Jonathn Greenard, DE, Florida
Jonathn Greenard is listed at 6-foot-3, 263 pounds and is a very athletic and bendy edge rusher that posses the lower body bend and ankle flexibility to bend and corner the edge.
Greenard transferred from Louisville to Florida in 2018 and continued to flash ability to get to the quarterback. He has excellent get off and snap-count anticipation to match his ability to put together combo moves as a rusher. He uses an effective fake spin inside then back outside around the offensive tackle to create pressure.
Greenard has a knack for knocking the ball loose when he arrives at the quarterback as he forced three fumbles this past season.
Greenard needs to improve his spacing as a rusher as he can be worked past the quarterback and he just needs to do a better job finishing more often when he gets to the passer. As a run defender he flashes the ability to set a strong edge but getting stronger will be vital as he faces NFL competition.
Greenard finished this past season with 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one interception, one touchdown, one fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles.
He would be a right end for the Cowboys and is projected to be drafted somewhere in the second round. At pick 51 they could be getting a rotational player that could be starting in a year or two.
What the experts say:
Athletic, intelligent edge defender with enticing flashes as both a run defender and pass rusher. Greenard’s plus get-off and ability to bend and corner the edge are predictive traits for success as an NFL rusher but he’ll need a more reliable go-to counter as a pro. He’s tough and aware at the point of attack and plays with consistent leverage and motor. Edge defenders need forceful hands to set edges and open doors as a pass rusher and his hesitation to unleash his right hand after suffering a major wrist injury in 2018 is a concern. If his hesitation is more mental than physical, he should become an eventual starter in either an odd or even front.
Jonathan Greenard projects as a starting base defensive end at the NFL level. With a powerful punch and great length, Greenard has a knack for setting the edge. Greenard pairs that stout presence with an effective inside set of counter moves as a pass rusher. He doesn’t illustrate ideal bend of the edge, but Greenard has ability to collapse edges enough to soften his rush lane and be a persistent presence in the pass game from the outside. Still a bit raw due to lack of starts on account of injury.
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