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This draft is flush with some interesting three technique defensive tackles. A player that is flowing quite under the radar is Grady Jarrett from Clemson. While his numbers don't pop out at you, don't be fooled. Among stars like Stephone Anthony and Vic Beasley, Jarrett popped off the screen almost as much as they did. Let's go on and read a bit further:
Pros
- Bowling ball, gets leverage very easily
- Terrific, consistent first step
- Violent hands with some pass rush polish
- Very, very good motor and is "in" on a lot of plays
- Very good athleticism and his explosion is consistent with what you see on the spider graph
Cons
- Stamina is questionable towards end of games
- Can't anchor very well
- Average frame that looks maxed out
- Not much versatility. In a 1 gap 4-3 only.
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Do the Giants run a 1 gap 4-3 scheme? Yes. Do they need a pocket penetrator? Yes. He's probably as perfect a fit for that under-tackle role as you're going to get. He can play as a 1 tech or 3 tech but don't expect him to anchor. He's going in with the primary duty of shooting the gap and stressing the line integrity. Could be a nightmare when put up next to Big Hank.
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 98
Mocking The Draft - 51
CBS Sports - 86
Draft Tek - 98
Final Thoughts
Lack of versatility will hurt him, but he's going to be a very good get for some team in the third or fourth round. He's flashed starting-caliber traits and he's consistently a high effort guy. Having someone that's a good worker and has superior athletic ability for the position is always rare so you want to jump on that when you can. A pro comparison for me would be someone like Geno Atkins. I'm not saying that he'll reach Atkins' level, but he's got some of the same strengths and weaknesses.