Calen Bullock Lacks Want

I had high hopes when I turned on the 2023 game film of USC safety Calen Bullock after putting a second-round grade on his 2022 game film. I had concerns about his 2022 game film, but I couldn’t deny the elite upside he flashed.

I’m over that.

The last thing anyone wants to hear about on a team in the NFL trying to win is a safety who could take it or leave it. Safeties are the last line of defense. It’s a position that mostly calls for speed and want.

Bullock has the speed, but his want is a flip of a coin.

Undependability is another word nobody wants to hear on an NFL team that’s trying to win. It’s hard enough.

Pass coverage

The most frustrating thing about Bulluck and his NFL Combine 4.48 40-yard-dash speed (that looks like 4.48 speed in pads) is he only turns it on once in a while.

When he turns it on, it’s a sight to see.

One of the most important things a safety does in pass coverage is provide ‘help over the top.’ In other words, run across half the field and assist the cornerback on deep pass plays.

Bulluck tended to be a ‘day late and a dollar short’ in this scenario.

Frustrating. Really frustrating.

Reluctance in run support

This is another kiss-of-death word nobody wants to hear on an NFL team that’s trying to win.

Reluctance.

It’s a bad word because it helps a team to lose.

Bulluck made his share of tackles when he had to, but he preferred to not get involved and when he did get involved it was usually not until the play reached wherever he was downfield.

The worst part was the active runs when he ran with ball carriers instead of at them (see Washington game). There were numerous other active running plays and he was seen jogging. Don’t get me started about the seven times I charted he checked out down by the goal line. He might as well have bought a ticket and watched those games from the stands.

I’m not down with that. That got him taken off my big board.

Don’t fall in love with the traits

It happens every year, NFL teams fall in love with raw traits and convince themselves they can make something happen. I can hear it now…

We can coach him up.

Memo to NFL teams ⎯don’t fall for Bullock’s raw traits. Football isn’t important enough to Bullock.

That’s not what I think, it’s what he put on game film. This one hurts me because I know he has first-round ability in there somewhere, but it’s got to show up on film at this position⎯consistently.

#7 Calen Bullock 6-foot-2, 188 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Fifth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 9.4% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 23, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Calen Bullock Sure Looks the Part (5 games evaluated)

2023 game film reviewed: Washington, Notre Dame, San Jose State, Utah, and Arizona (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Pro Football Focus Profile

2023 stats: 61 tackles, 42 solo, 19 assists, 7 passes defended and 2 interceptions

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Well-defined athletic frame and good speed but lacks desire. Shows he is capable of so much more than the norm. In pass coverage flashed good range and the ability to match up well in man coverage. Flashed the ability to provide aggressive support and come downhill to secure tackles. Content with running around and being a more after-the-fact or not-at-all defender in the passing game. Of course, flashed elite coverage a couple of reps like on the return for a touchdown vs. Utah. Prefers not to get involved run support. A mixed bag of results. At times takes bad angles to the ball or he will overrun lanes. Sometimes purposely looks like he hesitates and pulls back and would rather end up around the pile as opposed to being involved.

Final words

The type of prospect who will break an NFL GM’s heart.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.