Derwin James was arguably one of the best talents to come out of the 2018 NFL Draft. Now a lot of teams are looking ridiculous because they didn’t draft him.
When Derwin James blew the NFL Combine away earlier this year nobody thought he’d fall to the No. 17 overall selection.
He’s a great talent coupled with several teams in the first round with a huge need at safety, so it was logical that one of them would select him right?
Wrong! But nothing should surprise us with how clueless most NFL GM’s are and why only a handful of teams contend for playoff spots each year.
Tampa Bay passed on him twice, Green Bay, Oakland and Arizona passed on him too. Right now, Tampa Bay has the worst pass defense in the NFL as teams are completing 72 percent of their passes against them.
It’s funny now how each week fans and media watch Derwin James play and can’t believe he fell all the way to No. 17.
Somehow Derwin James fell to the 17th overall pick..
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 3, 2018
I know and we still can’t believe it.
When I got to admit that Derwin James might actually be good at football. FSU wasted him if we bein honest https://t.co/QV9ygPFtDx
— Stifler Mom Fan Account (@DomWheat21) December 3, 2018
I wouldn’t say FSU wasted him, but it should have been better with him in the secondary, not to mention he and Jalen Ramsey were on the same team in 2015.
If you didn’t know this already. Derwin James is the real deal.
— Tedy Bruschi (@TedyBruschi) December 3, 2018
If this is your first time seeing Derwin James play football, picture a safety that is really good at everything. He’s better than that
— KP (@KP_Show) December 3, 2018
The 12 teams who didn’t pick QBs in the top 16 looked at Derwin James — the perfect draft prospect — and were like, “Nah. We’re cool.”
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) December 3, 2018
I know right.
Derwin James falling to #17 in the draft continues to be bonkers.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 3, 2018
Does anyone notice the narrative now?
Thoughts
Derwin James is legitimate candidate to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He has 81 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 12 passes defended.
Let’s compare his stats to Minkah Fitzpatrick who was the first safety taken in the 2018 NFL Draft by Green Bay. Fitzpatrick has 60 total tackles, 0 sacks, 1 interception and seven passes defended in the same amount of games.
I’m not saying Green Bay made a mistake as they were at least trying to address a need with their draft selection unlike Tampa Bay, but the numbers don’t lie!
Derwin James currently has the lead for the AFC Free Safety position regarding Pro Bowl votes and you can vote here to make sure he’s rewarded for his play.