The Chargers see Myles Jack as a safety, and it's not as crazy as it sounds
The San Diego Chargers are one of the most interesting teams in the 2016 NFL Draft. They have needs on both the offensive and defensive line as well as the secondary. Safety is a particularly big need, given Eric Weddle's departure via free agency.
Weddle was arguably the best free safety in the league during his time in San Diego. He was also one of the most versatile. He could play single-high coverage over the top, come down and cover receivers in the slot, or line up as a linebacker and stop the run.
It's not easy to find a player with Weddle's same skill set to fill that spot, but one could very well be available when San Diego goes on the clock with the third overall draft pick — and he primarily played linebacker in college.
Myles Jack is a top prospect out of UCLA and looks to be a top-five candidate come April. Injury questions aside, he's everything a team looks for in an off-the-ball linebacker, but his versatility makes him an intriguing player. The Chargers are viewing him as a Weddle-type safety.
"They really envision me as a DB," Jack said in a recent phone interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Even at my pro day, toward the end, they kind of jumped in and had me do DB drills. They really envision me there. ... They feel like I can fill that spot Eric Weddle was at. Obviously, they want me at a lower weight, but with my skill set, they can see me in the slot, covering and running."
Weddle is 5-foot-11, 200 pounds. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Jack checked in at 6-foot-1, 245 pounds — about 15 pounds heavier than scouts expected. But given his knee injury and rehabilitation, Jack hasn't been working out at full strength just yet.
Lowering his weight wouldn't be a problem if taken by the Chargers to play safety. And given his skill set, college tape and athleticism, moving Jack from linebacker to safety isn't as crazy as it sounds.
In college, Jack showed the ability to step out of the box and cover smaller, quicker receivers in the slot. He also played outside cornerback, putting his wheels and coverage ability on display. And although he likely won't run the 40-yard dash before the draft, Jack has the speed to run step-for-step with receivers.
In the past two years, Jack has played just about every position on defense except for defensive tackle, and he's excelled at all of them. Not to mention he's strong and elusive enough to play running back, which he did for the Bruins on several occasions.
No one knows if the Chargers will strongly consider Jack at No. 3 given his injury concerns, but Jack is more than capable of playing safety and essentially replacing Weddle.
And if he dropped his weight down to 215 or so, he'd become even more dynamic in San Diego's secondary. Some might view linebacker as his best position, but the Chargers won't be the only team to consider moving him to safety. Versatility is a huge plus for Jack.
