2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tanoh Kpassagnon

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Tanoh Kpassagnon, 6-6/280 Defensive End Villanova

Tanoh Kpassagnon Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Excellent length

Great fit as a 3-4 defensive end

Tough run defender

Strong at point of attack

Hard to move in the ground game

Can lock down his gap

Gap integrity

Ability to bull rush

Uses hands and feet at the same time

Good get off

Fast in a straight line

Speed to close

Active hands

Strength to shed blocks

Can play inside and outside in a 4-3

Upside

Intelligent

High character

Good work ethic

Weaknesses:

Tight

Not agile

Poor redirection

Lack of bend

Can’t sink his hips

Can play too high

Raw

Needs lots of development on his technique

Summary: During training camp prior to the 2016 season, WalterFootball.com heard from sources that Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon was an under-the-radar prospect who teams viewed as being a second-day talent for the 2017 NFL Draft. As a junior, he totaled 33 tackles with 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, two blocked kicks and a forced fumble while showing the physical talent to play professionally. Kpassagnon sported a unique skill set for the NFL with height, length, speed, and strength.

Kpassagnon recorded 45 tackles with 21.5 for a loss, 11 sacks, one forced fumble and a pass batted in 2016. At the Senior Bowl, he had a respectable week on the field and showed that his strength, speed and length make for a tough challenge for offensive linemen. However, Kpassagnon did illustrate that he is raw from a technique standpoint, and the lack of experience was also on display in the team meetings. Sources said that Kpassagnon is an intelligent young man and a hard worker, but still has a lot of football to learn.

As a run defender, Kpassagnon is tough at the point of attack. He is strong to hold his gap and can be tough to move at the point of attack. Kpassagnon is able to shed blocks and make tackles outside of gap. He is tough to set the edge and should be a quality end to take on right tackles in the NFL.

In the pass rush, Kpassagnon has a quick get-off with speed to close. He is faster than expected and often his speed catches offensive linemen by surprise. Kpassagnon is able to fight with his hands while pushing upfield and shows some versatility in moves with a rip move, bull rush and speed rush.

Kpassagnon needs a lot of development for the NFL. In part because of his height and muscular build, he is a stiff defender. Kpassagnon can’t bend around the corner or sink his hips to get pointed to the quarterback. Running the hoops drills and trying to improve his agility would make him a much more dangerous defender. Kpassagnon still is raw in terms of his hand placement and his body control – he can play too high at times. Still, Kpassagnon has great length for the NFL with strength and speed. He has a lot of athletic upside and could develop into a tough pro with good coaching.

For the NFL, Kpassagnon has versatility. He has ideal length and strength to be a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. In a 4-3 defense, he could be a base left defensive end who moves inside for passing situations. Kpassagnon also could play left defensive end on all of his snaps, but he probably won’t ever be a player who produces big sack totals coming from end.

Sources say they expect Kpassagnon to be second-round pick, and he shouldn’t fall out of Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft.



Player Comparison: Devin Taylor. Sources from multiple teams independently compared Kpassagnon to Taylor, which makes a lot of sense. Taylor (6-7, 275) and Kpassagnon are nearly identical in size. Both have great length with some athleticism. Taylor may not be as stiff as Kpassagnon, but Kpassagnon could be faster and stronger at the point of attack. In the NFL, Kpassagnon could be a defender similar to Taylor.

NFL Matches: Oakland, New York Giants, Dallas, Atlanta, New England, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington, Cincinnati, Arizona, Seattle and Denver

There are a lot of potential fits for Kpassagnon on the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Raiders could use more edge help and an interior disruptor, and Kpassagnon could play on both the outside and inside of their four-man defensive line. The Giants could lose Jason Pierre-Paul and Johnathan Hankins this offseason. Kpassagnon could help New York on the inside and outside.

Dallas needs defensive end help, especially with the suspension issues of Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence. The Cowboys also could lose Terrell McClain in free agency. Kpassagnon could help them at tackle and end.

Kpassagnon could be a possibility for both of the 51st Super Bowl’s participants. Atlanta needs an end across from Vic Beasley, and Kpassagnon could also help replace aging veteran Jonathan Babineaux on the inside of the line in passing situations. New England could use more defensive end talent. Chris Long was only a short-term signing, and the Patriots need more pass rush as they were led by Trey Flowers with only seven sacks in the 2016 regular season.

The Saints have to upgrade their defense and improve their pass defense. Kpassagnon could be a nice fit in the second round if New Orleans doesn’t take a defensive lineman in Round 1.

The Lions could use defensive line help. Kpassagnon could give them an interior defender to pressure the quarterback in passing situations and serve as a base end on run downs across from Ziggy Ansah.

In the second round, Cincinnati could be a fit for Kpassagnon. The team had Margus Hunt entering free agency while Michael Johnson is a limited player. Kpassagnon could play end on run downs and rush inside with Geno Atkins in passing situations.

Kpassagnon could also be in play for the Cardinals if Calais Campbell isn’t re-signed. Seattle could use an interior disruptor as well. The Seahawks have had problems with a lack of interior pass rush once injuries have hit their defense.

The Redskins want to get younger and more athletic up front. Kpassagnon would be able to play five-technique defensive end in a 3-4, 4-3 end or tackle for Washington.

Last offseason, Denver locked up Derek Wolfe, but lost Malik Jackson. Kpassagnon could be a fit for the Broncos on Day 2 if they want to beef up the defensive line.

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

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