Calen Bullock 2024 NFL Draft Profile
It’s only right the USC guy takes the Safety prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft profile series. Next up on the docket is Calen Bullock. Bullock could have some solid NFL potential, but it might depend on where he plays position-wise, and we will get to that later. What does his draft profile look like? Let’s talk about it.
Bullock is your go-big or go-home safety, and the stats show it. I’d argue there weren’t many better safeties in 2022 than Bullock, where he registered five interceptions, one returned for a TD, and an additional six passes defended. The INTs took a decline last year, finishing this year with just two but seven passes defended. The tackles went up every year as well which is a promising sign, from 39 to 48 and then 61 last season.
I’d make the case that there aren’t a ton of Safeties in the 2024 NFL Draft that are much better in zone coverage than Calen Bullock. I think that he gets a bad rap at times because he is very much a ball-hawking Safety. His hips flip open really smoothly. When he plays down in the box, his pad level is fine and his backpedal is routine. Really like his tape when he is the single high safety, using his 4.48 speed to get over when he needs to. Flows downhill on underneath routes quickly.
The biggest knock is that he isn’t a willing tackler. Yes, the tackles did go up year over year so maybe he’s shedding that, but the tape doesn’t lie. His run support is severely lacking and never feels like he wants to come up and lay the lumber. He has a tendency to get burned on go routes because he jumps early looking to make the big play, and has to improve on patience. More of an arm tackler, which can lead to broken tackles. He can play a little high at times as well.
I believe a lot of the drawbacks to Calen Bullock can be coached out of him. I liked Bullock quite a bit coming into the season, and while that did regress a little, I would still take him in the later part of round three or early round four. This Safety class isn’t stellar, so there is room to stand out. Playing on a terrible USC defense led by moron Alex Grinch didn’t help matters either. I would’ve been curious to see how he looks with Grinch gone, but we press on.
For what it’s worth, I could potentially be talked into lining him up at Nickel Corner in the NFL. I’d like to see how he performs there.
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