2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT
- Name: Juanyeh Thomas
- Position: Safety
- School: Georgia Tech
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 212lbs
Film Watched: Pitt 2021, North Carolina 2021, Georgia 2021, Shrine Bowl
Pro's:
- Big, physical safety that has linebacker size and DB instincts
- Brutal tackler. Explodes through his hips and drives through contact. Very few missed tackles
- Shows impressive linear speed, and has good burst to come down and make plays on the football
- Excels in run defense, meeting ball carriers as they burst through the front seven
- Has the size and length to erase big slots or tight ends. A menace at the catch point
- All the hallmarks of a special teams ace
- Has some playmaking ability. An interception each year and 11 total pass breakups for Georgia Tech
- Phenomenal on short yardage/red zone defense. Sniffs out dangers and throws his body on the line
Juanyeh Thomas is a SS prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored an unofficial 8.59 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 109 out of 765 SS from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/4l7NNjyVQa #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/eCSZhRCQPa
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 7, 2022
Con's:
- Size limits lateral movement – not terminal to his game, but isn’t a sideline to sideline safety
- Shifty slot receivers give him headaches trying to mirror them through route breaks
- Doesn’t show the same speed in pursuit as he does coming downhill
- Fragile in bigger, deeper zones – too much time between snap and action, and can overthink it
- Wouldn’t call him anticipatory – more read and react. Fast closer once he triggers though
The Verdict:
“One of my sleepers in this draft class, I’ve been all in since I watched Juanyeh Thomas take apart an offense at the goal line in the East West Shrine Bowl. Within three plays, Thomas had chased down a pass to the flat and knocked the receiver out of bounds before they could score, and stonewalled a HB diving over the pile. The tape was similarly pleasing - Thomas isn’t the complete safety thanks to an athletic profile that is somewhat capped by his extraordinary size. He looks uncomfortable in space when he’s too far away from the action, and his decision making is questionable at times. But let him off the leash to come downhill and fit the run and he’ll feast. Thomas’ NFL career should be tailored around the box where the action comes thick and fast; I think he can offer more than just a 3rd down hybrid LB/S and key special teams contributor, but for a third round pick that’s not a bad baseline to start with.”
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content
NFL COMPARISON: JAYLINN HAWKINS
PREDICTION: 4TH ROUND PICK
Rated 5 out of 5