With the loss of Rodney McLeod following his ACL tear late last season and Jalen Mills hitting free agency, the Eagles could use some help at safety. It seems likely that the Eagles will go offense with the sixth pick, and if that’s the case, UCF safety Richie Grant could be an appealing option at 38. 

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Grant played with the Knights for four seasons and was a starter during every season, being part of one of the best CFB programs record-wise. Richie is about average size for a safety standing at six feet tall and weighing roughly 200 pounds. There aren’t many weaknesses to Grant’s game, and he can be an excellent contributor from day one.

One of Richie’s strong suits is his aggressiveness. He is a far better defender in the run game than he is in the pass. That isn’t even a knock on his coverage; he’s just a fantastic player inside the tackle box. Grant’s speed and athleticism allow him to scream downfield and make some killer hits. Alongside that, he is a good form tackler, too, always in the right position and making sure to wrap up.

Grant in 2020 with UCF:

• 72 tackles
• 3.5 tackles for loss
• Three interceptions
• One sack
• Two forced funbles

In the passing game, Grant is at his best in help coverage. Like his tackling, Richie can scream over and help break up deep passes and make huge plays downfield. He can cover so much ground when getting across the field in time in most situations. Richie is a bit iffy in one on one coverage, but his athletics can help cover up any miscues he might make. For a player in the second round to not have that many knocks against his game is impressive.

Overall, there is not much to complain about with Richie Grant. He is the ideal safety and is very well-rounded in his game. It might be a bit of a stretch to take him at 38 being a mid-second-round choice. But, if you feel confident enough in his game, you have to pull the trigger. 

If the Eagles feel McLeod’s time might start to be up, a young secondary of K’Von Wallace and Grant is very exciting for the next several seasons. There will be a lot of impressive talent on that side of the football come the second round, but Richie Grant will likely find himself near the top of that list for Philadelphia.