Round 5- Caden Sterns

[Draft Crazy]

Had someone told me three years ago Sterns would be the first safety taken this year I would have agreed. Like the value here. Durability an issue. FR year looked like a rd 1-2 pick.

Great awarness, ball skills. Can play in the slot. Needs some coverage work but far from bad in coverage. Loves to tackle, physical player who plays the ball well. Runs well too. Will also help on special teams.

 

[fightinredantz]

I am good with him. A year to develop will not hurt. Hopefully he can replace KJack next year.

 

[Mingo]

4.4 forty and 42 inch leap - that's not bad in a safety. Good for special teams fodder until he proves himself.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Good way I would describe Sterns the last two years is good at everything, great at nothing and that’s pretty good in Rd 5.

 

[SpringStein]

CADEN STERNS | Texas 5117 | 202 lbs. | JR. Cibolo, Texas (Steele) 11/2/1999 (age 21.49) #7
BACKGROUND: Caden Sterns was born in Dallas and grew up in Cibolo (25 miles east of San Antonio) as one of eight siblings, attending Steele High School. He was a three-year starter at free safety and wide receiver, finishing his career with 235 tackles and 11 interceptions. After posting 57 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore, Sterns recorded 82 tackles and three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) as a junior, leading Steele to a district championship and earning First Team All-State honors. As a senior, he was a U.S. Army All-American and All-State performer with 90 tackles, four interceptions and one forced fumble. Sterns added 15 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns in 2017 plus a kick-return touchdown and punt-return touchdown. He also ran track at Steele, clocking a personal best 23.73 in the 200 meters.
[251]

A five-star recruit out of high school, Sterns was the No. 1-ranked safety in the 2018 class and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas (WR Jaylen Waddle was No. 3). He initially verballed to LSU, becoming Ed Orgeron’s first commit as full-time head coach. However, Sterns flipped to Texas (his childhood favorite team) prior to his senior year, citing the ability to stay close to home and enrolling in Austin in January 2018. His older brother (Jordan) played safety at Oklahoma State (2013-16) and went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs before leaving the team due to a mental health issue. The younger Sterns decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
STRENGTHS: Coordinated footwork in his pedal and drive...moves with the sink and lower-body fluidity to smoothly redirect...accelerates with a burst to the football and shows adequate single-high range...races downhill as a run defender and takes aggressive pursuit angles...throws his body to chop down the ball carrier...doesn’t create turnovers, but shows the receiving skills to take advantage of poor decisions...once he sees it, his sense of urgency kicks in...adequate size and length for the position...named a team captain.
WEAKNESSES: Reactionary in coverage and doesn’t anticipate route breaks/combinations...opts to play it safe and doesn’t take many chances in his search for passing
lanes...too many communication lapses in coverage...half-hearted tackling technique and avoids contact if possible...dive tackler, leading to too many ankle-biting attempts...needs to better use his hands to punch and play off blocks...questionable toughness and was bothered by multiple injuries the last three years: suffered a knee injury (December 2018) and missed the bowl game; had a “minor” knee procedure (March 2019) and missed part of spring drills; suffered a right knee sprain (September 2019) and missed four games as a sophomore; Missed one game as a junior due to turf toe (October 2020)...unimpressive production/performance the past two seasons (NFL scout: “He was still reading his freshman year press clippings as a junior”).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Texas, Sterns was the free safety in former defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s hybrid 4-2-5 scheme, lining up to the field side. He had a standout freshman season, but he battled through injuries (and a lack of urgency) the last two years, combining for only five passes defended and one interception over 16 games as a sophomore and junior. Sterns is a clean mover in the deep half with the feet and athleticism to collect himself and stay in position. However, he is more of a “see it” than “sense it” player and appears more focused on not making a misstep rather than jumping routes. Overall, Sterns has functional range with efficient footwork to gather and go, but he struggles to anticipate, lacks grit and doesn’t have the tape of a playmaker. He projects as an overly conservative deep safety with durability concerns.

Grade: 5th-6th round

 

[PumpFake]