NFL.coms Josh Norris Ranks Elam As 7th Best Safety

Jan 02, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Jeremy Wright (28) is tackled by Florida Gators defensive back Matt Elam (22) as his helmet comes off during the second half of the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. defeated Florida 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

With Many Ravens fans beating down the door for the Ravens to draft Matt Elam, Josh Norris wrote today, that he just doesnt see it happening.

in Fact, Norris doesnt even see Elam as a first round pick. Norris has pegged Elam as a second round pick due to upside, but he also ranked him behind 2 players who he put third round grades on in Shamarko Thomas of Syracuse and JJ Wilcox of Georgia Southern.

Here is what Norris had to say about Elam…

"Few players put together a better highlight reel than Elam. He and Thomas are somewhat similar in that they possess less than ideal size for the strong safety position, but I feel more comfortable with Thomas’ tackling and positioning consistency on a play-by-play basis.Projection: Second round"

I have been saying for a while that Elam is an over-rated prospect. I dont know that i would go so far as to rank Elam seventh, but some of the second best safety in the draft talk around him is ridiculous. The first round is where you draft players with prototype bodies and great tape. Elam only has one of those things(and his tape isnt even really that great). There are a few exceptions to that rule of course, guys with incredible bodies but raw skills and mediocre tape make it into the first round each year, the same can be said for guys with bad bodies and incredible tape, but with Elam being quite undersized and making way to many bad plays to be classified as a great tape player, I just cant see him in the first round. He seems like a player that might be a steal in the late second round, but I think some team will over-draft him. Also, despite what some Ravens fans seem to think, he is a Strong Safety only prospect. He does not have the range to play free safety.

Norris Had Vaccaro at 1(of course), followed by Jonathan Cyprien, DJ Swearinger, Bacarri Rambo, JJ Wilcox, Shamarko Thomas, Matt Elam, Josh Evans, Earl Wolffe, and Phillip Thomas. Here is another link to the list if you want to go read it. Josh Norris is a pretty well regarded draft guy who is pretty plugged in in league circles.