Gibril Wilson

Wilson is one of the strongest tacklers among defensive backs. He made 112 tackles in 2005, 100 in 2006 and 92 in 2007, all for the Giants. If not for a knee injury that cost him three games last season, Wilson almost surely would have turned in his third consecutive triple-digit total. The 26-year-old signed a six-year, $39 million contract with Oakland in February. He will likely start at strong safety for the Raiders, with the capable Michael Huff at free safety. The strong safety position is a good fit for Wilson; he is an athletic 200-pounder with speed, range and strong closing ability. While he is best known as a tackler, Wilson has at least two interceptions in all four of his NFL seasons and made a career high four picks last season.

Here's the prototypical model for a fantasy safety: an athletic 200-pounder with speed, range and strong closing ability; someone who can break down in space and is strong fundamentally with wrapping up and completing the tackle; the kind of guy who frustrates opposing coaches and rewards fantasy owners by aggressively pursuing big plays. The ruse was probably up from the beginning—we’re describing Wilson. Even though he missed a game last year, he converted his second 100-tackle season in a row, one of just seven safeties to reach 100 last year. He also had two picks, giving him at least two in each of his three years in the league, which is even more impressive since he missed eight games as a rookie. After three sacks in each of his first two years, he failed to make one last year, but it's quite clear he can be one of the position’s best with this aspect of the game as well. He’s one of the best tacklers and best playmakers in the secondary all wrapped into one. Punch his ticket early in the secondary run of your draft.

Six solo tackles per game is a dream with linebackers and only a handful of pull it off each year, not to mention year after year. Wilson has started 23 games of his 24 as a pro (he missed half of 2004 with a neck burner) and in those games has posted exactly six solos per game. From the safety position. These are Rodney Harrison numbers if he keeps them up. Any defensive back who can make 90 or more solo tackles in a season is already special. Wilson has also added six sacks and five picks in 24 games. That’s right, he had three picks and three sacks in eight games in 2004, one of which he didn’t even start. This is a dream combination of a fantastic tackling base and the gambling mentality and athleticism to make plays. The one drawback is that alongside three games with double-digit solo tackles last year, he also had one with just one and another two with only three. A touch more consistency would be great, but a man this prolific can win quite a few games for owners.

Wilson packed a full season’s worth of stats into eight games last year, one of which, he didn’t even start. Shaun Williams’ season-ending injury put Wilson in the starting strong safety spot where he excelled. He’s not the best in coverage, but has great speed for a safety and makes picks when opportunities present themselves. His forte is more run support and blitzing, but with Williams back, Wilson shifts over to free safety, where he’ll be in coverage more. Still, his breakout rookie performance before going down for the year with a neck burner bodes well for a high-tackle, strong-interception year.

Will compete for a backup safety/special teams role.