Eye on the draft: Why Grady Jarrett could be a Patriot
Intro: A 3-year starter at Clemson, Jarrett is an undersized nose tackle with elite explosiveness. The main knock on him is the fact that he is relatively easy to move, which is a direct result of his frame. Between 2012 and 2014, he recorded 29.5 tackles for loss and consistently demonstrated great ability to penetrate the backfield and make plays.
Measurables:
- 40 yard dash: 5.06 second
- Bench Press: 30 reps
- Vertical Jump: 31 inches
- Broad Jump: 112”
- 3-Cone: 7.37 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.56 seconds
College Stats:
Professional Comparison: NFL.com lists his Pro Comp as Earl Mitchell of the Dolphins. There are many parallels to be drawn between these two players. Evaluating Jarret through a Patriots lens, there are a lot of similarities with Dominique Easley. Both are undersized and can be handled by larger, stronger O-lineman, but utilize their elite explosiveness and technique to be extremely disruptive players.
Strengths:
- Powerful, compact frame
- Pursues ball well sideline to sideline
- Good timing off the ball
- Great natural leverage and technique
- Excellent penetration abilities
- Good ball awareness
Weaknesses:
- Undersized
- Can be moved easily by stronger offensive lineman
- Wears down late in games
- Relies on initial explosiveness nearly entirely
Projections: 2nd-3rd round
Will the Patriots draft him?
In our defensive tackle roundtable posted earlier this week, I wrote that could see the Patriots selecting Jarrett in the second or third round IF they do not address the position with their first pick. Though he is undersized, he would make for a dynamic tandem alongside Dom Easely and seems to fit the mold of the defense Bill Belichick is trying to build: strong, quick, and youthful, particularly the linebackers and defensive lineman. Jarrett is definitely a player to keep an eye on.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
Measurables:
- 40 yard dash: 5.06 second
- Bench Press: 30 reps
- Vertical Jump: 31 inches
- Broad Jump: 112”
- 3-Cone: 7.37 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.56 seconds
College Stats:
Professional Comparison: NFL.com lists his Pro Comp as Earl Mitchell of the Dolphins. There are many parallels to be drawn between these two players. Evaluating Jarret through a Patriots lens, there are a lot of similarities with Dominique Easley. Both are undersized and can be handled by larger, stronger O-lineman, but utilize their elite explosiveness and technique to be extremely disruptive players.
Strengths:
- Powerful, compact frame
- Pursues ball well sideline to sideline
- Good timing off the ball
- Great natural leverage and technique
- Excellent penetration abilities
- Good ball awareness
Weaknesses:
- Undersized
- Can be moved easily by stronger offensive lineman
- Wears down late in games
- Relies on initial explosiveness nearly entirely
Projections: 2nd-3rd round
Will the Patriots draft him?
In our defensive tackle roundtable posted earlier this week, I wrote that could see the Patriots selecting Jarrett in the second or third round IF they do not address the position with their first pick. Though he is undersized, he would make for a dynamic tandem alongside Dom Easely and seems to fit the mold of the defense Bill Belichick is trying to build: strong, quick, and youthful, particularly the linebackers and defensive lineman. Jarrett is definitely a player to keep an eye on.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
