Trey Dean III NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 207 pounds
School: Florida
2023 NFL Draft: Trey Dean III Scouting Report
Trey Dean III began his college football career at the University of Florida in 2018, appearing in 11 of the Gators 13 games, and starting nine of those 11 at safety. For the season, Dean managed to make 26 tackles (16 solo, 10 asissted), while also recording an interception and contesting five passes. In his second season in the Sunshine State, Dean played in all 13 of Florida’s games and matched his tackles from 2018 (26; 16 solo, 10 assisted). He also had an interception and defended against a pass.
During the 2020 season, Dean appeared in 11 games overall out of the Gators 12, playing nine of the 11 at safety, and starting one of those nine. Dean made 34 tackles (22 solo, 12 assisted), including a sack, while also recovering a fumble, and making an interception.
In the 2021 campaign for UF, Dean started 12 of 13 games at safety. He had an eye-opening 88 tackles (40 solo, 48 assisted), including one and a half sacks, while intercepting a pass, and defending against eight others. In his final season in Gainesville, Dean started 12 of the Gators 13 games. He made 81 tackles (47 solo, 34 assisted), including half a sack, while also recovering two fumbles and defending against four passes.
Strengths
- Expert in man coverage, especially when defending the slot receiver;
- Has the speed to come up the field and disrupt shorter passing routes;
- Can be a very valuable player, especially on special teams;
- Above average height and weight for an NFL safety;
- Contends for many passes due to long limbs and height advantage.
Weaknesses
- Plays too amped up at times, leading to mental mistakes on defense;
- Not the best on-field communicator when it comes to communicating coverages with teammates;
- Tackling volume must increase in order to be successful at the next level;
- Needs better awareness and diagnosis as to route receivers are running, especially on the deep ball;
- Has a tendency to not look back for the ball when defending a receiver; leads to penalties.
NFL Comparison: Ryan Neal
Teams With Need At Position: Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers
Projection: Rounds 5-6
Bottom Line on Trey Dean III
There is a lot to like about Trey Dean II, especially his size. He also has the speed to come upfield and disrupt shorter pass plays. Initially, a team may pick him just to start out playing on special teams because he is that good at it. In the long run, his sizes and advantage especially when it comes to contesting passes and he does play the slot receiver and man coverage very effectively.
What Dean needs to do to improve to see a lot of playing time and to have a long NFL career is to control his energy. This uncontrolled aggression leads to many mental mistakes and it costs the team in the end. He needs to improve his communication when on the field with his teammates, especially as it pertains to coverages.
He also needs to make more tackles. Dean has the opportunity to make a lot of tackles, however, he is unable to finish off those opportunities. He also needs to be able to diagnose and be better aware of the routes receivers are running so that he can position himself better, to make a play on the ball, especially on the deep pass. Dean also needs to clean up his pass interference penalties as he is unable to consistently get his head around and look for the ball, which will not be tolerated at the NFL level.
Dean’s strengths outweigh his weaknesses, so much so, that he will be picked by a team in either round five or round six in the coming days in Kansas City.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
