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Arik Armstead. A 6-foot-7, 292-pound monstrosity of a man is a powerful player who could be a legitimate star in the league. It's no secret that the New York Giants need talent on the defensive front. Armstead is talented, but is he a fit for what the team wants to do? I'm still not sure. Let's dig on a bit further.
Pros
- Brutal strength at point of attack
- Freakish athleticism/size
- Vicious hands with a powerful punch
- Powerful bull rush capable of collapsing an end
Cons
- Not an explosive first-step pass rusher
- Little production at Oregon (though some of it had to do with scheme - was asked to two gap a lot)
- Technique is all over the place/pad level gets way too high too often
- Change of direction ability (despite what combine numbers say) doesn't show up on tape consistently
Does He Fit With The Giants?
I'm still not sure what to think about him. I'm going to lean towards no, but I can understand if somebody thinks he does. For me, he does exhibit some quick twitch ability, which I think is essential in a 1 gap system, but I just don't see it enough for me to be sold on it. There's no doubt that he's a freakishly powerful bull rusher, but for some reason he just doesn't finish even if he gets in the backfield a lot of the time. His tape is up and down. I think his best fit is as a 5 technique just breaking down that side. I think I see Jason Pierre-Paul as more of the closed end in Spagnuolo's scheme, so that also adds to my concern.
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 39
Mocking The Draft - 21
CBS Sports - 38
Draft Tek - 17
Final Thoughts
Based on what you value, I envision some scouts/draftniks view Armstead as a top 5 talent in this draft. I can equally see others rating him closer to the second round. I stand a bit closer with the latter. The explosion in terms of acceleration and speed there is missing for me. Calais Campbell is often name dropped because of the similarities in length, the way they bully offensive linemen and just the brute strength and athleticism that they possess. His bull rush theoretically should be impossible to stop, and sometimes it is, just like Campbell's. That's Armstead's ceiling and one that I think he could reach but again, consistency is king. He needs it and his lack of speed around the edge and first step is what will concern. I've got him as a talent rated in the early to mid 20s.