Seattle continues to add depth to the Legion of Boom, which started to show some signs of regression last season. Thompson is a rangy, ball-hawking safety who should be a subpackage addition to a team that managed just 11 interceptions in '16. --Mark Dulgerian
6'0" Height
31 1/2" Arm Length
204LBS. Weight
9 5/8" Hands
Overview
Tedric is looking to join his brother, Cedric, in the NFL in 2017. His older brother was a safety at Minnesota and was drafted by Miami in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The younger Thompson was part of an impressive Colorado secondary in 2016 that placed three of its members in the second-team All-Pac-12 team. He made that squad after accumulating 63 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and tying with teammate Ahkello Witherspoon for the FBS lead with 23 passes defensed (seven interceptions, 16 passes broken up). Thompson has contributed to the Buffaloes' defense since arriving on campus, starting three of 12 games played as a true freshman (33 tackles, three PBU). He started the first eight games of the 2014 season, but missed the rest of the year due to the effects of a concussion. He was leading the team in tackles with 56 (and also had three interceptions and five pass breakups) before the injury. Thompson was an honorable mention all-conference selection in his first full year as a starter in 2015 (63 tackles, four for loss, three INT, eight PBU).
Analysis
Strengths
Quality athlete with desired long speed. High school wide receiver with good hands and outstanding ball skills. Can climb the ladder and challenge the jump ball. Works to stay in front of the route rather than trailing. Instincts and athleticism lead him to the throw. Successfully reads quarterback's intentions. Takes the playmaker's path to throws targeting catch point over receiver. Squeezes top of the route in zone. Finished with 10 interceptions at Colorado. Covers skills are a plus. Older brother, Cedric, was exceptional athlete as safety at Minnesota and was drafted by the Dolphins in 2015.
Weaknesses
Average height for position and needs more muscle on his frame. Desire as a playmaker can be used against him. Bait routes can pull his attention away from deep help responsibilities in single-high looks. Path to ball as downhill tackler needs improvement. Grab-and-drag arm tackler over wrap-up finisher. Tends to attack from angles rather than squared up as tackler. Not much thud behind his pads as a hitter. Missed final four games of 2014 with lingering effects from a concussion.
Draft Projection
Rounds 3-4
Bottom Line
Thompson in an instinctive cover safety with strong ball skills and a history of production during his time at Colorado. Lacks physicality to operate around the box, but his football intelligence and playmaking skills will get him drafted and could give him a shot at eventually starting.
-Lance Zierlein
