Thomas projects as a middle-round safety with good size and strength. He needs to play near the line of scrimmage. He will fit the run, run the alleys and finish what is on his plate as a downhill safety, but assignment busts and coverage tightness will cause defensive coordinators stress on the back-end. He's a very talented cover man on special teams. He might even have the frame to take on more weight and give it a go as a linebacker in the future. He should become a good backup with the talent to step in and potentially start if the scheme is right.
The four-year starting safety is making the move to linebacker, where his size, speed and aggressive demeanor should help him fit more cleanly than at safety. Carpenter is a natural in run support with clear eyes and a physical approach in the box. Taking on blockers in a faster-paced game could cause bumps in the road early on. He has good pursuit range, average body control and the potential to guard tight ends. Carpenter was an excellent pro-day tester, so the traits and special teams talent could buy him an early opportunity on a roster as he learns the linebacker position.
