Categories: Scouting Reports
| On 8 years ago

Draft Season At Vikings Territory: S Darian Thompson Scouting Report

By Brett Anderson

[This Darian Thompson Scouting Report, with a Vikings slant, has been provided to Vikings Territory by Draft Season. Be sure to check back for more and also be sure to visit Draft Season to quench your NFL Draft thirst. All previously published scouting reports can be found by clicking here.]

Darian Thompson | Safety, Boise St.

Measurements

Height – 6’2″
Weight – 210 lbs.
Age – 22

At First Glance

All-Mountain West First Team

Projected Round

2nd Round

Pros

Always around the ball and making plays – totaled 14 career interceptions during his time at Boise St.

Great size and length at 6’2”, 210 lbs.

Plays well against both run and pass

Had a huge Senior Bowl week in both practice and game and was easily one of the best on the field

High football IQ

Former receiver which shows when going for the ball

Plenty of experience with 43 games started for the Broncos

Cons

Sometimes too aggressive which results in giving up the big play

Needs to be more disciplined in coverage – gives his receivers too much space

Has some small technique issues that will need to be cleaned up

OK, but not great speed, for a safety

Needs to become a better tackler and take better angles

NFL Player Comparison

Nate Allen, Raiders

The Vikings Slant

Vikings fit? Yes.

Safety is one of the Vikings greatest needs. Thompson would be a great fit opposite Harrison Smith in the secondary. Both have a nose for the ball and can make big plays. While Smith would be looked at as the “thumper” in that duo, Thompson can certainly lay hits himself. The 6’2”, 215 lb. safety would easily be a day one starter with the Vikings current safety depth and give Minnesota a solid secondary overall.

The tough part for Thompson ending up in Minnesota is the Vikings draft position. Currently projected as an early second round pick, the end of the first round may be a little early for Thompson. While I wouldn’t be overly upset if he were drafted at 23, I think it would make more sense for Rick Spielman to pull off one of his trademark trades and nab an extra pick or two while moving back to select Thompson later.

Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson (Founder) is a passionate Viking fan hailing from Sin City, Las Vegas. He can remember, as a child, scraping his knee on the playground and his friends being completely shocked by the purple blood trickling from the wound. When Brett isn't scouring the Internet for some semblance of Vikings news, he enjoys blindly putting money on them to beat whoever their opponent may be, and daydreams about being their next Tight End. Brett graduated from UNLV with a degree in Architecture and specializes in web/graphic design; he hopes to provide this site’s visitors with the best Vikings experience on the net.

Tags: Darian Thompson harrison smith nate allen

View Comments

  • I liked him in the 2 games I looked at but can see some of the weaknesses you pointed out. I think he drops to bottom 2nd maybe even top 3rd guy. Zimmer might light up TV with some FBomb music and throbbing forehead vein closeups if the kid doesn't learn to be where he is supposed to be in coverage.

  • Perfect Zimmer guy. Well rounded play maker. Good size/length and good enough range. Zimmer will fix his technique and tackling. This guy is Antoine Winfield aggressive when tackling, but doesn't always make the play but when he does it makes you say "wow". Once Zimmer fixes the nuances, think of what this guy will be.

    This guy will probably go late 1st round right around the time Jeremy Cash goes.