Demetri Goodson | Cornerback | Baylor | 5'11" - 194 lbs.

 

OVERVIEW
His brother, Mike, is a running back for the Jets. Demetri began his college career as a basketball player at Gonzaga, averaging 5.1 points per game in 103 contests over three seasons. In 2011, he decided to give football another try and transferred to Baylor. Saw action in four games as a defensive reserve and on special teams, recording one tackle and returning three kickoffs for 100 yards and zero touchdowns (33.3-yard average). Tore ligaments in his right ankle on a kickoff Oct. 8, missing the rest of the season. Earned a starting cornerback job in '12 and started the first three games of the season. Did not start the fourth game, but fractured his right forearm in two spots in the first quarter against West Virginia and missed the remainder of the year. Had 16 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception with two tackles for loss. Also was 2-49-0 (24.5) returning kickoffs. He was granted a medical-hardship waiver to play in '13 and saw his most extensive gridiron action, appearing in 11 games (10 starts) and tallying 26-13-3. Led the team in interceptions, including a pick against Central Florida's Blake Bortles in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Missed the first two games of the season with a bone bruise after re-injuring his right arm in one of the final fall scrimmages.

STRENGTHS Excellent size. Good athletic ability, hand-eye coordination and ball production. Can turn and run vertical. Nice plant-and-drive -- breaks on throws. Has a 37-inch vertical. Has some upside. Comes from an athletic family and has NFL bloodlines.
WEAKNESSES Has been unable to stay in one piece and durability is a major concern. Has short arms and small hands. Relatively inexperienced with green instincts. Press technique needs to be coached up. Loses separation at the break point. Limited tackle production -- gets stuck on blocks and doesn't set a hard edge. Will be a 25-year-old rookie.

DRAFT PROJECTION Priority free agent

BOTTOM LINE Overaged, injury-prone, height-weight-speed prospect with a basketball background. Shows in flashes when he's able to rely on his reactionary skills and natural athleticism to break up throws, but he is raw and will have to prove he offers developmental value.

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Can make the team if he can field punts.

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This one I have huge question marks about. This was their best rated player here?

I believe there are 4 places in our draft where this same question can be asked, and after reviewing info the pick can be rationalized. I question that here.

McCullers, Smallwood, Beau Allen, Ben Gardner, Ahmad Dixon, Jeremy Gallon were all available...

I don't usually like to fall back on "Trust Ted", but in this case ......

We needed a second Safety with cover skills. I think this guy ends up being that. I was expecting/hoping his Baylor teammate, Ahmad Dixon, but apparently Ted stacked the two of them up and thought this guy came out ahead. I wouldn't be surprised if he turns out something like Micah Hyde.

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Figured they'd draft a CB sometime for depth/work for next year with Tramon and House contracts being up. Seems like this guy is a walking medical file. Not too enthused with this pick.

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No. I know. But, they must have really liked what he does enough to overlook his past medical issues. Funny how the basketball skills play into some of these positions, especially so with WRs, TEs and CBs. Enhanced body control to play the ball in flight, with hops. I get it. Big risk pick IMO, but 6th round... Makes it less of a risk I guess.

As I said they must REALLY like this kid, and tough to argue how they were able to develop Shields. Must not have wanted to risk losing on him in R7 or UDFA.

Whitt said he likes it "because there are not a lot of bad habits that you have to erase," as a coach. "Pretty much what you get if you do it the right way, they are what you coach. You are not coaching anything out of them." They must feel he has the skill set that was too good to pass up there.

Hey, if they can pull a Shields with this kid... and, we DO have Nixon, who they liked last year. Forgot about him...

This pick and the tight end Rodgers are the only two head scratchers for me just because of where they were taken. But like I said, if the Packers get 3-4 core players from this draft, it will be considered a very good draft.

Missed 2 games last year and played with a cast on his arm and only 13 players in all college football defended more passes. He's got some passion like Mike Daniels when I watch him play but he's too grabby sometimes and will get a lot of penalties if he doesn't fix that. The age doesn't bother me because if hes still on the team at the end of his contract when he'll be 29 he was well worth the 6th round pick. He's incredibly athletic and a will be a really interesting player to watch this preseason.

Good info. The more I am hearing and reading on this player, and this particular pick at 197, the more I like it. I absolutely hated it when I heard about it. Thought it was a wasted pick. But, this is making a lot of sense and they really like his ability to play the ball in flight.

Walters gave the Goodson pick a solid B.

It looks to me like at that point in the draft he was probably easily the best man cover guy on the board. Well worth the risk of a 6th rounder even with the lack of experience and injury issues.