"Bigger and faster than most DBs but he's unpolished and plays tentative in coverage."
Strengths
Bigger than average safety with great range and requisite physicality. Aggressive and tries to intimidate opponents from sideline to sideline. Can turn and run with anyone. Experienced in the deep half half and the box. Racks up tackles in bunches. A solid candidate for a hybrid safety/linebacker position.
Weaknesses
Over aggressive, flies up and misses too many tackles... like here as well. Impressive speed but unpolished in coverage. Not the greatest instincts in coverage and can take poor angles. Gets caught looking. Post combine labrum surgery could limit him into training camp.
Overall
Watching Malik McDowell earlier last season. Nicholson kept jumping off the film for me. He's bigger and faster than most DBs and consistently blows up the run. He's an elite athlete with the possibility to play hybrid LB. He's played single high and up in the box.
Unexpectedly declaring he's unpolished. He plays tentatively in coverage and over aggressive coming downhill vs the run. But he regularly gets to the ball and can be a punishing tackler. With some development, I think Nicholson will be a good starter. His stock is fairly low so he should become a bargain steal in April.
Pro Comparison: T. J. McDonald
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