Dane Cruikshank generating pre-draft buzz

The defensive back has four private workouts lined up

Dane Cruikshank wasn’t on any preseason watch lists and didn’t have any NFL Draft grades throughout the year.

Now he’s suddenly become one of the hottest up-and-coming prospects.

NFL teams are starting to see his value as a coverage safety. Cruikshank had two years of corner back experience at junior college and Arizona, translating those four years into his one year as the starting spur safety in 2017.

Dane Cruikshank is a baller. Swiss-army knife DB who played the overhang role for Arizona. Has CB-like cover skills. Closes man cov separation in an instant. pic.twitter.com/FZXiLV9pt6

— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) March 30, 2018

The change seemed to be best for Cruikshank, as now he’s scheduled numerous private workouts with teams. Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst had this to say about Cruikshank.

‘Defensive back Dane Cruikshank of Arizona is getting a lot of love. He already worked out for several teams, including the Houston Texans, and has four official predraft visits on his schedule.’

He also worked out with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Teryl Austin at Arizona’s Pro Day. Pauline had more to say about him.

“Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Teryl Austin put Cruikshank through a grueling set of position drills, and by all accounts he looked terrific. The team later spent an extensive amount of time with him.”

The Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins are teams of interest as well.

Cruikshank had a strong combine performance. He measured up at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds and clocked a 4.41 40 time, while putting up 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. He tested in the top 89% of all NFL Combine participants.

Now he’s starting to get compared to Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, who since the conclusion of last years NFL Draft has been dubbed as one of the most complete and talented prospects, and a consensus top 10 pick.

Here is an in-depth analysis on Dane Cruikshank’s game, compared to Alabama’s Minkah Fizpatrick by NFL Scoutings Jonah Tuls. While Tuls believes Cruikshank should be looked at in the second round, a fourth round selection as the ceiling seems more likely.

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Highlights

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Mock Drafts

• Draft Wire has him going in the seventh round to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 250th pick in the draft.
• Draft Site has him going early in round six to the Indianapolis Colts with pick 178.
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has him going undrafted.
• Draft Tek has him going in the sixth round with pick 217 to the Oakland Raiders
• Draft Scout has him projected as a third-fourth rounder.

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