From now until the 2023 NFL Draft takes place, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today I’ll be profiling Florida safety Trey Dean III.
#0 TREY DEAN III, SAFETY, FLORIDA (SR.) 6020, 200 LBS.
Combine/Shrine Bowl invite
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Trey Dean III | 6’2,200 | 9 1/4 | 31 3/4 | N/A |
| 40 Yard Dash | 10 Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.75 | 1.60 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 10’4” | 37” | 25 Reps |
THE GOOD
— Physical, downhill safety who plays the run very well
— Good size, which helps in covering bigger receivers and tight ends
— Good sideline to sideline range when tackling in open space
— Good length, which allows him to better disrupt passes in his zone
— Shows good hands and physicality when running with receivers and tight ends
— Consistently pushes the pile backward as he is always around the ball carrier
THE BAD
— Lacks elite explosion for his size at the position
— Doesn’t have the top-tier speed you seek for the modern safety
— Doesn’t react as quickly as one would like when making plays on the football
— Often slips off tackles or doesn’t finish and get guys on the ground
— Doesn’t attack the football in the air, instead throws body shots, allowing receivers to go up and catch the football
— Feet die in zone coverage, allowing receivers to run behind him late in plays
Bio
— Made 39 career college starts
— Recorded 255 career tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and 18 pass deflections
— In his senior season he had 81 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries
— Was the 247sports No. 217 nationally ranked player, the No. 17 safety and the No. 25 ranked player in Georgia
— Former 4-star recruit from Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Ga,
— Chose Florida over Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and others
— His cousin Ahmad Black was an All-American at Florida
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Trey Dean is a very physical safety who is consistently around the football. He lacks the splash that you want to see, but he’s going to be very good in run support and also be a good box safety for any team looking for late-round depth. He can develop in the coverage game and his ability to lock onto route runners and make plays on the football, so there is potential in his game overall. But there are things he must improve on if he wants to be a significant player in the NFL.
Dean lacks in the splash or turnover department, but here is an example of him being around the football. You don’t need fantastic hands, great speed or ball skills if effort takes you to the football on each and every play. Here you can see Dean reap the benefits of his effort.
If Dean is anything, he is a tackler. He absolutely uses his size to his advantage, but one thing he’s going to have to improve on is bringing down ball carriers. In many instances if he doesn’t make this tackle there’s a pretty decent chance that the guy goes yard, or at least gains significant more yardage.
On this play, Florida places Dean down in the box as on off-ball linebacker. Initially it looks good, but Dean must get sideline to sideline quicker and not allow those big linemen to get their hands on him. At 200 pounds, he isn’t going to survive if he gets down in the box and allows the offensive line to have its way with him.
Lack of ball skills continues to worry about Dean’s prospects. Once again, he finds the guy that’s going to be getting the football but the body is his aiming point. He needs to get his hands active and swat at the ball away and force incompletions. No one interrupted the receiver’s catch radius, allowing an easier catch.
CONCLUSION
I’m a fan of Dean’s game. I think he would make a great complement for any team looking for a run-plugging, downhill box safety. However, he isn’t going to give you consistent takeways or splash plays. Could he become a better deep Cover 2, Cover 3 safety, or even a single-high guy? Absolutely, but he isn’t a first day in the door fix for any team. He seems to be a little better when jumping routes and covering guys anywhere from the line of scrimmage to about 12 yards out.
It does scare me that passing schemes with deeper, longer-developing routes may cause him issues. He’s going to be a Day Three pick regardless, but will the Steelers look closely at Dean? I’m going to lean toward no given the complexion of this draft. Terrell Edmunds’ situation will soon work itself out though I have a growing feeling the Steelers are going to lose him and be looking to add to the back end of their secondary. Dean plays really similarly to a Kam Curl. He’s bigger, but his run-stopping ability is the tell all. Add Dean to the interesting list of names I’ll be looking for come late April.
Projection: 5th Round
Depot Draft Grade: 6.9 – Backup/special Teamer (5th Round)
Games watched: Vs. Tennessee (2022) Vs. Kentucky (2022) Vs. Utah (2022) Vs. Florida State (2021)
