Tyree Gillespie NFL Draft 2021: Scouting Report for Las Vegas Raiders Safety

HEIGHT: 5'11 3/4"

WEIGHT: 207

POSITIVES:

—Can really run in the open field. Covers good ground.

—Has very good twitch when triggering.

—Above-average ball skills. Good reaction to quarterback, able to track the ball well in the air.

—Good field vision as a deep safety.

—Can set the tone with tackles. Throws body around.

NEGATIVES:

—Can have choppy backpedal and some hip tightness in man coverage.

—Questionable run instincts close to the line of scrimmage.

—Open-field tackling; how much of it is a want to?

—Struggles to reaccelerate laterally at times.


2020 STATISTICS:

9 Games: 46 tackles, 4 PBU

NOTES:

—Three-year starter for Missouri defense

OVERALL: 

Gillespie is an average-sized safety who flashes very good speed and twitch. He comes with a ton of experience, having played over 30 games for the Tigers. He works best in deep coverage, where he can see the play develop. He has shown the speed to be able to play the sidelines from the hash; which is matched by his 40 time. Throughout his career, he has never recorded an interception and has just average stats on the ball.

The majority of his stats come in the run game, with over 100 career tackles. As he can occasionally deliver the big hit, he does his best tackling when given a clear lane to the ball and doesn't have to do any redirecting. At times, Gillespie has shown to take poor angles in the run game and melt off tackles. Gillespie shows to be a good athlete but may lack some scheme versatility, as he may be best served as a deep Cover 3 safety.

GRADE: 7.2/10 Career Backup/Rotational Player—Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 145/300

POSITION RANK: S8

PRO COMPARISON: Eric Reid

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings