70s

Short Shuttle: 4.19s

PRO COMPARISON: Duron Harmon, New England Patriots
FINAL GRADE: 5.70/9.00 (Round 4—Backup Caliber)