THe 5 things Snead covets in an edge rusher:
1. IQ and a high motor. Well no duh. These 2 things lower the bust factor for any prospect IMO. For an edge rusher, if I had to chose 1, I'm taking the motor.
2. Elite athletic traits. Again, yes. But not in a vacuum. Combine is one thing, on the field athleticism is another. The other thing that comes into this is IQ and motor. Do they have an advanced pass rush move set? Are they intelligent enough to set up the blocker in front of them? These things can make up for lacking some, not all athleticism. Lastly, it depends on what you want your edge rusher to do. If all you need is a straight line bull rusher, power over athleticism. Need a guy to set the edge against the run? A bulkier, stronger guy is needed. Long arms help.
3. Explosiveness. I think every NFL team wants an explosive edge rusher. Speed becomes power. Power collapses the pocket.
4. Developmental guys. This is an extension of the lack of 1st and sometimes 2nd rounders. Plus always having a Floyd or Fowler or Miller on one side. This is no longer the case and I cannot imagine they want 2 developmental types. 1, yes, not the higher pick though. Like I mentioned in my mock. Take 2, one high pick, one lower pick.
5. Size doesn't matter. Well, kinda. 3 guys 235 to 241. The rest were 253 to 263. So they aren't drafting undersized edge guys in that 220 to 230 range. THey also aren't drafting 43 DE types. So eliminate them.
Prospects that fit: (no order)
Yaya Diaby -Highest RAS score for edge rushers. He was a 43 DE with his hand in the dirt, and I never saw this testing coming. He seemed stiff below the waist, which limited to him being a bull rusher. High motor though. early day type.
Isaiah Foskey - 2nd highest RAS Score. Great explosion grade, Elite speed grade, Good agility grade. If his agility grade was great or elite, he is a top 10 prospect. 6'-5" 264 with 34" arms. He checks the size box as well. High character, high motor guy. Seems intelligent in his play. Checks all 5 boxes. Round 2
Derick Hall - High RAS, Great Explosion, Elite Speed, Great Agility. 6'-3" 254. with 34.5" arms. Big motor. I question his IQ. His pass rush skill set is severly lacking and he seems to be slow to diagnose plays. Round 2
Nolan Smith - High, but incomplete RAS score as he never tested in the agility testing, but I'll tell you now its Elite. Elite Speed and Explosion. 6'-2" 238 lbs, so on the bottom end of the size threshold for the Rams. High motor, high IQ. Team captain. late 1st early 2nd.
Robert Beal - Smiths teammate. Good explosion and Agility grades, Elite speed grade. 6'-4" 247 with over 34.5" arms. High motor. 6th round
Byron Young - Elite explosion and speed grade. Incomplete Agility, but his 3 cone scored a 9.81, so He seems elite in all 3. 6'-2 1/2" 250. High motor, high IQ with an advanced pass rush set. 3rd round.
Will McDonald - Not enough testing for RAS scores, but I think he will fall great to elite. 6'-4" 245 with 35" arms. His pro day was 4.62 40, a stupid fast 6.60 3 cone and a 4.21 short shuttle. Relentless motor. 2nd round.
Now I'll finish the article and see the 5 the author suggested. No cheating.
Smith and McDonald - no shock, we agree. The Rams have met with both. Went to McDonald's pro day.
Nick Hampton - I felt he fell under the size threshold.
Isaiah McGuire - I never saw anything other than a bull rush. (small sample size I admit) I worry about his agility. He does make some sense on day 3.
Yasir Abdullah - again at a bit over 6' and under 240, he fell below the size threshold he created, just to get the late round checkmark.
My list excluded obvious 1st rounders.
Andre Carter is a tough eval following these guidelines because being at Army. He couldn't train for the 40, 3 cone, short shuttle, etc. He fits every other box, including probably being a day 3 pick (albeit early)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah - no combine testing and his pro day is the 31st...so didn't qualify for this exercise. He did qualify for the Lott IMPACT award: (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity) so you know the Rams love that. Round 2
Tuli Tuipulotu - Hits the size and IQ and motor checks. Has not tested. I think he would make the list. round 2
BJ Ojulari - No testing yet. Pro day 29th. He would meet the criteria. Round 2
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
