Calvin Pryor, Free Safety, Louisville: First round pick
The safety tandem of Calvin Pryor and Hakeem Smith was one of the best in all of college football in 2013. In this past season, Pryor was nominated to the All-American Athletic Conference's first team. Even though he played mostly in the box in 2013, he still had 75 tackles. In 2012, Pryor had five forced fumbles and 100 tackles. He took over the starting free safety position late in his freshman year.
Pryor has the size to be an impactful player for his position. On tape, it is clear that Pryor is an intimidating presence in the defensive backfield. Pryor's big-hitting ability dates back to high school when he was a three-star prospect playing as a running back and a safety. Pryor was a big reason why Louisville's defense was the rated as the best in all of college football by CBSSports.com.
How Pryor Fits With The Cowboys
The need for a safety is there in Dallas. The combination of J.J. Wilcox and Jeff Heath was abysmal in 2013. The Cowboys need to find a center fielder who could play opposite of Barry Church. Pryor would immediately bring energy and tenacity to one of the worst defenses in the history of the NFL. The Cowboys' tampa two defense would also be a good fit for Pryor at the next level.
Potential Impact As A Rookie
If the Cowboys were to draft Pryor, they would have to draft him in the first round. By doing that, he would become a day one starter. The Cowboys have a ton of needs across the defense, including the safety position and the defensive tackle position. People may argue that improving the defensive line is more important than improving the free safety position, but there is no denying Pryor and what he is capable of in the NFL.
What Pryor Does Well
At 6'2", 210 pounds, Pryor has the prototypical size to play free safety in the NFL. He is physical, and he has no problem putting on a big hit. He is excellent in zone coverage, and he has enough range to cover all across the gridiron. He also has good vision to anticipate where the football is going most of the time. Pryor also plays with a love for the game that is extremely noticeable when he puts on his pads each week.
What Pryor Struggles With
Like I said earlier, Pryor is a big-hitter who comes up and makes plays in the backfield. But by doing that, he has a tendency to miss on a lot of plays. He also needs to improve in coverage against the pass. He takes bad angles to the football, and he needs to improve his recognition against coverage routes.