2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Chad Muma





  • Chad Muma, 6-2/241

  • Linebacker

  • Wyoming


  • Chad Muma Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Tough run defender
  • Good tackler
  • Physical in the tackle box
  • Enough speed to get to the perimeter
  • Good skill set
  • Diagnosis skills
  • Flashes ability to shed blocks
  • Decent instincts
  • Follows a quarterback’s eyes in short zone coverage
  • Quality skill set
  • Above-average height and length for a linebacker
  • Has the necessary size and speed
  • Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense
  • Upside
  • Experienced




  • Weaknesses:
  • Not natural change of direction
  • Some stiffness
  • Not a fit for man coverage
  • Needs to improve ability to shed blocks
  • Can be overly aggressive in pursuit


  • Summary: Muma was a tackling machine for Wyoming in 2021, keeping up with LSU’s Damone Clark for the nation’s leader in tackles throughout the season. Muma finished the season with a total of 142 stops, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions and one pass defended. In the shortened 2020 season, Muma had 71 tackles, three sacks and a pass broken up. Muma helped himself with a quality workout at the combine.

    In the ground game, Muma is a flow-to-the-ball linebacker who tackles well and generally takes good angles to get to the ball-carrier. He is a missile who can be overly aggressive at time, but he is an old-school linebacker looking to snuff out runs in a hurry. Along with always being around the ball, Muma will deliver some hard hits to finish backs off. For the NFL, Muma will need to improve at taking on and shedding blocks. Those will be big points of improvement for Muma to develop into being an NFL starter.



    Muma does a nice job of dropping into pass coverage and reading the eyes of the quarterback. Muma, however, is not that fluid in changing direction and could be limited in how he defends passing attacks. Muma’s change-of-direction issues make him a poor fit for playing man coverage, and he is better suited to just playing zone, which would let him try to read his way into disrupting passing lanes.

    In the NFL, Muma could play inside linebacker in a 3-4 or middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense. He also would fit as a Sam – strongside – linebacker in a 4-3. He could develop into a three-down starter if he improves in pass coverage, but in his first season, he will probably be mainly a situational run defender and rotational backup. Muma has the potential ability to develop into a three-down starter in the NFL.



    Player Comparison: Kevin Minter. Minter was a good run defender in college who never developed pass-coverage skills for the NFL. Thus, he was a disappointment as a second-round pick for the Cardinals. Minter is solid as a run defender and backup linebacker in the NFL. Muma could end up being very similar as a pro if he doesn’t develop pass-coverage ability.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2022 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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