Grady Jarrett 2015 NFL Draft scouting report

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Grady Jarrett

• Position: Gap Rusher (GR)
  
• Class: Senior
  
• College: Clemson
  
• Ht/Wt: 6'1", 304 pounds
  

Scouting Report

Grady Jarrett is a classic gap rusher. A smaller-sized defensive tackle, Jarrett has the short-area quickness of a much thinner player, and his game is built upon disrupting plays in the backfield. He does a great job of stepping into gaps, splitting two linemen, and ducking under blocks. He's a relentless rusher who keeps a low pad level in his approach. When he hits a blocker head-on, he can stack him up and hold his position to block a lane from opening. He has active hands, and is developing a set of pass-rushing moves. He is capable of taking over games when matched up against a weaker opponent across from him.

While Jarrett is a disruptive gap rusher, that's really his only good fit in a defensive line. You're not getting a guy who can play nose tackle, and he doesn't have the size to two-gap either. He could probably move around and play a bit of defensive end, but he'll be most effective in an interior role that lets him focus on getting into the backfield. Jarrett's arms are on the shorter side, and his fast approach often reaches the opponent before his hands do; this can lead to him being tangled up with an offensive guard's hands on his chest, ruining the rush. If he keeps his arms more compact in his approach, he can fix some of those situations. He can also struggle with lateral leverage at times. Jarrett can be angle-blocked away from plays, using his momentum against him. It can open up large gaps against the run, and he needs to get a better anchor in place to prevent that.

Grade

I have Jarrett graded as a second-round prospect, as a somewhat scheme-limited defensive tackle with strong pass rushing, good athleticism, and some technical flaws. I don't like him quite as much as Xavier Cooper, even though Cooper's arms are nearly an inch shorter than Jarrett's, because Cooper is simply much more athletic. I'm not sure if Jarrett fits well with the Bills, since his best fit would be backing up Kyle Williams, and the team really needs a larger body for their hole in the starting lineup. It should be worth noting that the Bills and Rex Ryan were in attendance at the Clemson pro day, and I can tell you they weren't there to watch Vic Beasley. Regardless, it's fun watching his tape, and he's a guy you can count on to blow up a few plays in each game.