6 safeties the Vikings could select in the 2020 NFL Draft

J.R. Reed (Georgia)

Measurements:

• Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 202 pounds

2019 Stats:

• 54 tackles (2 tackles for a loss)
• 7 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, 1 touchdown, 0.5 sacks

Here’s another safety prospect with Vikings ties. J.R. Reed is the son of the great former Minnesota wide receiver Jake Reed. Reed was part of the Vikings “Three Deep” wide receiver corps that also included Randy Moss and Cris Carter.

This will instantly make the former Georgia safety a fan favorite if Minnesota takes him. But what will soon earn the love of fans, will be his play on the football field.

Reed is well put together. He’s 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds. He isn’t the fastest safety prospect in this class, but he does have good closing speed. He is an aggressive tackler and he flies into the ball carrier with reckless abandon.

What really gives Reed an advantage over some other prospects is his high football IQ. Not only his he the son of Jake Reed, but longtime NFL cornerback and former Viking, Dale Carter, is his uncle.

Reed has been studying the game of football most of his life, he understands different concepts, and he can anticipate what an offense is going to do.

Reed was very productive throughout his career at Georgia. He racked up 199 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, and five interceptions. He also scored two defensive touchdowns, so he is an opportunistic player.

The biggest knock on Reed and what will likely push him to Day 3 of the draft is his lack of elite speed. He is by no means a burner as he only ran his 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine.

He can close quickly on a ball carrier, but the concern is that he could get burnt vertically and he won’t have the recovery speed to make up for it.

Reed is someone the Vikings will definitely be looking at on Day 3 of the draft. He would provide very good depth early in his career and he has the upside to develop into a starter down the road.