Giants Draft 2014: Safety Nat Berhe Quick Take

Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

With the 152nd pick in the 2014 NFL draft the New York Giants select… Nat Berhe, SS San Diego State.

The Giants elected to grab Berhe in the 5th round despite his 7th round grade. At 5’10 193 pounds he played the role of slot corner at SDSU in addition to aggressive safety play. The Jints aren’t in the market for another slot corner, so Berhe is being drafted for safety help. His presence would fill a depth need on the backline, with Stevie Brown returning from serious injury and Will Hill facing a third suspension (and possible release).

Despite being undersized, he thrived at creeping into the box, shooting gaps and laying hits. His instincts in the run game are a calling card strength. Berhe is not hesitant about throwing his limited body weight around. He recorded 99 tackles (60 solo) and 5.5 tackles for loss during his senior campaign.

Berhe displayed a tendency to panic when isolated downfield. Given his lack of size, formidable speed (4.70 40) and questionable in-flight ball tracking skills, it’s not hard to imagine why.

This is your typical out of nowhere Giants selection. When they witness versatility and hard nosed play on tape, they don’t soon forget it. He was the team captain (again) and “setup team barbecues“.

The Giants chose Berhe with FS Kenny Ladler and CB/S Antone Exum still on the board.

Check out his NFL Combine workout, courtesy of National Football Fans on YouTube (NFL Network):

And highlights from Nat Berhe’s personal account: