Analysis of Draft Picks & Undrafted Rookie Free Agents

Millard Bradford- S, Undrafted Rookie Free Agent, TCU (5'11"/191#) 40 Time- 4.42 Vertical- 38.5" Broad Jump- 10'3" Bench- 15 Reps.
Bradford's College Career Stats: Tot. Games- 54 Tot. Tkls.- 182 Tot. Assts.- 41 Solo Tkls.- 141 Tot. PBU's- 13 Tot. INT's- 4.

Luckily there was some good information and games that I could watch. I had plenty of time to evaluate Bradford while I was recuperating. This is what I came up with.

The Positives:
Bradford plays with good bend and smooth transition from coverage. He pays good attention to man leverage when the center of the field is open. I like the way he undercuts, trying to get INT's. His ball skills are very good. Bradford tracks the ball well downfield and has the hands and coordination to get interceptions even when he isn't targeted on the play. Bradford shows good instincts when facing the line of scrimmage in zone coverage and he does a good job of getting his head around in time when playing with his back to the line of scrimmage. Bradford also has plenty of aggression and burst to rocket into running lanes to make tackles in run defense. He gives up his body in run support with a very good closing burst.

The Negatives:
Bradford needs to tighten his angles in pursuit and needs to show better tackling technique to consistently finish. At times he has a tendency to give too much cushion when playing off-man coverage. Bradford also needs to do a better job of reading routes when sitting back as a single-high Safety. He does occasionally have some problems with bigger targets catching above his head.

My Final Thoughts:
In watching Bradford, he has the fluidity, speed and quick feet to come down and defend slot receivers in man-coverage. He also does a nice job of breaking down in coverage as a tackler after the catch. One thing I did notice in the games I watched, is Bradford misses a lot of tackles and that id because he's always trying to make that big hit, instead of trying to wrap up. He bounces off of opponents trying to make that big hit. He needs to do a better job of wrapping up. If he can clean up his tackling issues and his technique, I can see him making the team for special teams purposes and depth at the Safety position. I read an article the other day that said Bradford could be one of three undrafted rookie free agents to make the final 53-Man roster.