What the 2014 NFL Draft Taught Us About the State of the NFL

Nickel Defenders are Starters

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

When the 49ers drafted safety Jimmy Ward in the 1st round people were wondering why is a team with two established safeties drafting another safety. After it became clear that Ward start out as a nickel back it made a little bit more sense but still investing a 1st round pick in a nickel back seemed like a misallocation of resources.

But 49er GM Trent Baalke explained the pick with the statistic that the 49ers were in their nickel defense over 60% of the time last season and he considered the slot corner position a starter. And he is not alone. The same shift responsible for the devaluing of the running back has led NFL teams to find nickel specific players.

The draft has shown how these players have sky rocketed in value recently with the early round selections of safeties that can cover slot receivers like Kenny Vacarro, fast hybrid linebacker/safeties like Kiko Alonso and defensive end that can move inside 3rd down like Sheldon Richardson. On the other side nose tackles, bigger linebackers and in the box safeties have all seen their value plummet.

It is simple a natural evolution of defenses to adapt to the pass happy NFL offenses and yet another reminder if you want to play in the NFL you best bet is becoming a receiver or corner.