2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Derick Hall





  • Derick Hall, 6-3/254

  • Outside Linebacker

  • Auburn


  • Derick Hall Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Dangerous edge rusher
  • Burst to close
  • Good motor
  • Functional strength
  • Power to get off blocks
  • Quality length
  • Can hold his gap in run defense
  • Good hands
  • Can shed blocks
  • Burst to close
  • Instincts
  • Good teammate
  • Makes clutch plays for his defense




  • Weaknesses:
  • Has some tightness
  • Stiffness in the hips
  • Size limitations as an edge rusher
  • Limited pass rusher in a 4-3


  • Summary: After recording 3.5 sacks during the shortened 2020 season, Hall broke out as junior, recording nine sacks, 52 tackles and two forced fumbles. Teams accounted for Hall more during his senior year, but he still played well and totaled 60 tackles, 6.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles.

    Hall is a talented pass rusher capable of making a difference for his defense. He has a good first-step and burst off the ball to get upfield. Alongside that serious explosiveness, Hall has closing speed and finishes rushes in a blur once he gets free. Hall has some functional strength and length to fight off blocks while using those attributes to keep offensive linemen from locking onto him. Hall is adept at getting on the edges of tackles to get penetration while using his hands at the same time to try and keep linemen from locking onto him. While Hall showed some stiffness as a rusher in college and struggled to redirect, he looked better in the postseason, including putting together a nice performance at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.



    As a run defender, Hall is solid. He has a strong build with length to attack at the point of attack. However, Hall has size limitations that could be problematic for the NFL. In a 4-3 defense, he will have to move to being a Sam linebacker who rushes from end in the sub package. Serving as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense would be a good fit for him.

    Hall has a long-shot chance at being a late first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he is more likely to be a second-round pick.



    Player Comparison: Matt Judon. Hall reminds me of Judon with the Ravens and Patriots. Judon was a fifth-round pick, but he probably would have gone higher if he hadn’t been coming out of a small school like Grand Valley State. Judon (6-3, 261) and Hall are similar size with speed off the edge.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2023 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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