South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori was considered a fringe first-round prospect before the NFL Combine. However, he then delivered one of the most impressive performances ever for a safety, running a blazing 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, posting a 43-inch vertical, and recording an 11’6″ broad jump. As a result, his draft stock has skyrocketed.
Most mock drafts had previously projected Emmanwori as a late first-round or early second-round pick. Despite his outstanding combine performance, The Draft Network’s latest NFL mock draft suggests he remains within that same range.
The mock draft projected Emmanwori to be selected 27th overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Here’s what Justin Melo had to say about the pick:
Justin Melo projected Emmanwori to go 27th overall to the Baltimore Ravens, writing:
“The Ravens plan on parting ways with Marcus Williams this offseason. Nick Emmanwori is among the freakiest athletes we’ve seen in recent NFL Combines after he leaped a 43-inch vertical, 11-foot-6 broad, and ran a 4.38 40 at 220 pounds. Emmanwori would improve a Ravens secondary that needs to stop Patrick Mahomes and/or Josh Allen in the postseason.”
With Baltimore looking to reload in the secondary, Emmanwori’s rare athleticism and explosiveness could make him a perfect fit.
Emmanwori was a highly productive safety for the Gamecocks in the SEC, starting all three seasons. Once a three-star recruit coming out of high school, he has now risen to the point where he is in contention to be the first safety selected in the draft.
