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NFL1000 Scores

Coverage: 21.8/30

Recovery: 21.9/30

Slot: 5.5/10

Tackling: 15.3/20

Positional Value: 8/10

Overall: 72.5/100

2016 NFL1000 FS Rank: 14/50



NFL1000 safety scout Mark Bullock

D.J. Swearinger is one of the more interesting free safeties on the market. The former second-round pick of the Texans had been labeled a bust after having been cut by both the Texans and Buccaneers. But after landing with the Arizona Cardinals, Swearinger has performed well, helping restore some faith in the potential he showed during his college career.

The Cardinals were forced to play Swearinger at free safety due to injuries, even though he entered the league as more of an in-the-box strong safety. Known for his big hits, Swearinger was often reckless and went for highlight plays earlier in his career. But taking him further away from the line of scrimmage appears to have had a positive impact.

He still plays with aggression and isn't afraid to trust his reads and abandon his deep assignment to attack routes underneath, but he did a better job choosing when to do that and when to stick to his responsibilities.

His athleticism combined with his aggression enabled him to contest throws like dig routes and deep over routes that typically are completed in front of the deep safety. He also provides flexibility to rotate down into the box if needed, as he had to do late on during the season as the Cardinals suffered more injuries to the secondary.

There is still a considerable risk in signing Swearinger. Playing on a talented defense like the Cardinals could have gone a long way to hide his flaws and display his strengths. There's a risk in his signing with a team with considerably less talent in the secondary, which could see Swearinger revert back to the same player the Texans and Bucs cut.

But if his time with the Cardinals has helped put him on the right track, then he could be a signing with good upside. At 25, he is still young and has plenty of time to improve.

Doug's Quick Take: Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher has proved to be quite adept at fitting players into specific aspects of his overall scheme. That's why Swearinger worked so well in 2016: The Cardinals took his aggressive tendencies and turned them into assets by allowing him to charge to the ball as he prefers.

He's probably less of an asset in a traditional zone defense where his assignments are more passive—he's a better fit for a hybrid defense in which he can freelance a bit. He seems to respond to that kind of freedom with more attention to detail.

Potential Suitors: Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys

Advanced stats provided by Pro Football Focus.