Player comparisons are always slippery in sports, because two similarly built, similarly skilled athletes won’t check off all of the same boxes. Many, perhaps, but not all.
In today’s NFL, finding the next Rob Gronkowski or J.J. Watt or Odell Beckham Jr., especially through the draft, is next to impossible, because there can be only one original.
What is possible, though, is identifying players who best fit the way today’s game is being played. One example is with the safety position on defense. No longer will teams automatically throw a safety or two 20 yards downfield on every snap, ready to roam center field or assist on coverage double teams during passing plays.
As Patriots fans witnessed last season with Patrick Chung, NFL safeties can play near or at the line of scrimmage just as often as they line up deep. They’re strong against the run, and they’ve become bigger and more physical, capable of covering a tight end, with a more manageable size differential.
“Sometimes I’m back deep more, sometimes I’m up close. It’s just a matter of the game plan and what we have to do for that game,’’ Chung said in January, days after he limited Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to six catches for only 23 receiving yards in a 27-20 Patriots playoff victory. “I like to be in the action a little bit.’’
So does Jeremy Cash. The Duke product — he started his career at Ohio State before transferring — isn’t expected to be a first-round pick Thursday night during the NFL Draft. If he’s not, he won’t have to wait long. Cash, like a number of the draft-eligible players, personifies what teams look for in a safety these days.
Coming off a senior season in which he was named an All-American and was the ACC’s defensive player of the year after piling up 18 tackles for loss, 2½ sacks, and 3 forced fumbles, Cash has the size of a modern safety: He’s 6 feet and 212 pounds. That’s extremely comparable to Chung (5-11, 215).
Like Chung, Cash also likes playing in the box, doing the dirty work and helping stop the run.
“I’m not defined by one specific role, so to speak,’’ Cash said at the combine. “A lot of [teams] say they will play to my skill set.’’
The Patriots aren’t the only team using a safety in the box. Others who have been utilized the way Chung has include Mark Barron of the Rams and Deone Bucannon of the Cardinals.
Mike Mayock, a former safety and now an analyst for the NFL Network, sees similarities to those established NFL safeties when watching Cash.
“I like Cash a lot. He’s one of those guys where the ball finds him, and I see him more in the box. He’s a strong safety that tackles well, can line up with some tight ends,’’ Mayock said. “He fits what today’s NFL is, he’s almost the exact height and weight as Bucannon, who’s done such a great job as a linebacker for the Cardinals. More and more teams are looking for safeties with size and tackling ability that can play three downs.
“Sometimes they’re playing outside linebacker, sometimes they’re playing safety, but in the nickel and dime package, they’re playing linebacker. I think there’s value for Cash.’’
And others, as well. Cash isn’t the only big safety on the draft board. Jalen Ramsey (6-1, 209) of Florida State is projected to be a top-10 pick, and has the versatility to play safety or cornerback. Su’a Cravens (6-1, 226) played linebacker some at Southern Cal, in addition to safety. Vonn Bell (5-11, 199) of Ohio State, T.J. Green (6-2, 209) of Clemson, Keanu Neal (6-0, 211) of Florida, and Jalen Mills (6-0, 191) of LSU all have the characteristics of a modern-day strong safety in the NFL.
“I know the role of being a big safety is beginning to change. I think before it was frowned upon,’’ Cravens said. “But now that guy that can run with slots and guard tight ends in man and then come into the box and be that extra linebacker without having to sub, it’s pretty big nowadays.
“With the league becoming a passing league, you’re going to need guys like that.’’
The Patriots have theirs, recently extending Chung’s contract through the 2018 season and providing a $2.4 million signing bonus. It was a well-earned reward after a season in which Chung showed how valuable he was, despite no sacks or interceptions. He was second on the team in tackles, and his work against tight ends was regularly praised by coach Bill Belichick.
“Pat’s a real competitive kid. He embraces those challenges and really studies the players that he’s going to be matched up against,’’ Belichick said in January. “He has played very competitively for us all year against really one good guy after another. He sees a pretty good guy in practice, too.’’
That would be Gronkowski, probably the best tight end in football right now. Chung might not be the best safety, but he’s valuable to the Patriots because he’s able to play the position the way it needs to be played. All those draft hopefuls coming out of college are confident they’ll be able to play safety in a similar way.
Perhaps one winds up in New England, which has been known to value versatility.
“I think they can see me playing whatever fits their team,’’ said Ramsey, who was not speaking specifically about the Patriots, because he’s projected as a high first-round pick, and the Patriots don’t select, barring a trade, until No. 60. “I played it all in college. I played every position in the secondary, so I’m versatile, probably the most versatile DB in this draft. I’ll play wherever they need me.’’
Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeWhitmer.
