2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Haason Reddick





  • Haason Reddick, 6-1/237

  • Outside Linebacker

  • Temple


  • Haason Reddick Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Fast
  • Athletic
  • Explosive
  • Dangerous edge pass-rusher
  • Speed to turn the corner
  • Uses hands well
  • Closes quickly
  • Excellent pursuit skills
  • Run-and-chase defender
  • Natural in space
  • Makes big plays in the backfield
  • Has the athletic ability to potentially cover




  • Weaknesses:
  • Playing a new position in the NFL
  • Undersized
  • Instincts at new position
  • Will have to learn how to read his keys
  • Will have to learn more pass coverage skills for the NFL
  • Run defense weakness
  • Teams will run at him


  • Summary: Reddick came to Temple as a walk-on cornerback before being moved to the edge. He found a home at defensive end as he eventually became a dynamic edge rusher, contributing as a junior with 46 tackles, 12.5 for a loss and five sacks. In his final season, Reddick took his game to another level as he notched 65 tackles with 22.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up. The senior was big-time presence as a pass-rushing defensive end for Temple.

    Reddick is too undersized – 237 pounds – to play defensive end in the NFL; he will have to move to outside linebacker. Reddick already started that change at the Senior Bowl, where he had a solid week of practice with some good sessions in which he flew around the field and was consistently around the ball. Reddick still needs a ton of development at his new position, but his week in Mobile provided more hope that he could make the transition.

    In speaking with scouting sources, they say that Reddick is athletic with explosive speed and edge-rushing skills for the NFL. He is very good in space and versatile as a run-and-chase pursuit defender. They also say, however, that his limited experience at linebacker means he is going to need time to develop. His instincts aren’t there yet, and he will have to learn how to read his keys quickly as a linebacker. Offenses will challenge his ability to make reads and are going to run at him consistently.

    In the NFL, Reddick would probably fit best as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense given his body type. In time his speed and pursuit skills would make him a good fit as a Will (weakside) linebacker. However, he will need to learn a lot in terms of pass coverage and reading his keys for that position. In obvious passing situations, Reddick could be a dynamic edge rusher to get pressure on the quarterback. Perhaps the best way to get use out of Reddick early in his career would be as a part-time linebacker and a situational pass-rusher at end.

    If he is drafted to a 3-4 defense, Reddick could play inside linebacker on run downs and move outside to rush linebacker in passing situations.

    Sources have said they expect Reddick to go on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft, but he is a project for the NFL because he will be playing a brand new position. WalterFootball.com knows multiple teams that gave Reddick a grade range of between low in Round 3 and high in Round 4, but they think he will likely go a lot higher to the team that likes him enough to draft him. Those sources expect Reddick to go in the second round or top half of the third round, but they feel he is a risky pick for the NFL because he is being asked to play a brand new position and his instincts may not be there to succeed at the transition.



    Player Comparison: Jaime Collins. Scouting sources said that Reddick is similar to a smaller Jaime Collins coming out of Southern Miss. Collins was another college defensive end who projected to linebacker for the NFL. He was a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, and Reddick could go that high as well.

    NFL Matches: Green Bay, New England, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati and New Orleans

    There are a lot of teams that could consider taking Reddick on the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. Reddick could hope to go to some of the teams that made last season's conference championships. Green Bay could use an edge rusher to replace Julius Peppers and potentially Nick Perry. Reddick could also play some inside linebacker in the Packers 3-4 scheme.

    New England could use another edge rusher to go across from Trey Flowers and are also is thin at linebacker after trading away Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins. The Patriots could use a player like Reddick, and he would be a nice fit for them.

    Staying in the AFC East, the Bills could use a Will (weakside) linebacker to add to their change to a 4-3. Reddick could form a nice tandem with Reggie Ragland. Miami has a huge need at linebacker and edge rusher. Mario Williams was cut; Olivier Vernon left last offseason; and Cameron Wake is aging. Reddick would make a lot of sense for the Dolphins' second-round pick.

    The Lions could use more linebacker talent and an edge rusher to go with Ziggy Ansah. The Chargers are switching to a 4-3 defense and have Melvin Ingram entering free agency. Reddick could be a fit for them as a linebacker or defensive end depending on what happens with Ingram.

    The Bengals could use an edge rusher across from Carlos Dunlap and youth at linebacker. Cincinnati could play Reddick at linebacker on run downs and let him rush as an end in passing situations.

    New Orleans could use another edge rusher to go with Cam Jordan and also could use more talent at linebacker. Reddick could be in play for for the Saints on Day 2.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2017 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie's | Walt's


    2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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