2014 NFL Draft: Calvin Pryor visiting Saints, Jets, Bengals
Calvin Pryor (25) against the Cincinnati Bearcat. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville Cardinals safety Calvin Pryor is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft, because he is a pretty polarizing draft prospect among some analysts. There are a few people who believe that Pryor is the best safety in the class, whereas there are others who don’t even consider him worth drafting in one of the first two rounds. Pryor will likely be a first-round pick due to a need around the league for safeties, the lack of top safeties in this class (Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jimmie Ward, and Pryor are the only three safeties worth taking in the first and are ranked all over the place, with Clinton-Dix usually at the top), and his upside as a prospect due to his excellent physical tools.
Pryor is unsurprisingly a hot commodity in the pre-draft season, as teams want to take a closer look at him. The NFL Network’s Gil Brandt reports that Pryor is visiting the New Orleans Saints today and will take visits with the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals next.
It’s interesting to see the Saints taking a look at Pryor, because they are one of the last teams in the NFL that needs to take a look at a safety prospect. They already spent big bucks on elite free safety Jairus Byrd, and they are locked in at strong safety with Kenny Vaccaro. He was an easy first-round pick last year, and he did nothing but cement his status as a talented safety after his strong play last season in Rob Ryan’s defense.
The Bengals also don’t need a safety, but they are interested in drafting one and are looking into Pryor likely in case he slips to them in the second. At this point in time, the lowest I could see him going is to the Lions in the second. The Jets have the biggest need for a safety of these three teams, but I see them going after a higher-ranked prospect at WR or CB in the first. If they do go for a safety, then they would hope a guy like Pryor or Ward slips to them in the second, otherwise they will probably wait a bit longer for someone like Dion Bailey. As it stands right now, the Jets could really use a S, and Pryor has the added benefit of being able to play at either FS or SS.
For an in-depth breakdown on Pryor’s game, check out this film breakdown.