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2021 NFL Draft: Safety Divine Deablo landing spot in the later rounds

By Geoffrey Godfrey

Dec 1, 2018; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies Divine Deablo (17) celebrates the win against the Marshall Thundering Herd with the keydets at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2018; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies Divine Deablo (17) celebrates the win against the Marshall Thundering Herd with the keydets at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports /
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Divine Deablo (17) and the Virginia Tech defense punished FSU’s offensive mistakes the entire game. FSU would go on to put up only 3 points on Monday, September 3rd at Doak Campbell Stadium.Fsv Fsufootballvsvt Mm 090318 9 Of 15
Divine Deablo (17) and the Virginia Tech defense punished FSU’s offensive mistakes the entire game. FSU would go on to put up only 3 points on Monday, September 3rd at Doak Campbell Stadium.Fsv Fsufootballvsvt Mm 090318 9 Of 15 /

The 2021 NFL Draft has a lack of depth at the Safety position, which is good news for Divine Deablo. The bad news is he is not one of the top-four safeties in the NFL Draft. Currently, he is behind Jevon Holland (Oregon), Jamar Johnson (Indiana), and Trevon Moehring (TCU). All three of them look to be selected within the first 50-picks of the draft. With one of the three going in the first round. The next one down the line is Richie Grant, UCF who is more in line with the current talent level of Diablo.

This puts Deablo in a good spot after the early third-round as far as teams needing a safety.

There is little doubt he is one of the first five safeties off the board. So he should find a home close to the 100th pick in the draft or the area. With the current NFL moving more toward a spread offense having a safety who can play not only his position, but that of slot corner and dime linebacker is a must-have.

We are seeing more and more teams keep three starting-level safeties on their roster. If this was not the case Deablo would most likely be a fifth-round pick or later.

So what makes Divine so Divine at the next level?

Standing 6-foot-3 at 226 lbs. he can be used all over the field. Think similar to Isiah Simmons, Clemson from last year’s draft. He is just far less polished than Simmons was at this point. He will be a Tweener at the next level, deployed at multiple positions. With his size, I would not be surprised if he ends up gaining a bit and slotting in as a 3-4 ILB when all is said and done. That depends on where he is drafted, as he could be a nice rangy free safety as well who can play inside the box.

Do not forget he also changed over from wide receiver to defensive back after his freshman season, which is not the first time this has happened for the Hokies, aka Caleb Farley.

So which teams would look to pick up one of the more versatile defenders in the NFL Draft?

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