Tag: scouting report

Chiefs scouting report: Oregon Ducks DE Jordan Burch

Oregon #Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch could be on the Kansas City #Chiefs’ radar in the 2025 NFL draft.

Pass rushers who win with both power and finesse succeed in the NFL. Burch brings those elements to the table and offers the Kansas City Chiefs the depth they desperately need along the defensive front. The Oregon product projects as a top 100 selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Oregon Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch’s verified height and weight are 6’4 3/8″, 294 lbs. He doesn’t have great arm length, but that’s the only knock against his physical profile. Burch is a densely built, high motor player with freakish power and explosiveness.

According to Bruce Feldman for The Athletic, Burch squats and sumo deadlifts 685 lbs. and reaches a top speed of 20.75 miles per hour. Those traits show up on tape. It’s not every day you see a defensive end cutback to make a tackler miss on a 36-yard fake punt run.

Burch’s power rush moves include long-arms, humps, forklifts and converting speed to power. He unlocks the power to walk offensive tackles into the pocket or blow the B-gap open by knocking the lineman off balance.

Burch’s pass rush plan also includes swims, inside spins, chops, rips and a developmental ghost move. He doesn’t have elite bend but still turns the corner well for a defender his size. Burch sets up his pass rush moves with tempo, footwork and feints. His closing burst helps him finish plays once he gets past the offensive lineman.

Burch doesn’t play to his size consistently in the run game. His lack of arm length pops up in this part of the game, and his base suffers from some failures when anchoring at the point of attack.

Oregon goes on the road to play the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CST before finishing their season at home against the Washington Huskies on Nov. 30. Wisconsin’s offensive tackles, Riley Mahlman and Jack Nelson, struggled earlier this year but are playing better now. Both possess NFL tools and talent as Day 3 prospects.

Chiefs scouting report: Boston College Eagles OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku

The Kansas City #Chiefs could target Boston College outside linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs built one of the NFL’s premier defensive units but still struggle to generate pressure outside of contributions from Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. General manager Brett Veach should consider selecting a pass rusher with a top 100 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Boston College linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku is a bendy, fluid and versatile pass rusher with an undersized frame. He’s not densely put together but possesses the long arms to meet the NFL’s thresholds. Ezeiruaku is an explosive and sudden athlete with excellent bend to tighten his rush angles to the quarterback. He plays low enough to the ground to slip under the offensive tackle’s hands and avoid taking on unnecessary contact.

Ezeiruaku needs to add counters to his pass rush plan but already knows a good variety of moves. He primarily wins with cross-chops, ghosts, inside swims, rips, spins and two-handed swipes. Ezeiruaku takes advantage of offensive tackles oversetting by firing through the B-gap for quick pressures.

Ezeiruaku lacks the raw power to stack and shed blockers who are pushing vertically but uses his agility and burst to evade offensive linemen and quickly close on ball carriers. He moves like an off-ball linebacker in space with his ability to redirect and mirror running backs. Offensive players can’t shake Ezeiruaku in space, and he uses his speed and excellent pursuit range to chase down players.

Ezeiruaku should ace the speed and agility tests in the pre-draft process, but evaluators could drop him down draft boards because of size concerns. His draft range begins in the second round and extends to the top of the third round.

Three games remain on Boston College’s schedule. The Eagles travel to Dallas to face the 8-1 SMU Mustangs on Saturday at 2:30 p.m CST.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes RB Quinshon Judkins

The Kansas City #Chiefs could add Ohio State #Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins in the 2025 NFL draft.

The injury to Isiah Pacheco revealed that the Kansas City Chiefs lack multiple explosive playmakers in their backfield. The team should address this issue in the 2025 NFL draft by investing in at least one new running back.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins is a young prospect with the speed to gash defenses. He’s fast enough to turn the corner on off-tackle runs before stressing pursuit angles with his acceleration. Judkins’ quick feet string together sharp cuts that make defenders miss in one-on-one situations.

Judkins patiently presses close to the offensive line while in the backfield before exploding through the hole. His vision helps him locate openings and prevents him from running into dogpiles. His contact balance is average, which prevents him from creating between the tackles at a high level.

Judkins isn’t known for his power, but he drops his shoulder going into contact when he finds himself isolated with cornerbacks on the perimeter. His stiff arm is one of the best in the 2025 class. Judkins also deploys a spin move to shake defenders. Unfortunately, he’s not twitchy, and his elusiveness falls short of elite.

Judkins’ value on third down remains murky. He has the speed to stack linebackers as a route runner, but neither Ole Miss nor Ohio State asked him to catch passes. Judkins makes passable blocks in pass protection but lacks the power and enthusiasm to succeed as a blocker consistently.

Judkins receives plenty of praise from evaluators but could fall as far as the third or fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

The Buckeyes play three Big Ten games to end their regular season, starting with a matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes RB TreVeyon Henderson

Ohio State #Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson could be a 2025 NFL draft target for the Kansas City #Chiefs.

Several running backs on the Kansas City Chiefs enter free agency after the 2024 season. The team must replace its depth in the backfield and add some more explosive options who can shoulder the load if Isiah Pacheco suffers another injury in 2025 or beyond.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson faces an uphill battle as a prospect because of his size and injury history. He missed significant time in 2022 and 2023. According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Henderson’s verified height and weight are 5’9 7/8″, 206 lbs., which rank on the smaller and lighter side for an NFL running back.

Henderson’s play often overcomes his measurables. He possesses true track speed that, even on a very fast Ohio State offense, puts him in a class of his own. Henderson is an explosive athlete who demolishes pursuit angles and runs so fast that he naturally breezes through some arm tackles.

Henderson’s footwork pops on tape. His light feet easily spring through sudden cuts and help him cover significant ground horizontally on jump cuts. He weaves through tight spaces with natural footwork but lacks the power to create between the offensive tackles.

Henderson doesn’t break tackles with power. He makes subtle but sharp adjustments to make defenders miss in space but lacks a deep bag of jukes. Henderson is a one-cut running back with light footwork and impressive explosiveness but limited twitch.

Henderson offers plenty of value on third down. Ohio State doesn’t use him as a pass catcher much, but he knows how to stem routes and manipulate leverage. Linebackers don’t have the speed to keep pace with Henderson, making him a mismatch creator in space.

He’s an enthusiastic pass protector who quickly identifies threats and seeks out contact. Henderson’s surprising proficiency as a blocker and untapped potential as a pass catcher make him a three-down option for teams at the next level.

Ohio State is currently facing off with the Northwestern Wildcats. A few weeks ago, the Wildcats surrendered three rushing touchdowns to Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. This could be a great confidence-building game for a Buckeyes team that hasn’t run the ball well this year.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes OL Donovan Jackson

The Kansas City #Chiefs could beef up their offensive line by selecting Ohio State Buckeyes guard Donovan Jackson in the 2025 NFL draft.

Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith becomes a free agent after the 2024 season. Smith’s massive value on the open market could push Kansas City to let him walk in favor of a cheaper option through the 2025 NFL draft.

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Donovan Jackson is a left guard who needs to gain experience operating on the right side of the line if he lands in Kansas City. The Buckeyes asked Jackson to finish this season playing left tackle after superstar Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending injury. Unfortunately, this means Jackson won’t be at his natural position in any of his games in the College Football Playoff.

Jackson’s thick frame sports arms with elite length for a guard. Jackson sits low in his pass set and absorbs power rushers with a wide base. Defenders struggle to play through his frame and can’t escape his grasp once he latches onto them. He channels nice power through his hands, which makes him a nightmare for undersized defensive tackles and second level blitzers.

Jackson lacks the agility to redirect and cut off twitchy pass rushers. He bends at the waist a little, which makes him vulnerable to swim moves. Defensive tackles with powerful upper bodies like Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson knock him out of his stance with club moves. This weakness appeared on Jackson’s tape in previous seasons too.

Jackson is a versatile run blocker with the power to generate vertical displacement and the mobility to lead block on the perimeter. He showcases nice speed in the open field. Jackson uses his burst to execute reach blocks and has the power to strain and finish through the whistle.

Jackson is a well-rounded prospect with physical upside because of his length and power. He projects as a second or early third-round selection.

Ohio State is currently facing off against Northwestern at the Wildcats’ temporary stadium on Lake Michigan. The game kicked off at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Northwestern only has two wins against Big Ten opponents this year, but pass rusher Anto Saka could provide a challenge for Jackson as he fills in at left tackle.

Chiefs scouting report: TCU Horned Frogs WR Savion Williams

The Kansas City #Chiefs could target TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Savion Williams in the 2025 NFL draft.

Trading for DeAndre Hopkins added some fangs to a depleted Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver room, but the defending Super Bowl champions still need to attack the position this offseason.

TCU Horned Frogs wideout Savion Williams offers the elite athletic traits and unique alignment versatility to add a new dynamic to Kansas City’s offense.

Williams possesses one of the most unique athletic profiles in the 2025 NFL draft. According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy’s verified measurements, Williams is 6’3 3/4″ and 228 lbs. with arms that extend past 33 inches. The Horned Frogs recently found success lining Williams up in the backfield for handoffs and routes.

Despite his size, Williams is an explosive athlete with elite speed. According to Reel Analytics, he reached a top speed of 21.7 miles per hour on a 75-yard receiving touchdown against Texas Tech earlier this year. Bruce Feldman for The Athletic claimed several of Williams’ top athletic feats include hitting 22.5 miles per hour, squatting 600 lbs. and posting 40 inches in the vertical jump.

Williams’ fluidity pops for an athlete with his size. He makes some sharp cuts in his routes with impressive deceleration and tight turns. He dominates at the catch point, hauling in more than 70% of his contested catch attempts. Williams’ vertical, catch radius and ball tracking make him a red zone menace.

Williams makes his best contributions with the ball in his hands, which is why TCU moved him to a hybrid role. His route tree needs development, and he struggles to stack corners downfield despite his blazing top speed. Williams is a better pure athlete than true receiver at this point in his development.

TCU plays 3-6 Oklahoma State at home on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:00 p.m. CST. The Cowboys dropped their last six games after starting the season 3-0. TCU’s last three games all came down to single-score differentials.

Chiefs scouting report: UCF Knights RB R.J. Harvey

The Kansas City #Chiefs should look to target a player like UCF #Knights running back R.J. Harvey in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs must add some talent to their running back room in the offseason. Three of their five running backs hit free agency at the end of the season, and the current room lacks the diverse skill sets to maximize the offense’s potential.

UCF Knights running back R.J. Harvey is 5’9″, 208 lbs., which puts him in the same range as former Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon. Harvey is a fleet-footed runner with the long speed to score from anywhere on the field. According to Reel Analytics, he reached 20.8 miles per hour on a touchdown against Colorado earlier this year.

Harvey lacks the traditional size to create between the tackles, but his sudden and explosive footwork helps him exchange gaps in an instant and evade defenders in the backfield. Most defenders lack the agility and burst to match his jump cuts and acceleration.

Harvey shakes and jukes past defenders in one-on-one situations as he races to bounce runs outside. Once he turns upfield, Harvey accelerates to erase pursuit angles and put linebackers and safeties in chase mode.

Harvey’s combination of track speed, explosive agility, instant acceleration and controlled footwork makes him an ideal change of pace back in the NFL.

UCF goes on the road to face the 6-2 Arizona State Sun Devils at 6:00 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 9. Harvey rushed for 507 yards and seven touchdowns in his last three appearances. He enters Week 11 of the college football season with the third-most rushing yards in the nation.

Chiefs scouting report: Iowa State Cyclones CB Darien Porter

Iowa State Cyclones cornerback Darien Porter could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs retain most of their cornerbacks for next year, but two become unrestricted free agents following the 2025 season. Kansas City should prepare for those eventual departures and the costly extension of Trent McDuffie by adding developmental corner depth in the 2025 NFL draft.

Iowa State Cyclones redshirt senior Darien Porter is a tall and lean corner with verified measurements from Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy that put him at 6’2 3/4″ and 192 lbs. He sports long arms that help him dominate at the catch point. This is Porter’s first season seeing significant defensive snaps, but he possesses the athletic tools and flashes to warrant a top-100 selection.

Porter ran a 46.99 400-meter dash in high school and won a state title in the 200-meter dash. That speed translates to the field. Even though his high hips cause some leggy transitions, Porter flashes the speed to carry receivers vertically out of press coverage. Wide receivers lack the speed to stack him on downfield routes or separate on crossers.

Porter decelerates with his quick feet to match more complex routes but faces some limitations in man coverage because of his tall frame and high hips. He triggers downhill from zone coverage to attack short routes and reads the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate throwing lanes.

At worst, Porter offers impressive special teams versatility. He played more than 860 total special teams snaps across five different units in college and blocked a punt in four consecutive seasons.

The Cyclones plan to rebound from their first loss of the season when they go on the road to face Kansas at 2:30 p.m CST. on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Jayhawks feature a talented trio of receivers to complement quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes LB Sonny Styles

The Kansas City #Chiefs should consider selecting Ohio State #Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs need linebacker help. The positions group struggled through several games this season and loses some of its top contributors to free agency in the next two years. The 2025 NFL draft doesn’t feature many quality linebackers, but some prospects offer developmental upside.

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles needs another year to develop, which makes him the ideal draft and stash candidate for the Chiefs. Styles transitioned from safety to linebacker for the 2024 season. His block deconstruction skills and run fits lack consistency, but his raw athletic traits hint at significant long-term upside.

Styles, who turns 20 years old this month, plays with terrific closing speed. He’s an explosive athlete with the burst to fire through gaps and light up ball carriers. Styles turns into a human missile working downhill in the run game and uses his agility and bend to dip around blockers on his way to the ball.

Styles arrives with force. The pop he delivers on contact knocks running backs off their feet. The force of his hits jars the ball loose when he contacts tight ends at the catch point.

Styles needs to develop a better feel for coverages at his new position. He gains good depth in zone drops but suffers from lapses in man coverage against tight ends and running backs.

Ohio State welcomes Purdue to Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. CST. Only one ranked team remains on Ohio State’s schedule before the Big Ten Championship Game.

Chiefs scouting report: Ohio State Buckeyes CB Davison Igbinosun

Ohio State #Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun would be a great target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The injury bug bit the Kansas City Chiefs hard this season, forcing backup cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson and Joshua Williams into larger roles. Kansas City’s defense is still one of the league’s best, but the Chiefs should consider upgrading the depth in their cornerback room.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Igbinosun maximizes his size and length as one of the nation’s premier press-man corners. He deploys one-armed stabs and two-handed jams to stall or re-route receivers at the line of scrimmage. Igbinosun destroys outside releases by driving receivers out of bounds. He allows limited to no separation on slants and crossers.

Igbinosun’s playstyle comes with risks. He grabs and hand checks receivers throughout their routes. This aggressive coverage approach led to more than a dozen penalties since the start of the 2023 season. Igbinosun lacks elite vertical speed but is quick enough to carry most receivers downfield. He suffers from some hip stiffness that limits him against twitchy athletes.

Igbinosun’s vision and closing burst make him effective in zone coverage. He reads the quarterback’s eyes and tries to bait passers into poor throws. Igbinosun uses his arm length to play the ball at the catch point from odd angles and rake the receiver’s hands without fouling.

The Buckeyes come off their win against Penn State with a home game against the 1-7 Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CST. No Purdue wide receivers have more than 230 receiving yards this season.