6 safeties the Vikings could select in the 2020 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 217 pounds
2019 Stats:
- 31 tackles (1 tackle for a loss)
- 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions
Kyle Dugger has put his name on the map this draft season. He is from a school basically no one has heard of in Lenoir-Rhyne, but he was still invited to this year’s Senior Bowl.
Dugger proved he belonged there as played extremely well during his week in Mobile. He showed a smooth backpedal in his coverage and he had plenty of speed to stay stride-for-stride with the fastest receivers who took part in the event.
Dugger just checks all the boxes. He’s got the size at 6-foot-1, a nice thick 217-pound build, and massive looking shoulders. He also has plenty of speed as he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Dugger is quick to break on the football, seemingly zooming in from nowhere to break up a pass.
Another huge plus for Dugger when it comes to his draft stock is that he’s a very good punt returner. He is shifty, quick, and he gets to his top gear fast. The Vikings definitely need a punt returner and this is where he could have his biggest impact for the purple and gold in year one.
Even though he showed he can play with the big boys at the Senior Bowl, there will always be concerns about the level of competition he faced in college. It’s a big jump going from Division II to the pros and there will be a period of adjustment no matter how talented he is.
Dugger will probably come off the board on Day 2 of the draft. The question is whether he’ll be selected in the second round or the third round?