The New England Patriots have drafted former Stanford DBÂ Jordan Richards with their second round pick (64th overall). Â
2014: First-team All-Pac-12. National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award. Started all 13 games at strong safety. 2013: Honorable mention All-Pac-12. Second-team Capital One Academic All-American. Started all 14 games. 2012: Honorable mention All-Pac 12. Started all 14 games. 2011: Played in all 13 games with three starts.
PRO DAY RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.59 secondsÂ
Vertical jump: 34 1/2 inchesÂ
Broad jump: 9 feetÂ
20-yard short shuttle: 4.32 seconds
With the 32nd pick in the 2nd round (64th overall) the Patriots selected Stanford DB Jordan Richards. Check out a few of favorite photos.
Stanford Cardinal safety Jordan Richards (8) intercepts the ball from UCLA Bruins fullback Nate Iese (32) during an NCAA Football regular season game on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014 in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
West safety Jordan Richards (27), of Stanford, during practice for the East-West Shrine college football game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Stanford safety Jordan Richards poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, February 21, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Stanford safety Jordan Richards during an NCAA college football game against Army on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford Cardinal safety Jordan Richards (8) during an NCAA Football regular season game against the UCLA Bruins on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014 in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Stanford Cardinal safety Jordan Richards (8) intercepts the ball from UCLA Bruins fullback Nate Iese (32) during an NCAA Football regular season game on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014 in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Stanford safety Jordan Richards runs a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. Stanford won 31-10. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Stanford Jordan Richards runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Stanford safety Jordan Richards (8) stops UCLA running back Jordon James (6) for no gain on a pass play during the first quarter of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Stanford safety Jordan Richards runs a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. Stanford won 31-10. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Southern California running back Justin Davis (22) rushes against Stanford safety Jordan Richards, center, and Zach Hoffpauir (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
NFL.com Analysis
STRENGTHS:Team captain and defensive leader. Played some wide receiver in high school. Good hands with ability to make difficult interceptions. Attacks ball at high-point. Moves well as high-low safety. Extended range in run support and doesn't mind the physical side of the position. Has secondary motor for extended pursuit. Good football and personal character. Productive three-year starter.
WEAKNESSES:Â Displays obvious coverage limitations. Below-average instincts when asked to play deep safety. Slow to see it, with marginal recovery speed. Struggles in man coverage. Grabby at the top of the route and lacks feet to match and mirror. Slow to digest route combinations out of bunch formations. Comes downhill against run quickly, but out of control at times. Needs improvement as a wrap-up tackler.
DRAFT PROJECTION:Â Round 6 or 7
NFL COMPARISON:Â Kurt Coleman
BOTTOM LINE:Â A limited, run-support safety whose coverage issues could be an issue for NFL teams looking for diverse safety play. He's a willing tackler who plays with range in run support, but Richards' lack of instincts and ability to stick receivers in space could limit his NFL opportunities.
