Derwin James will be selected in the top seven picks, says Derwin James.
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James has long been considered the top true safety in the draft class but the former Florida State star is not a consensus top-10 selection among pundits, some of whom have projected that he'll fall to, for example, the Green Bay Packers at No. 14 or the Seattle Seahawks at No. 18. One spot below Seattle is the Dallas Cowboys, who have more pressing needs but could take James.
How far up does Dallas need to move if they want James? Into the top six, he says.
"Derwin James told me the Cowboys will need to get ahead of the Buccaneers at No. 7 if they want to draft him," said Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday. " 'That’s a great organization. And I love their fans on social media.' "
Has James been told by the Bucs that they'll take him at No. 7 if he's there? Or, following a visit earlier this month, he's just supremely confident the Bucs won't pass?
If he's right about the Bucs and Dallas does need a top-six pick, what's the price for the Colts' sixth pick? You'd think, at minimum, the price is their first- and second-round picks (No. 50), this season, plus potentially another second-round pick in 2019 or a third-round pick in 2018 or 2019.