Overall
I'm very tempted to project Hayward as a Safety at the next level, but he's been so productive at Corner, and played extremely well at Corner in the Senior Bowl, so I'll keep him there for now. The thought process of him as a Safety is that he doesn't have great speed, but is very instinctive, and is very good in run support. But as mentioned, Hayward has been extremely successful at Cornerback at all stops, and makes up for his lack of speed in a number of different areas. First thing I would point to, would be his Football IQ, awareness, and instincts. He displays great route recognition, quickly identifies what is going on, and has the ball skills to knock the ball down, breaking up the play. He also is tremendous from a footwork, and technique standpoint, allowing him to stay right on the receivers hip. There is no denying however, that Hayward will have trouble with guys who have elite straight-line speed, and is not really a guy who can be left on an island for most of the game. To me, Hayward just excels in too many areas to not be a successful player at the next level. A lot of it will depend on what type of scheme he goes to, and how coaches use him. Whether it's at Cornerback or Safety, I think Hayward is going to be a reliable starter in the league.
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