JaCoby Stevens, Philadelphia Eagle

[Geowhizzer]

Safety From LSU
6'1" 212 pounds
Draft Grade: 5.69

Woo?

[Geowhizzer]

Apparently, the Eagles listed him as LB.  NFL.com had listed him as a safety.

Does it matter in Round 6?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Good player at LSU. I tend to like LSU players bc j watch them a lot. He's a tweener.

[Don Ho]

JaCoby Stevens' best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
JaCoby Stevens' draft profile is polarizing. The LSU safety's production at a blue-chip program goes for something. His ability to fulfill a multitude of different roles does as well. He's also widely recognized as a solid leader for his team.

However, on the field, Stevens hasn't been able to play up to his testing numbers, and he has some specific on-field limitations. Those limitations will only be emboldened at the NFL level. He's a smart, multifaceted defender who can line up in plenty of different spots. But can he improve his marriage of athleticism and on-field pace at the next level? If he can, he can be great. If not, he may be limited.

Having said all this, there is a niche for Stevens in the NFL. As alluded to earlier, he should play primarily in the box. He's a linebacker-sized safety who can play at both spots, just as he did at LSU. As a safety, he's best closer to the line. There, he can roam around the backfield and jar opposing receivers in press coverage. At linebacker, he has a great size/speed combination. He also has enough athleticism and short-area burst to cover tight ends.

Which teams have a need for Stevens' specific skill set?
Another good thing about Stevens' profile is that his versatility gives him some schematic freedom. He's a solid strong safety/linebacker hybrid, no matter the alignment. He also has the flexibility to rush the edge on blitzing downs and stay up front as extra run support. Teams like the Chargers, Jets, and Eagles could put Stevens' talents to good use. On tape, he looks like an early Day 3 pick, but his testing numbers could drive him back into Rounds 2 and 3.

Stevens might not have the advertised versatility to a high degree in the NFL, but he can still line up at linebacker, in the slot, and up in the box. He fills his niche well, and he also has some special teams upside with his traits. Players like that have security wherever they go.

[Eagaholic]

Apparently, the Eagles listed him as LB.  NFL.com had listed him as a safety.

Does it matter in Round 6?

Yeah it matters - for the first time in forever we have a legit full back.