Draft analysts view Ronnie Harrison as a fringe first-round pick with a great combination of size and speed. The biggest knock on Harrison has been both his angles in pursuit of the ball and his coverage. He will have very few limitations athletically at the next level.
“He’s a guy that you looked at certain games, yeah, he did look like a (first-round pick),” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said in a teleconference. “There were some other games where he looked like 3-4 (round). I balanced it out as a (second-round pick). I think right now if you look at safeties, I think there’s some guys ahead of him, and I don’t know if Todd (McShay) would differ on that. I would put obviously James and Fitzpatrick — Justin Reid I like more out of Stanford. … Jessie Bates at Wake Forest, same thing.
“I would say in this draft, to me, (Harrison) is the fifth-best safety. That’s why I project him in the second. Maybe Todd (McShay) disagrees on that, but I’m thinking more mid-second round for Ronnie Harrison.”
Harrison had private meetings or workouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, New England Patriots and Philidelphia Eagles, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo. There is high demand for a versatile safety.
“It’s going to be very important for the right fit with him,” Kiper Jr. said. “I thought Kansas City at 54, but I know Todd (McShay) had him in the late first to New England. Again, where does he land? That’s what I say about a lot of these players. I want to see what team they go to because I think he fits certain teams and he doesn’t fit others.”
Another note on Harrison by many analysts is his tendency to lead with his shoulder when making downhill tackles. That will need to be cleaned up at the next level with bigger and faster playmakers who are better at shedding defenders.
Look Harrison to go as high as No. 31 to the New England Patriots, and as low as No. 54 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Combine Results
- 4.56 40-yard dash (Pro Day)
- 34-inch vertical jump
- 120-inch broad jump
College Statistics
