The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Michael Barrett.

Michael Barrett 2024 Pro Day RESULTS

• Height: 5-foot-11
• Weight: 233 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.70 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.64 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.55 seconds
• Vertical jump: N/A
• Broad jump: N/A
• Arm length: 32 ⅛"

Michael Barrett 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Shorter than desired for off-the-ball, stacked linebacker but played with a highly competitive and physical temperament.
• Strong key and diagnosed with quick reactions and short-area burst to avoid offensive line blocks and work through traffic.
• Flashed stack and shed ability in the run game attacking downhill and playing off offensive line blocks to make tackles.
• Played downhill in run game with tenacity and competitiveness. Active attacking offensive line with force and power.
• Showed confined-space explosive pop and power, which often compensated for his lack of size and length.
• Play speed and inside-out sideline-to-sideline range showed up better on film than timed speed. Moved well.
• Showed some power and force as an inside blitzer attacking and beating running backs. Compact strength.
• Played with excellent eyes and reaction quickness in underneath coverage. Rallied to the ball with plus speed.
• Excellent in pass coverage both in underneath zone reading routes, rallying to the ball and carrying seams.

WEAKNESSES

• Does not possess the physical and athletic traits you ideally want in an off-the-ball linebacker. Lacks desired length.
• Not a higher-level athlete for the position with his short stocky build and lack of suddenness and explosiveness.
• Lack of height and length at times led to him getting swallowed up by climbing offensive linemen in run game. Could not disengage.
• Could be over-aggressive at times in the run game losing gap integrity, which can be cleaned up at the next level.
• Did not see much man-to-man tight end matchups — and given his lack of length, it's not likely he would do that in the NFL.

NFL TRANSITION

Barrett was a fun player to watch in the context of Michigan’s highly talented and well-schemed defense. Despite him not possessing ideal measurables for an off-the-ball, stacked linebacker, I believe Barrett has a chance to develop into a starting three-down linebacker at the next level.

Barrett plays with an instinctive feel for the position with strong key; diagnose read and react traits; and dynamic short area quickness in the box to find the ball. There is a highly competitive physical nature to his game that takes him well beyond his less-than-ideal length.

There might be a size and play style comparison to be made to Nick Bolton. Bolton was clearly a more highly ranked linebacker coming out of Missouri, and he has proven to be an excellent NFL linebacker. But many were concerned about his size (5’11 ⅛” and 237 pounds without dominant athletic testing measurables, which were similar to, and in some cases lower than, Barrett’s). The better comp might be Anthony Walker, who was a fifth-round pick coming out of Northwestern in 2017 and has been a solid NFL linebacker starting every game for the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 and 2020 and overall starting 63 of the 73 games he has played in.

Barrett is an outlier with his less than 6-foot height, and that will likely remove him from some teams' draft boards based on their critical factors template. But there is no question he is a good player and prospect who will find a place in the NFL and could well develop into a quality starting linebacker.

OTHER NOTES

Barrett played six years at Michigan becoming a full-time starter in 2022. In the 2023 national championship season, Barrett started all 15 games, finishing his career with 35 total starts. Barrett came out of Georgia where he was a record-setting high school quarterback.

Barrett played approximately 70 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023 and did not leave the field in the sub nickel. At times on third down, he lined up in the A gap as part of a double mug front and was deployed as a rusher. He was deployed as a blitzer on third down both from the inside and off the edge — at times part of stunt concepts where he could be the picker of the looper; There were man coverage snaps where Barrett matched up to the tight end.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Myles Cole.

Myles Cole 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-6
• Weight: 278 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 4.67 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.65 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle: Did Not Perform (DNP)
• Vertical jump: 35"
• Broad jump: 10'0"
• Arm length: 36 ⅞"

Myles Cole 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Excellent athletic-physical profile with rare height/weight/speed/length combination. Exceptionally long arms.
• Long athlete with easy movement. Showed some bend and flexibility, at times playing with good knee bend.
• At times in the run game, used his long arms effectively to lock out offensive linemen and keep his feet clean to play off block.
• Flashes of off-the-ball quickness in the run game with length and bend to make plays in backfield and at the line of scrimmage.
• Some flashes of pass rush where he attacked the high side and cleared the edge of the offensive tackle with enough bend to win.
• Showed flashes as edge pass rusher with one-arm stab that played to his arm length and generated movement.
• Snaps of club rip move as wide-9 pass rusher to clear the edge of the offensive tackle and gain leverage to close to the quarterback.

WEAKNESSES

• Tendency to play too high in run game and as a pass rusher, which negatively affected both quickness and leverage.
• Almost no strike power coming off the ball in run game. Did not play with any confined space force or leverage.
• Too many run game snaps where he was physically handled and moved by the offensive tackle and offensive guard. Did not show point-of-attack strength.
• Must learn to use exceptional arm length more effectively as pass rusher. Did not strike and create separation.
• Measured and methodical in his movement. Not much suddenness and twitch. Did not show explosive element.
• Needs to get stronger throughout his body. At this point, lacks meaningful speed-to-power element to his game.

NFL TRANSITION

Cole will have a fascinating projection to the next level given the stark contrast between his outstanding athletic and physical testing measurables that showed a rare height/weight/speed/length profile and his 2023 tape, which was spotty at best.

He has the kind of size and length and athletic movement that would lead you to believe he could develop into a quality edge pass rusher. But at this point as he enters the NFL, he did not show that he could rush the quarterback with any bend of flexibility or power.

While he looked athletic in his movement, he was not sudden or explosive, and he was not strong enough to execute speed-to-power. So there was really no tool in the toolbox for him to deploy as a go-to move.

Cole showed rare flashes of pass rush with his natural athleticism and movement, but at this point, he would have to be seen as a project who needs much work in learning the craft of rushing the quarterback so that he could play to his movement traits. The big issue with Cole is that he plays much too upright, and that negatively affects all facets of his game.

OTHER NOTES

Cole began his college career at Louisiana-Monroe where he played three seasons before transferring to Texas Tech for his final two seasons.

Cole lined up both outside at defensive end and inside at defensive tackle in Texas Tech’s defensive fronts. There were snaps in both 4-man and 5-man fronts where Cole lined up at 4i and 3-technique — and even at times lined up at 0-technique in sub fronts.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Brenden Rice.

Brenden Rice'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'2"
• Weight: 208 lbs
• 40-Time: 4.50
• 10-Yard Split: 1.55
• Vertical: 36.5"
• Broad Jump: 9'11"
• 3-Cone: DNP (Did Not Participate)
• Shuttle: DNP

Brenden Rice 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Good-sized wide receiver with significant snaps at boundary X in USC's offense. He primarily lined up outside.  
• Not a true vertical dimension, but showed some build-up speed as he got into his stride and gained distance.
• Consistently came back to the ball on intermediate routes. Presented flat and friendly to the QB. Clean target. 
• Showed a refined understanding of the pace and tempo of specific routes. Flashed short-area burst out of breaks.
• Caught the ball easily with his hands. Rarely let the ball get into his body. Transitioned easily to run after the catch.
• Showed more burst on in-breaking routes than on vertical routes. A feel for the pace and timing of in-breakers.
• Flashes where he showed physicality to highpoint the ball and make contested catches using his size.

WEAKNESSES:

• Too upright off the ball into the vertical stem. At times, looked like he was laboring even when he had free access. 
• Looked like he exerted a lot of effort getting off the LOS into his route stem.
• More of a measured methodical mover than a sudden or explosive mover. Not a naturally twitchy athlete. 
• Did not show acceleration speed off the ball, which led to him being a vertical dimension. Not explosive vertically.

NFL TRANSITION:

Rice clearly has traits that will transition effectively to the next level, but his 2023 tape strongly suggests the kind of receiver who will be team and scheme-specific. Rice has excellent size and physical and competitive toughness to his play, but he is not a sudden or explosive athlete, which consistently showed up on tape.

He was featured significantly in USC’s offense in 2023 as the boundary X, which demands that you separate and win vs. man coverage as a foundation of the position. Still, there will be legitimate questions as to whether Rice can do that at the next level vs. quality corners.

His tape showed clear improvement as the 2023 season progressed, with his short-area quickness and burst allowing him to get in and out of breaks with more juice. That is a critical trait if he is to transition successfully to the NFL.

The more I watched Rice, the more I thought of Van Jefferson coming out of Florida. Both had a more refined sense of route running with an understanding of how to attack and set up corners. Rice has excellent size with strong hands and a physical component to his game, but he lacks any real explosiveness.

That trait profile will find a place in the league, but he will be a complementary piece in a passing game more than a foundation.

OTHER NOTES:

Rice played two years at USC after spending his first two college seasons at Colorado. He finished his career with a strong 2023 season: 45-791-17.6-12 TD. He came out of Arizona as a four-star recruit.

In 2023, Rice predominantly lined up on the outside in USC’s offense, including significant snaps at boundary X on the back side of trips. My sense is Rice will not be seen as a boundary X prospect at the next level.

The tape showed Rice improved as the 2023 season progressed, especially in an area that must be foundational to his game: Short-area quickness in and out of breaks. That trait must be the foundation upon which his game is built if he is to have a successful NFL career.

There are always a handful of prospects each year who fall for whatever reason.

But value can be found in all seven rounds — as was the case at the 2024 NFL Draft. Here are the nine biggest steals from a wild draft.

Biggest Steals of the NFL Draft

9. Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins (120th)

Including Jaylen Wright on this list is complicated because the Miami Dolphins traded a 2025 third-round pick for this selection. However, Wright is a big value at pick No. 120, and he is a perfect scheme fit for Miami. The Dolphins love running backs with speed, and Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane haven't proven to be the most durable running backs.

Wright ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at 210 pounds at the NFL Combine and was the most explosive back in college football last season. Over his collegiate career at Tennessee, he averaged a whopping 6.2 yards per carry and 7.4 during his final season in the SEC. He needs to improve his contact balance and his vision is spotty, but he is a dynamic running back who is heading to a team that prioritizes speed over everything.

It's noteworthy that Wright was No. 73 on the consensus board and the No. 3 ranked running back. He went off the board nearly 50 picks later and was the fifth back drafted. The Dolphins gave up a lot to get him, but he is still a good value considering how far he fell this year.

8. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (13th)

Did the Las Vegas Raiders have a need at tight end? Nope. They traded up for Michael Mayer just a year ago, but that didn’t change their thought process during this year’s draft. Brock Bowers was easily the best player on the board when the Raiders were on the clock at pick No. 13. Bowers was No. 7 on the consensus board and the fifth-highest non-quarterback.

Bowers is a dynamic weapon who can be used in the slot and in the backfield. We’ve really never seen a tight end with this type of production coming out of college (2,731 total yards from scrimmage with 31 touchdowns), and his ability to play all over the field makes him a fit in any offense.

It remains to be seen how he’ll fit in with Mayer, but this a massive steal for Las Vegas picking in the middle of Round 1. Good job by the Raiders to stick at No. 13 and take the best player available.

7. Kinglsey Suamataia, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (63rd)

There were several teams considering selecting Kingsley Suamataia at the back end of Round 1, including the Kansas City Chiefs. That would have been rich, but he is a major value at the end of Round 2. Suamataia has experience playing both left and right tackle and has started 23 total games over the past two seasons.

He is a massive tackle with impressive athleticism and power, but he needs to clean up his footwork and play more snaps. Don’t be surprised if he is the Day 1 starter at right tackle for the Chiefs in 2024. Suamataia is a former five-star recruit whose best football is still ahead of him.

6. Jaden Hicks, S, Kansas City Chiefs (133rd)

The Chiefs crushed the 2024 NFL Draft. They managed to add a dynamic weapon in Xavier Worthy and a starting left tackle in Suamataia. But on Day 3, they made their best value pick, grabbing Washington State safety Jaden Hicks.

For many people, Hicks was the No. 1 safety in the class because he can play in any defense and has the range to be a free safety. He finished as the No. 67 player on the consensus board but was selected at the bottom of Round 4. He also tested as an 89th percentile athlete (according to RAS), which will undoubtedly help a defense that relies on size and athleticism.

Even if he just turns into a No. 3 safety and a core special teamer, this is a huge value for Kansas City. Hicks should have no problem finding the field as a rookie for the Chiefs in big nickel packages.

5. Cooper Beebe, OL, Dallas Cowboys (73rd)

The Dallas Cowboys really wanted to address their offensive line this offseason after losing Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz in free agency. Rather than taking Graham Barton at No. 24, the Cowboys traded down to No. 29 and picked up No. 73. At No. 29, the Cowboys selected Tyler Guyton. And then at No. 73, they grabbed versatile offensive lineman Cooper Beebe from Kansas State

Beebe racked up 48 career starts at Kansas State, playing left tackle, right tackle and left guard. He was a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and an All-American twice. His short arms (31 ½”) caused him to fall in the draft, but he should be a plug-and-play starter at guard or center for the Cowboys.

Beebe finished as the No. 46 player on the consensus board, and Dallas managed to get him 27 picks later.

4. Zach Frazier, C, Pittsburgh Steelers (51st)

You can make a really good case that Zach Frazier was the best pure center in this class. Frazier started 46 games in the ACC and was a two-time All-ACC first-team selection. He is recovering from a broken leg, but his tape is incredible, and his work ethic is highly regarded. If he had had a full draft process (Senior Bowl, combine), he could have snuck into Round 1, but it didn’t happen as he was rehabbing from the broken leg. Still, that shows just how talented of a player he was coming out of West Virginia.

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to upgrade at center, and they absolutely did with this selection. It won’t be long before Frazier is a top-10 center in the NFL. And he is a perfect scheme fit with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

3. Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears; Pick No. 9

It's hard to call a player who was picked at No. 9 a steal, but that's exactly what we are doing here with Rome Odunze and the Chicago Bears. Odunze was one of the cleanest prospects in the class — he has outstanding tape, production, size and athleticism. But an insane quarterback run allowed Odunze to fall to the Bears at pick No. 9.

Odunze finished No. 6 on the consensus board and was the fourth-highest-graded non-quarterback. He profiles as a No. 1 receiver and immediately gives Caleb Williams another weapon to throw to during his rookie season. In most drafts, Odunze would be a lock top-five pick and the first receiver off the board. But in this year’s draft, he fell to No. 9 and Chicago reaped the rewards.

2. Terrion Arnold, CB, Detroit Lions; Pick No. 24

All of the top cornerbacks fell in this year’s draft — and the playoff teams drafting at the bottom of Round 1 were rewarded. The Detroit Lions saw Terrion Arnold fall to pick No. 24 and quickly traded up with the Cowboys.

Arnold’s average combine performance likely contributed to this drop, but he is an experienced SEC cornerback with the ability to play outside and in the slot. Arnold started 21 games at Alabama and was an All-American selection twice. He finished as the No. 12 overall player on the consensus board, and Detroit managed to snag him 12 spots after that.

Kudos to the Lions, who addressed their biggest need with a massive value.

1. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles; Pick No. 22

The biggest need for the Philadelphia Eagles was at cornerback, and they addressed that position with their first two picks. The Eagles got a big value with Cooper DeJean (Iowa) in Round 2, but the better player and pick was Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22.

Mitchell was ranked as the No. 11 player on the consensus board and was the top cornerback prospect in the class. He crushed the pre-draft process, dominating the Senior Bowl practices and then running in the 4.3 seconds at the combine.

Mitchell has all of the tools and traits to be a top cornerback in the NFL, and he'll now play on a defense with a great pass rush.

Well done, Philadelphia. You got yourself a star in Quinyon Mitchell. 

Teams got much better about not reaching during the 2024 NFL Draft, which was evident in Round 1. There weren’t very many egregious reaches — and the ones that were came at important positions such as quarterback and wide receiver.

However, there were some picks that left us scratching our heads. 

9 Biggest Reaches From 2024 NFL Draft

9. Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers (31st)

This was one of the best wide receiver classes in recent memory, and it wasn’t a surprise that teams decided to gobble players at the position up early. However, nothing about Ricky Pearsall’s profile suggests he should have been a first-round pick. Despite playing five seasons in college, Pearsall never had a season of 1,000 receiving yards. He never caught more than five touchdowns in a season, and he will turn 24 before Week 1.

But make no mistake about it, Pearsall is a good player. He profiles as a high-end No. 3 receiver who can play in the slot and potentially on the outside. With the right team, he could end up being a solid No. 2 receiver.

But picking this player in Round 1 — considering his overall lack of production and age — was a bit of a reach.

8. Caedan Wallace, OT, New England Patriots (68th)

Caedan Wallace was a big-time recruit coming out of New Jersey and had a productive college career at Penn State. He started 40 games at right tackle during the past four seasons, but his consistency from snap to snap was all over the place. 

Wallace was No. 186 on the NFL Draft Consensus Board and was widely viewed as a mid-Day-3 selection. Picking him at the top of the third round was a significant reach, albeit that was later in the draft than some of the other names mentioned in this article. Usually, players who are drafted 100 spots over the consensus don’t work out, and it’s not a viable strategy when it comes to building a roster.

7. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (12th)

It’s not hard to understand the reasoning behind the selection of Bo Nix at No. 12 for the Denver Broncos. They desperately needed a quarterback, and he was the last player available with a top-100 grade at the position for most draft experts. Nix has a lot of traits that coach Sean Payton values, but still, it felt like a major reach. 

On the consensus board, Nix ranked No. 38 and was viewed as QB6. It usually isn’t a great idea to stray that far from the consensus, especially in the top 12 picks. But the Broncos needed a quarterback — they couldn’t justify going into the season with just Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.

It’s also not a bad idea to just draft quarterbacks early until you figure things out, but this was a major reach for all intents and purposes.

6. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers (46th)

Jonathon Brooks was widely viewed as the No. 1 running back in this class and ranked No. 56 on the NFL Draft Consensus Board. So by that standard, this wasn’t a big reach.

But the Carolina Panthers lacked draft capital and are in a rebuild, so drafting a running back with a torn ACL doesn’t seem like the best use of resources. 

Making matters worse, the Panthers moved up to acquire Brooks, sending pick No. 52 and two fifth-rounders to the Colts. For a team that is this far away from being where it wants to be, giving up more draft capital to select an injured running back is a big mistake.

5. Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Atlanta Falcons (35th)

This will not be the only time the Atlanta Falcons appear on this list. But coming in at No. 5 is Ruke Orhorhoro, a defensive tackle from Clemson. Orhorhoro was widely viewed as a Day 2 pick (No. 68 on the consensus board), but he was a big reach at No. 35.

One of the reasons why he was selected this high by the Falcons was due to his athleticism (a 4.89-second 40-yard dash at 294 pounds), but his overall tape was less than impressive.

The highest honor Orhorhoro ever received in college was third-team All-ACC, and despite appearing in 53 games, he recorded just 12 total sacks. He has all the traits to be a solid rotational defensive tackle in the NFL, but there were much better (and more productive) defensive tackles on the board, including Johnny Newton from Illinois. 

4. Maason Smith, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars (48th)

Jacksonville Jaguars GM Trent Baalke certainly drafts a type on the defensive line. He wants long, strong and powerful defensive linemen who can hold up at the point of attack. It’s not a bad strategy, but he tends to overvalue those players. 

Maason Smith had just 9.5 tackles for a loss in 22 games at LSU with no forced fumbles and only two pass deflections. There were times during the 2023 season when he was the third-best interior player for LSU, and he would go weeks without making a splash play. His size is fantastic (6-foot-5, 306 pounds), but his lackluster production and average athleticism are more in line with a borderline top-100 pick vs. the No. 48 selection.

3. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Houston Texans (42nd)

There is no denying that Kamari Lassiter has Day 2 tape. He was a fantastic player in the SEC, but his reported 4.64-second 40-yard dash at Georgia's Pro Day is very concerning. There aren’t many starting cornerbacks in the NFL that run in the 4.6 seconds, and most of those don’t get picked in the top 50. Lassiter is a massive outlier — the Houston Texans took him at No. 42.  

Another concern about Lassiter is his less-than-stellar ball production. Despite appearing in 44 total games and starting 29 over the last two years, Lassiter had one career interception. He only accounted for 15 pass deflections in his collegiate career, which is concerning considering that Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold both had more than that in the 2023 season.

Lassiter’s athleticism and production profiles scream Day 3, but Houston took him at the top of Round 2. 

2. T'Vondre SWeat, DT, Tennessee Titans (38th)

There were red flags galore with T’Vondre Sweat before the 2024 NFL Draft. Just a few weeks before the draft, he was arrested for a DWI. That came after several reports that he weighed more than 400 pounds after the 2023 college football season. 

Can he remain disciplined enough to keep his weight under control? And just how valuable is a 365-plus-pound nose tackle in today’s NFL? He was No. 71 on the expert consensus board, so the Tennessee Titans took a huge risk on Sweat at the top of Round 2. 

1. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons (8th)

Michael Penix Jr. is a good quarterback prospect, make no mistake about that. But a top 10 pick after multiple knee and shoulder injuries and six years in college? That's a bit rich. It was also a surprise to see Penix be the fourth quarterback off the board, ahead of J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. 

Atlanta’s offense fits Penix well, but how quickly will he be able to get on the field? That remains to be seen, especially after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a free agent deal with $100 million guaranteed.

Penix was the No. 8 overall pick, which is a massive reach according to his consensus spot (No. 34). It’s understandable to overdraft a quarterback because of the position’s value, but this is a huge risk, especially for someone who has such a long medical history. 

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Daequan Hardy.

Daequan Hardy's 2024 NFL Combine Results

• Height: 5-foot-9
• Weight: 179
• 40-yard dash: 4.38
• 10-yard split: 1.50
• Vertical jump: 42.5"
• Broad jump: 10'6"

Daequan Hardy 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

• Primarily aligned in the slot as the nickel CB but played some snaps outside, depending on the scheme.
• Good lateral quickness in his ability to elude blockers and then close on the ball carrier in run/screen game.
• Explosive athlete with good return ability – vision and acceleration to find lanes as a punt returner (SPT ability).
• Excels with turning and running with vertical routes from press coverage – excellent burst and speed.
• Good technique in press alignment – moves feet to stay in position and then uses his speed to mirror WRs.
• Stays in phase and showed good ball skills to get his head around and locate the ball downfield in coverage.
• Solid blitzing off the slot, using his quickness to beat blocks and has the speed to pressure QB quickly.
• Compact, controlled backpedal, allowing him to quickly redirect and use his speed to accelerate out of breaks.
• Instinctive player who quickly reads and recognizes quick game, rallying down with speed and aggression.

Weaknesses

• Undersized, slight DB who struggles with physical route runners who use their strength to get open.
• Less comfort in zone coverage with some blind spots and awareness of route concepts and spacing.
• Technique and effectiveness drop off when he plays from off alignment and is forced to play reactively.
• Struggles to get off blocks due to size – issues defending the run when he can’t beat blocks with movement.
• Can get caught flat-footed from zone coverage, allowing WRs to attack him across the field out of breaks.

NFL Transition

Hardy was utilized in multiple ways in Penn State’s creative schemes, forcing him to play outside, in the slot, blitz off the edge, underneath zone coverage and deep field defender.

During the last three seasons, he aligned primarily as a nickel, slot corner. He had more than three times the number of snaps in the slot than outside. Hardy is an undersized DB who relies on his athleticism and movement to cover. He struggles to control bigger, more physical WRs in coverage and to disengage blockers. 

Still, he’s an explosive athlete with good lateral quickness and acceleration skills to run vertically downfield in coverage (very good speed). He’s most comfortable from press alignment in man coverage where he can use his speed and quickness to mirror and run with receivers in coverage. 

There were a couple of good examples of him intercepting passes from press-man coverage vs. Illinois and Ball St. He’s a good blitzer who can be useful in sub-package pressure schemes from the slot. Hardy is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He has a good mix of speed and quickness to make defenders miss as a returner. He should contribute there in the NFL.  

Overall, Hardy is a quick-twitch athlete who is undersized and best suited in sub-package situations. He has good experience playing in the slot. In addition, his ability to contribute on special teams as a return specialist and potential gunner could make him a good Day 3 pick.

Other Notes

Hardy was a local player from Pittsburgh, PA who stayed close and went to Penn State. He was a three-star recruit who was the 64th-ranked cornerback in the nation coming out of High School. 

Hardy played in 44 games in four seasons at Penn State, primarily in the slot. He did get some playing time on the outside. During his senior season, he returned punts and was effective, averaging 14.6 yards per punt return with two return touchdowns. 

In 2023, Hardy was third-team All-Big Ten at cornerback and second-team All-Big Ten as Punt Returner. He finished his career with 60 total tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 Sacks, five INTs and 19 PBUs. Hardy returned 17 Punts (all in 2023) for 248 yards (14.6 avg) and two touchdowns.

From 2021-2023, Hardy played 574 defensive snaps from the slot, compared to only 162 snaps from a pre-snap outside CB alignment. That gives him a lot of experience playing inside, which is such a critical position in the NFL because of the high usage of sub-packages in defenses. 

Hardy rushed or blitzed on 75 snaps in the last three seasons, which is a solid amount ( averaging 25 snaps per season).

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Beaux Limmer.

Beaux Limmer's 2024 NFL Combine RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 302
• 40-yard dash: 5.22
• 10-yard split: 1.75
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.57
• Vertical jump: 36.5"
• Broad jump: 9'2"
• Arm Length: 31 7/8”

Beaux Limmer 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Versatile interior lineman with the skill set and combination of size and athleticism to play OG and C.
• Displayed strong hands to control and maintain blocks in the run game once engaged – good hand positioning.
• Good vision and feel for stunts and blitzes, allowing him to react and pick up defenders – he communicates well.
• Anchors well when facing power rushes to hold his ground and limit the push/penetration up the middle.
• Continues to work to keep his hands inside and stay engaged while moving his feet to generate movement.
• Showed good footwork and movement ability to work off double teams up the second level and play in space.
• Very technically sound with his footwork and hands as run blocker – good angles taken to secure blocks
• Excels when quickly engaging defenders in pass protection – uses his hands and strength to maintain blocks.
• Displays the core strength and body control to stay engaged after initial contact when he is moving laterally.

WEAKNESSES

• Weight distribution concerns as a pass blocker include leaning into defenders (getting his head too involved) and playing off balance after initial contact, which causes him to come off blocks vs. quick pass rushers with a good secondary rush.
• Over aggressive at the point of contact, causing bad weight distribution affecting his ability to move laterally.
• Raw mechanics and technique as a pass blocker. He struggles to keep his weight back and play balanced.
• Struggled to change direction vs. quick stunts/slants by defenders, allowing penetration at times.

NFL TRANSITION

Limmer has good versatility along the interior of the line. He had 28 starts at right guard before moving to center for his last 13 games. He is most effective when proactively attacking defenders as a blocker, as a run-and-pass blocker. 

He has strong hands to control defenders once engaged and does a good job of moving his feet to generate movement in run game. Limmer plays with poor weight distribution and body control as a pass blocker. He tends to drop his head and lean into defenders, resulting in him coming off blocks after initial contact. Limmer is a technically sound lineman who plays with good hand placement and has the athleticism to move his feet to stay engaged after initial contact, especially as a run blocker.

Overall, Limmer is a versatile interior lineman with extended experience playing OG (primarily RG) and center. He will provide immediate interior OL depth with the skills to contribute in Year 1 at center or guard. He will likely be drafted either late Day 2 or early Day 3, and he has the upside to become a solid NFL starter.

OTHER NOTES

All-American (PFF) and Second-Team All-SEC in 2021 and 2022 at right guard. He was on the 2023 Rimington Trophy Watch List for the Nation’s best center.

During the last three seasons, Limmer showed good versatility, playing more than 800 snaps at right guard and center (2,468 total snaps). He played primarily right guard in 2021 and 2022 with 1,594 snaps.

In 2023, he played most of his 845 snaps at center. In the last three seasons, he had 1,136 pass-play snaps, allowing 27 pressures (2.4 percent pressure allowed rate) and 1,331 running plays with 23 blown blocks (1.7 percent blown block rate). Both of those are middle of the pack for linemen with more than 2,000 snaps.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Christian Mahogany.

Christian Mahogany'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 314
• 40-yard dash: 5.13
• 10-yard split: 1.74
• Vertical jump: 32.5"
• Broad jump: 9-foot-1
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.81
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.53
• Arm: 33 1/2"
• Hand: 10 1/2"

Christian Mahogany 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• An athletic lineman with good movement skills to make blocks on the edge and in space, especially good in zone run schemes
• A physical, attacking lineman who aggressively takes on defenders as a run blocker and in pass protection.
• A movement player who excels on the edge and in space when pulling on edge runs/screens; shows good speed/quickness
• Good contact power shown in the run game to generate movement once engaged; strong at the point of contact
• A stout, strong guard who anchors well to limit push vs. power rush and controls defenders when engaged properly
• Solid vision and recognition to see stunts and blitzes to trade off defenders, showing good reaction and quickness.
• Excels in interior combo blocks to double up to the second level because of his strength, size and speed
• Power to generate movement in the run game – keeps feet moving after initial contact and plays with leverage

WEAKNESSES

• Poor weight distribution at the point of attack as a run blocker, causing him to lean into blocks and play off balance
• Drops head and lunges (waist bender) in pass protection, limiting his ability to change direction and redirect
• Needs to improve hand usage as a pass blocker when engaging defenders and keep his head back and out of blocks
• Stops his feet at times after initial contact, causing him to struggle to move to stay attached to defenders
• An over-aggressive player who takes poor angles and plays out of position, which affects his ability to sustain blocks
• Slow, heavy feet at times in pass pro, causing him to be slow to react to secondary rush and allowing penetration

NFL TRANSITION

Mahogany was a three-year starter at guard for Boston College, playing both left and right guard. That shows good position versatility to provide depth in the NFL.

He has the athleticism to get out in space and make blocks in the run and screen games and the quickness to react to stunts. He excels in zone run schemes.

Mahogany plays with poor technique at the point of attack, leaning and lunging into blocks, which causes him to play off balance due to poor weight distribution. He's also an overaggressive lineman who plays out of control, affecting his ability to sustain blocks once engaged because of his poor technique.

Overall, Mahogany is a good athlete who needs to refine his technique to play with better weight distribution and under control to more consistently sustain blocks in the run game and pass protection. He displays good strength to hold his ground vs. power rushes and generates movement in the run game with initial punch/pop.

Mahogany has mid-round value because of his size and strength as well as his movement skills and could provide initial interior offensive line depth. The hope is he can improve his technique, balance and core strength to develop into a starter a few years down the road.

OTHER NOTES

Mahogany came out of Paramus, N.J., as a three-star recruit and was ranked only the 104th guard in the National and third-ranked guard in New Jersey. He played three seasons at Boston College and earned First-Team All-ACC in 2023 and Second-Team All-ACC in 2021. Mohagany started his career as a left guard in 2020 and then moved to right guard for his last two seasons — 2021 and 2023. He missed 2022 due to injury.

Mahogany from 2020-23 had 2,206 total offensive snaps with 732 at left guard and 1,446 at right guard. The remaining 27 snaps came at tackle. 

In 2020 while primarily at left guard, he had 432 pass plays and allowed only two pressures (0.5 percent pressure rate). Mahogany had 301 running plays with seven snaps of blown assignments (a 2.3 percent bad run block rate). In 2021 and '23 while primarily at right guard, he had 682 pass plays and allowed allowing only three pressures (a 0.4 percent pressure rate). Mahogany had 791 running plays with only seven snaps of blown assignments (a 0.9 percent bad run block rate). He totaled only a 0.7 percent blown block rate on all plays, run or pass, when aligned at right guard.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jaden Crumedy.

Jaden Crudemy'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-3 8/8
• Weight: 301
• Arm length: 34"
• 40-yard dash: 4.97
• 10-yard split: 1.69
• Vertical jump: 29'5"
• Broad jump: 8'9"
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.66

Jaden Crumedy 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Outstanding size and length with strong flashes of quickness off the ball with effective hand usage to win inside.
• Pass rush snaps in which he showed strength and power to drive back interior OL and OT into the pocket. 
• Flashed edge pass rush from wide alignment. Challenged high side with lateral quickness/club/bend/rip combo.
• Run game snaps where he 2-gapped, showing short-stroke confined space strength to control and displace OL. 
• Showed the athleticism and mobility to make plays in the run game outside the box with pursuit. Plus athlete.
• Made plays in run game working down the LOS with a desirable combination of strength and lateral movement.

WEAKNESSES

• At times, slow and sluggish off snap pass rusher, generating no quickness and power. Too upright with no juice.
• There were too many pass rush snaps from multiple positions where he got stuck on the OL and could not play off contact.
• Needs to play stronger versus double teams in the run game. Too often, he was moved too easily out of his gap.

NFL TRANSITION

Crumedy is an intriguing prospect as you project and transition him to the next level, given his outstanding size and length profile, extensive experience in the SEC and the flashes of quickness, playmaking and pass rush he showed at almost 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds.

Crumedy was by no means a strong snap-after-snap player, but there were snaps in the run game and as a pass rusher in which you saw the kind of movement you don’t always see from a DL with that kind of size. Crumedy has meaningful pass rush potential inside and, at times, outside if it can be unlocked with coaching and technique work.

One of his issues is that he cannot maintain balance and body control after his initial move, which prevents him from impacting and finishing. There were snaps in the run game in which Crumedy showed 2-gap strength and power to control and displace OL and make plays at the LOS in the run game, but there were too many snaps in which he was too easily moved out of the POA.

Crumedy has outstanding size, length and higher-level movement traits, and there is no question there is a lot in his body if it can be developed with coaching and more experience. Crumedy can be a position versatile DL in both four-man and five-man fronts and odd and even fronts who can be a factor as a run defender and pass rusher, including off the edge where he showed enough body flexibility to bend and flatten.

Overall, Crumedy could be a strong rotational DL with starter potential, or he could be a player who struggles to make a roster, and it is hard to know that based on his 2023 college tape

OTHER NOTES

Crumedy played five years at Mississippi State with 47 starts in 53 games. He finished his MSU career with 39 consecutive starts.

Crumedy lined up in multiple positions along the MSU defensive front and was featured at times as a looper and penetrator in multiple stunt concepts (a third-down sack versus LSU came as the penetrator in the E/T concept).

There were snaps in which he was deployed as a standup Joker in the middle of the defense (Alabama game). The Texas A&M game showed a lot of the traits that Crumedy possesses as a run defender and pass rusher, and he played with high intensity.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Tyler Davis.

Tyler Davis 2024 NFL Combine RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-2
• Weight: 301 pounds
• 40-yard dash: 5.02 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.72 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle: 5.00 seconds
• Vertical jump: 28.5"
• Broad jump: 9'0"
• Arm length: 31 ⅜"

Tyler Davis 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Excellent athlete for defensive tackle position. Showed mobility and lateral quickness to make pursuit plays outside the box.
• Played with good balance and body control in addition to strength and power. Consistently moved interior offensive linemen.
• Point-of-attack strength to stalemate and split double teams in the run game. Strong lower half to maintain gap integrity.
• Sudden quickness and burst off the ball. Light, nimble feet for his body type with an explosive feel to his movement.
• Ripped through blocks in confined space with his explosiveness off the ball and the pop and power in his hands.
• Showed both power bull rush and hand usage to play off contact. Effective club and arm-over move to clear offensive guard.
• Rushed quarterback from wide defensive tackle alignment with quickness and velocity off the ball and hand usage and arm extension.
• Would be effective as a middle defensive lineman in loaded fronts with his speed and velocity conversion to power vs. offense guard.
• Effective as penetrator in T/E stunts. Able to split offensive guard and offensive tackle and create pressure on the quarterback. Strong and quick.
• Quickness and explosiveness to everything he does. Active, violent hands and live, agile feet constantly in motion.
• In 2023, showed 2-gap ability using hands and arms to control and play off of offensive linemen blocks to make plays in the run game.
• Again saw confined-space strength to work through double teams and combo blocks to make run-game plays.
• Flashed an effective rip move as an inside pass rusher that allowed him to work the edges and clear the offensive guard.

WEAKNESSES

• Not as big as you’d ideally like for an NFL defensive tackle (0-technique and 1-technique). Short arms would also be a concern.
• Can get eaten up inside by double-team blocks in the run game. Needs to get better stalemating and defeating.
• Would not be seen as an inside pass rusher at the next level but as a base-defense defensive tackle who could play in odd or even fronts.

NFL TRANSITION

Davis has a specific traits profile that will project his transition to the next level as base-defense defensive tackle much in the way that Derrick Nnadi made the transition when he came out of Florida State to the Kansas City Chiefs as a third-round pick in the 2018 draft. Davis has lighter feet and is a better inside pass rusher than Nnadi, which could present a slightly different projection, especially as teams look at what Davis could become in two to three years with coaching and experience.

Davis was quick and explosive off the snap at times looking sudden and twitchy in his movement for an interior DL and his first step juice to attack and penetrate gaps and be effective on slants and inside stunts (which Clemson featured) consistently showed up on film, Davis showed excellent bend and flexibility for a DT with his stout body type and he was able to re-direct and change direction with efficient lateral mobility;

He was more of an athletic inside defensive tackle than a power force player (although that was there on his tape), but it is not likely he will be seen especially early in his career as a sub-front pass rusher. However, I believe he can develop into a quality inside pass rusher with him having shown many flashes on tape.

In some ways, Davis is a bit of an anomaly in that his game is built more on finesse and quickness and athleticism. But his stout body type suggests a more physical, point-of-attack defensive tackle, which he showed but which was not the strength of his game.

Overall, Davis has a desirable combination of quickness and confined-space short-stroke strength despite lacking the mass and arm length teams ideally want. He's a player I liked the more I saw his tape.

OTHER NOTES

Davis came out of Florida as a consensus 4-star recruit and a top-100 player in the nation regardless of position. He became a starter in his freshman season (2019).

In 2022, Davis lined up at 1-technique, 2-technique, 2i and 0-technique depending on defensive front personnel and down and distance. Davis was dominant vs. NC State in 2022.

In 2023, there were third-down pass rush snaps where Davis lined up at wide-9 defensive end. At times from that alignment, he was a penetrator in multiple stunt concepts. He was also featured as both a looper and a penetrator in inside stunt concepts when aligned at 2- and 3-technique.