Range: Cross has all the natural range you could ask for at the position. He played in both single-high and two-high shells quite a bit and did both effectively. He proved he had the speed to make plays on the ball sideline to sideline while also being a factor inside the box. He ran well at the combine to back up his play speed on film.
Versatility: Cross provides a ton of versatility thanks to his relatively dense build and natural athletic ability. He was used as a WILL linebacker way more often than I thought he’d be, and he proved he can hold up down in the box. His skills as a deep safety are obvious.
Man Coverage: Cross has the tools to be an effective man coverage player at the next level. He’s got the size to hold up against tight ends and the speed to hold up against wide receivers. His technique can be sloppy in the way he deals with breaks at the top of route stems though.
Zone Coverage: Cross gives you a ton of natural potential in this area. He’s got the speed and explosiveness to close down both short and deep zone windows. His ability to cap routes in deep zone coverage is also sufficient.
Football IQ: There are some plays that Cross makes pointing to a higher ceiling in this area, but he’s clearly still coming along. He made some mental errors that led to touchdowns in a couple of games that I watched. Mostly stuff like getting his eyes stuck in the backfield too long.
Tackling: Cross is a solid overall tackler, but he needs improvement. He can make big hits and set the tone from the safety position when he’s under control. The problem is he can take some pretty suspect angles to the football at times making him off-balanced when arriving to contact.
Run Support: Cross shows good ability to read run keys and get downhill to stop the run. He’s also pretty good at scraping down the line of scrimmage and getting sideline to sideline. He needs to make strides in the haste at which he disengages from blocks though.
Ball Skills: Cross has plenty of ball production across his career. He’s got a knack for creating PBUs and forcing fumbles. He plays the ball pretty well in front of his face, and he does turn to find over his shoulder. There are still some inconsistencies in his game here.
Change of Direction: Cross displays good change of direction ability for the position. He’s a smooth athlete capable of handling multiple breaking routes and flipping his hips to carry receivers vertically.
Physicality: Cross has good physicality in all aspects. He’s physical in coverage and has good hitting power when playing in the box. His dense frame allows him to hold up well even when he’s punching above his weight.
Summary: Nick Cross is an impressive athlete with good ball production and some of the best flashes of deep safety play in the 2021 class. His issue is consistency. For every impressive PBU or INT, there is a weird pursuit angle in coverage or a missed tackle leading to a big play.
All of the natural tools for Cross to be a starting free safety in the NFL are present. He just needs a little more development on the mental side of the game. I’d be willing to bet on Cross on day two of the draft given the lackluster depth this 2022 group has.
Filed By: Dante Collinelli, Director of Scouting, and BIG-10 Area Scout
Twitter: @DanteCollinelli
