Category: Prospect Profiles

2020 NFL draft: Michael Pittman, Jr. scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about USC wide receiver prospect Michael Pittman, Jr.

Michael Pittman, Jr. | WR | USC

Elevator Pitch

Pittman is a big-bodied wideout with top-notch length, bulk and physicality for the wide receiver position. He has good ball skills and is a surprisingly refined athlete for a player as big as he is. Though he’s still developing, he has the potential to outplay his draft positioning in a stacked receiver class.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 223

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for a massive receiver with red-zone potential, Pittman is one of the best in the class.

A tall wideout with a well-proportioned frame and plenty of play strength, Pittman excels in tight-window situations and does a good job of boxing out defensive backs, whether it be on the 50/50 ball or when running short routes. His size and physicality translates to when he goes up against press coverage, projecting him well as an ‘X’ receiver at the next level. That strength is also apparent as a blocker, as he’s a willing and able helper to his teammates on running plays who can drive back defensive backs.

Pittman isn’t just a big receiver, though; he offers some upside as a route runner and as an athlete. He has impressive body control for his size, showing off some underrated twitch in his cuts and good short-area burst. Pittman can make subtle movements with his feet to attack leverage points against defensive backs, and he can open up the hips of his opponents pretty well. His production in 2019 was also stellar, as he managed to catch 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has an NFL pedigree, as his dad, Michael Pittman Sr., was a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Weaknesses

Though Pittman is a good athlete for his size, he doesn’t come without his athletic limitations. His acceleration off the snap is decent, at best, and he doesn’t offer much after the catch. He can’t make defenders miss incredibly well in the open field because of subpar lateral agility. Tight-window situations and shorter routes should be utilized more often than deeper routes and double moves in order to maximize Pittman’s skill set.

His route running abilities could still use some polishing, as well. As a taller receiver, he struggles to sink his hips and generate burst coming out of sharper breaking routes after building up speed. He doesn’t offer a whole lot in terms of hand techniques to create separation yet, and his stems could be improved, too. One could argue that Pittman is a one-year wonder, as his production prior to 2019 was mediocre at best.

Projection: 3rd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Kristian Fulton scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU cornerback prospect Kristian Fulton

Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

Elevator Pitch

Fulton is a fluid, lengthy and technically-sound cornerback who brings instant starting potential as a prospect in the first round. He brings solid physicality in press and can also play in off-man, and he has more than adequate athleticism for his position. He should be one of the first defensive backs to come off the board in this year’s draft.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 197

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Fulton’s ceiling at the next level could see him become one of the league’s better cornerbacks early in his career.

A taller cornerback with good length along the outside, he has enough size to keep up with bigger wideouts in man coverage. He plays with solid physicality when attacking the ball in tight windows, and he can fight box outs well. That aggressiveness showed up in the stat sheet this past year, as he finished the 2019 season with 14 pass breakups. Fulton also possesses good athleticism, as his hip fluidity allows him to mirror routes and match most receivers step for step. He can change direction easily and can accelerate well coming out of his breaks.

Technical issues aren’t much of a problem for Fulton, as he plays with consistently good footwork in coverage and stays low in his backpedal. He does a great job of battling receivers’ stems and preventing them from attacking leverage points, and his recovery athleticism allows him to re-gain control if he ever does misstep. He offers some versatility, too, as he can excel in both press-man or off-man coverage.

Weaknesses

Fulton’s biggest weakness in his skill set is probably his tackling. He has shown some flashes in run support, but they come few and far between. He dives for the legs too often, and his pad level and overall play strength could be improved upon a bit. It could help him to add a little bit more bulk to his frame to help him become more consistent in dragging ball carriers down.

His lack of ball production is slightly worrisome, as he only had two interceptions at the collegiate level. He could improve at tracking the ball down and placing himself in the best position to make a play on it. Fulton also missed the entirety of the 2017 season for tampering with his urine sample for a PED test.

Projection: 1st Round

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2020 NFL draft: CJ Henderson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Florida cornerback prospect CJ Henderson

CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

Elevator Pitch

A fluid, lengthy and intelligent cornerback with Day 1 starting potential, Henderson should be high in demand when the draft rolls around. Given how he put to bed speed concerns (which probably shouldn’t have existed to begin with) with a 4.39 40-yard dash, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him drafted in the top half of the first round.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 204

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

From a physical and athletic standpoint, Henderson has all of the tools to be a high-quality starting cornerback in the NFL.

A tall cornerback with a solid wingspan and good length on the boundary, Henderson could hypothetically pair up with some of the bigger receivers the league has to offer. He pairs that length with fluidity and burst, as he can change direction very well and accelerate coming out of his breaks at a high level. He has the long speed to keep up with speedier wideouts who can take the top off of a defense.

Henderson’s fluidity is aided greatly by his route anticipatory skills. He does a good job of mirroring routes and can also read a quarterback’s eyes well. He’s a versatile defender who can play off in man coverage, closer to the line of scrimmage in press, or guarding slot receivers as a nickelback. He also delivers a solid pop as a blitzer, and his closing speed against the run is good, as well.

Weaknesses

Henderson doesn’t have many pressing needs, but there are definitely areas in which he can improve. Among them is his ability to track the ball down, as he can occasionally fail to adjust to the ball and make a play on it in man coverage. He also has occasional issues with his balance and can slip up from time to time.

While a willing tackler, Henderson can do a better job of working on his consistency in that regard. He shows a high motor and good explosiveness on some plays, and he shows a lack of body control and poor pursuit angles on others. He can stand to bring physicality in run support on more of a regular basis.

Projection: Top 20

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2020 NFL draft: Ross Blacklock scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about TCU defensive line prospect Ross Blacklock

Ross Blacklock | DL | TCU

Elevator Pitch

An athletic interior defender with plenty to like in his game, Blacklock possesses the explosiveness to be a disruptive gap penetrator at the next level. He offers value as a pass-rusher with his active hands and lateral quickness in the open field. While he can get better as a gap-eater against the run, he should be able to start in his rookie year.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 290

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Blacklock’s combination of speed and determination makes him a player to watch out for at the next level.

He fires off the ball with impressive acceleration, hitting top speed quickly and requiring astute planning for interior blockers to even hope to stop. He is a coordinated and functional athlete who can bend and generate power from his hips well. Blacklock plays with very good drive in his lower body, fighting hard on every play and converting speed to power at a high level. He can change direction well in space and chase down ball carriers, too.

The TCU alum offers plenty of upside as a pass rusher. In addition to the aforementioned quality athleticism, Blacklock has a solid array of pass-rushing techniques in his arsenal. He plays with a sense of urgency with his hand quickness, and he does a good job of fighting to shed blocks and develop a plan heading into every rush.

Weaknesses

Blacklock is much more of a gap penetrator than a player who can hold blocks and eat up holes in the run game. He doesn’t do a great job of working through blocks to make plays against the run, and his instincts on said plays could use some work. His play strength is good but not great, and there are some plays where he gets eliminated by a powerful jab from blockers.

He’s a disruptive interior defender, but Blacklock is often a split second too late to grab a sack or a tackle for a loss, settling for pressures and serving as a presence, instead. He didn’t have a season with double-digit tackles for a loss in college, and his career high in sacks in a season is only 3.5. There is some minor concern for injury, too, as he missed his entire 2018 season due to a torn Achilles.

Projection: 2nd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Josh Jones scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Houston offensive tackle prospect Josh Jones

Josh Jones | OT | Houston

Elevator Pitch

Jones is a bit of a work in progress, but the upside he brings to the table is palpable. He’s an athletic offensive tackle with great length, body control and lateral quickness in pass protection. He blocks with a high motor and has shown in flashes that he can physically overwhelm his opponents. If all goes well, he should be able to develop into a quality starter on the blindside.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 319

College Bio Page

Strengths

Jones’ skill set offers plenty of potential to become a high-end starter in the league.

A lengthy offensive line prospect, Jones has very good height for his position and has the wingspan to possess good range as a blocker. He’s also a polished athlete with noticeable traits on film. He accelerates very well moving to the second level, and his lateral quickness in his kick slide in pass protection allows him to neutralize speed rushers on the outside. Jones is a flexible athlete who can change direction seamlessly and sink his hips with effectiveness, and he is capable of blocking defenders in down blocking situations.

He has also shown some flashes of improving technique over his time in Houston. Jones does a pretty good job of sealing off defenders and knocking edge rushers off their arc. His hand placement can be effective at times, and when he gets leverage with his pads, he wins his battles pretty consistently. He is also a determined player who can block with a nasty edge to his game on occasion. Plus, his four years of experience starting at the collegiate level should be appealing to teams.

Weaknesses

Jones’ flaws are for the most part fixable with good coaching, but those flaws could prevent him from being an immediate standout in the NFL. His hand placement and pad level need to be more consistent. He is susceptible to letting defenders inside of his frame from time to time, and though he has flexible hips, the ability to consistently sink them into contact isn’t quite developed yet.

Though a high quality pass protector, Jones could also get a little bit better against the run. His anchor strength, while improving, could still get a little better, and the jabs he unleashes at the point of attack aren’t always that powerful.

Projection: 1st Round

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2020 NFL draft: Patrick Queen scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU linebacker prospect Patrick Queen

Patrick Queen | LB | LSU

Elevator Pitch

Queen is a rangy, sideline-to-sideline linebacker with top-notch athleticism and quick processing abilities. His value in coverage and his ability to chase down ball-carriers in space make him a very intriguing three-down defender at the next level. He’s a bit of a one-year wonder, but his 2019 tape looked like that of an impact starter in the pros.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 229

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re a team looking to add speed to your linebacker depth chart, Queen is a player you should target.

His ability to change direction and burst coming out of his breaks gives him fantastic range as a tackler. His straight-line speed is high quality: he’s quick to accelerate to top speed once he diagnoses the play. Queen also possesses very good longitudinal athleticism, in that he can backpedal quickly and with great body control, as well as show off explosive burst when running downhill. That athleticism gives him value in coverage, as his hip fluidity and long speed makes him an ideal linebacker to kick out into coverage against tight ends, running backs, or even slot receivers.

Queen’s athleticism is on full display on tape, and part of that can be attributed to his quick mental processing skills. His instincts allow him to play at full speed and utilize his fluidity and acceleration to the best of his ability. He is quick to diagnose a play, and he does a very good job of positioning himself in the right manner to make a play.

Weaknesses

Though Queen has a lot of things going for him in his skill set, there are still areas in which he can improve. He’s on the smaller side for a linebacker, and that can translate to subpar play strength from time to time. He doesn’t offer too much value near the line of scrimmage, as he isn’t great at taking on blocks and disengaging to stop the run. This affects his ability to blitz, as well.

He has shown promise as a tackler, but there are some times where Queen doesn’t play with perfect form, or he struggles to bring more powerful ball-carriers down. He can go for a shoestring tackle on occasion, and his anchor strength could get a little bit better in run support. Plus, he only has one year as a full-time starter at the collegiate level, and he didn’t explode onto the scene until the second half of the 2019 season. While his tape is impressive, that could be cause for some minor concern.

Projection: 1st Round

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2020 NFL draft: Neville Gallimore scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Oklahoma defensive line prospect Neville Gallimore

Neville Gallimore | DL | Oklahoma

Elevator Pitch

A relentless interior defender with top-notch athletic ability, Gallimore has a high ceiling because of his burst off the snap, his red-hot motor and his active hands. While he’s still a work in progress from a technical standpoint, he has the potential to be a disruptive player at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 304

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Gallimore tested incredibly well athletically at the Combine, and his numbers are reflective of what he displays on tape.

The Canadian defender fires off the ball with impressive acceleration. His burst coming out of his stance and his dangerous straight-line speed make him a challenge for interior blockers to deal with. He has very good body control for a 300-pound man, as he can change direction well in space and has the agility to catch up to ball-carriers in the open field. He more than backed up those traits in Indianapolis, as he ran a 4.79 40-yard dash with a 1.71 10-yard split.

That athleticism is complemented by a willingness to fight and make a play on every snap. Gallimore hustles hard on a consistent basis and does everything he can to either get to the quarterback or stop the run. He churns his lower body through contact and plays with active hands, working hard to maintain inside leverage. He has shown flashes of quick hands and upside in his pass-rushing technique.

Weaknesses

Though Gallimore has plenty of upside and athleticism, he’s still a developmental prospect to some degree.

Despite his lack of length for an interior defensive lineman, Gallimore can struggle with his pad level at times. He has shown flashes of flexibility, but he still needs to do a better job of sinking his hips and getting his weight underneath him at the point of attack. Those issues can affect his lower-body strength, which could stand to improve regardless of his technical flaws.

Gallimore can be more consistent in regards to his hand usage, as he occasionally fails to re-set his hands and execute counter moves. That aforementioned lack of length is also a bit of an issue: he doesn’t have great height or a long wingspan for an interior defender.

Projection: Top 40

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2020 NFL draft: Jordan Love scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Utah State quarterback prospect Jordan Love

Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

Elevator Pitch

Love has the upside to develop into a franchise quarterback at the next level. His regression in 2019 is cause for concern, but his top-notch arm strength, mobility in and out of the pocket and the flashes of elite touch behind his throws make him an enticing prospect. The bust potential is definitely there, but his ceiling is as high as any quarterback in this class.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 224

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

When Love is on, he’s really on.

His arm strength is among the best in the class, as he throws with great velocity behind his passes and can hit receivers at any spot on the field. He has the ability to deliver rockets from awkward throwing angles that players like Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson display in the NFL. Love’s accuracy has shown elite flashes, as he can throw with a great sense of timing and anticipation behind some of his throws.

Love is a solid athlete for the quarterback position. He can move around and maneuver the pocket well, and he has the agility and breakaway speed to offer some value if he takes off with the ball. His lower-body mechanics and hip work are great in a clean pocket; he crisply rotates his hips along with his arm in his throwing motion. Though his production fell off a little bit in 2019, his 2018 tape was fantastic. He was a playmaker who made several big-time throws per game.

Weaknesses

With the departure of players like Darwin Thompson and Dax Raymond after 2018, Love’s performance fell off significantly in his junior year.

His production went 32 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2018 to 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2019, averaging more than one interception per game. He has a tendency to force throws, neglecting other reads and sticking his with first read no matter what. His arm is certainly strong, but he sometimes trusts it a little too much.

Love’s upper-body mechanics could use some improvement. He has a bit of an elongated throwing motion and a slow-ish release that should be cleaned up a bit. He also has a tendency to panic under pressure, showing jittery footwork in a collapsing pocket and not rotating his hips all the way to follow through on his ball. That has shown some affect on his accuracy when defenders get in his face.

Projection: Top 20

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2020 NFL draft: Javon Kinlaw scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about South Carolina defensive line prospect Javon Kinlaw

Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

Elevator Pitch

An interior defensive lineman with an imposing frame, Kinlaw is a lengthy and athletic player who offers value as an impactful three-down defender at the next level. Though still a work in progress technique-wise, he has the tools to be a game wrecker if he can put it all together.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 324

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Just one look at Kinlaw shows one of the reasons why draft analysts view him so highly.

A tall interior defender with long arms and a frame that looks like it was chiseled from marble, Kinlaw has an impeccable size and fitness advantage against many blockers he goes up against. He packs a solid punch at the initial point of contact, and he delivers powerful jabs when stringing moves together as a pass-rusher. His ability to use his hands is admirable, as he plays with quick and active hands and possesses a solid array of pass-rushing techniques in his arsenal. He can also disengage from blockers and make tackles against the run well.

Kinlaw’s athleticism is noticeable, too. He fires off the ball with good acceleration, and he has impressive speed and mobility when making tackles in the open field. His lateral quickness makes him a threat on stunts, as well as when he goes up against reach blocks.

Weaknesses

As impressive as Kinlaw’s physical tools are, there are some times where he doesn’t capitalize on them. He doesn’t play with great pad level, which limits his anchor strength and the effectiveness of his speed-to-power conversions. He struggles with sinking his hips and finds himself giving up leverage to offensive linemen too often.

Kinlaw’s balance and overall body control can be improved a bit, as well. He ends up falling onto the ground on occasion, which can be attributed to poor technique and a lack of a concrete plan during the play. He also has a couple of injuries on his resume now, having missed the Belk Bowl due to a hip injury in 2018, as well as a knee injury that cut his Senior Bowl week short.

Projection: Top 15

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2020 NFL draft: Brandon Aiyuk scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk | WR | Arizona State

Elevator Pitch

Aiyuk is a dynamic athlete with impressive fluidity and plenty of value after the catch. His technique as a route-runner could be improved, but the explosiveness he brings to an offense should make him high in demand as a secondary option at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 205

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for a receiver with athletic tools in this class, Aiyuk is one of the best prospects you can find.

An explosive wide out with very good acceleration off the snap and once he gets the ball in his hands, Aiyuk brought an enticing dynamic of speed to Arizona State’s offense in 2019. He’s a shifty ball-carrier who can change direction easily and has plenty of spring in his step. He runs with good vision when he gets into the open field, presenting opportunities for him to exploit a defense for a big gain.

Though not a finished product, Aiyuk has also shown some promise and growth as a route-runner. He stems his routes well and excels at attacking leverage points on the opposition, and he bursts out of his stems well. He has shown some potential in regards to his ability to sink his hips and make sharp cuts.

Weaknesses

Aiyuk could stand to add a little more physicality to his game. He tends to struggle with boxing out defenders in tight-window situations, and his hands aren’t quite strong enough to consistently make catches when contested. He’s a much better receiver in space than he is going up for the jump ball.

His route tree isn’t incredibly advanced at this stage in his career, and he can get better at accelerating coming out of his breaks. He could get better at using his hands to create separation, particularly against press coverage. Aiyuk also only has one season of notable FBS production, as he was a complementary piece to N’Keal Harry in 2018 and played at the JUCO level in 2016 and 2017.

Projection: Day 2

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