Trader Jr. grew up in Delaware, winning a state championship at Delmar Senior High School in 2017 before transferring to McDonogh in Maryland. He excelled in both football and lacrosse, ranking as the No. 5 lacrosse player in the Class of 2021. As a three-star recruit, Trader Jr. chose his "dream school" Maryland over other suitors. At Maryland, Trader Jr. quickly became a key contributor in the secondary. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman before earning a starting role as a sophomore in 2022. Over the next two seasons, he started 25 games, racking up 120 tackles, four interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. His junior year saw him finish third on the team with 58 tackles while adding two picks and seven pass breakups. Off the field, Trader Jr. has shown a penchant for mental acuity, crediting chess for helping strengthen his "brainpower" and seeing parallels between the strategic game and football. He's also been recognized for his academic achievements, earning CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023. Scouting Report: Strengths Plus athlete with multi-sport background, translating to fluid backpedal and smooth hip flip in coverage Cerebral player who processes quickly, allowing him to jump routes and make plays on the ball Sure tackler with good form, rarely whiffs in the open field and limits YAC Displays natural feel in zone, consistently finding himself around the ball Adequate long speed to carry verticals and not get stacked by receivers High character player with plus intangibles, film junkie who sets the tone in the DB room Production improved each season, indicating upward trajectory and untapped potential Scheme versatile, can play single-high, in the box, or as a big nickel Scouting Report: Weaknesses Tweener size for the position, may struggle to match up with Y-tight ends at the next level Mirror-and-match skills in man coverage need work, can lose leverage against shifty slot receivers Change of direction is good not great, limits his ability to close on throws from depth Lacks the "wow" factor as a hitter, doesn't consistently deliver tone-setting shots over the middle Ball production is solid but not elite, needs to convert more PBUs into INTs to be a game-changer Scouting Report: Summary A developmental prospect with the tools to contribute in sub-packages early while he refines his skill set. Best fit is in a defense that employs multiple coverage shells and values versatility in the secondary. Can wear multiple hats, aligning as a deep safety, in the box, or over the slot depending on the call. Special teams ace potential from day one, with the mindset and physicality to excel in kick coverage. As he builds his NFL body and sharpens his instincts, could develop into a reliable third safety with spot-start ability. Needs to improve play strength and man coverage technique to unlock his full potential as an every-down player. Intangibles and work ethic suggest he could outplay his draft position. Chess background hints at the mental processing speed to handle complex NFL coverage schemes. Ceiling is a solid starter in a zone-heavy system, floor is a core special teamer and defensive sub-package player. https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Dante-TraderJr-DB-Maryland
MARYLAND SAFETY DANTE TRADER JR. - Trader had 190 tackles (three for loss), five interceptions, 15 passes defended and one forced fumble in four years with the Terrapins. Last season the 6-0 Trader had 59 tackles, an interception and four passes defended in 10 games, missing two with an injury. ▪ ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: “He was a physical presence for the Maryland Terrapins in that secondary. Not physically imposing but plays a physical brand of football and he does a great job reading the quarterback, breaking on the ball, driving on the football. He lacks awesome physical traits but second on team in tackles. Fifth ranked player coming out of high school in 2021 in lacrosse. He’s an athlete. Had a really good year for the Terrapins. Big time striking ability. Big range in coverage. ▪ ESPN’s Matt Miller: “Why is he here? He ran 4.65 in the 40 at the Maryland pro day. That’s why he’s here. Plays with natural instincts. It doesn’t always stand out in terms of height, speed, length. Playmaking ability is there. Three year starter. He can play deep safety role and can play in the box. He’s going to have an opportunity to climb this depth chart.” ▪ NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls Trader a “dual-sport athlete whose film shows off plus instincts but average consistency. Trader is a versatile cover safety capable of lining up at nickel, playing single-high or lurking in the role of a robber. He’s quick to read and respond to the quarterback’s eyes and operation, attacking throws at a disruptive angle when he can. He’s athletic with a good short-area burst, but his play speed in large spaces is average. He’s quick to diagnose and race downhill but is more of a worker than a true enforcer in support. Trader’s football character and scheme versatility help his cause. He has a chance to earn a spot as a backup.”
