There are thousands of debates that you can have surrounding the NFL draft, but one of the most common, and likely most important, conversations scouts and fans need to have is what traits/skills matter the most. The draft is so complex, and scouting prospects consistently and successfully may very well be the hardest job that anyone has in the NFL. Winning or losing the draft can be the difference between a playoff appearance and a Super Bowl, and for GMs, it can be the difference between an extension and being fired.
There are so many factors that go into evaluating a prospect, and each player must have their own individual profile. The number of variables involved in the draft process can make scouting feel almost impossible. Even inside individual position groups, there are different types of players that you have to scout completely differently. For example, players like Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf, and Puka Nacua are wildly different reciever prospects, but all three have found success in the NFL. Today, I wanted to take a bit of a dive into what my process looks like for each position group.
Quarterbacks
Measurables: 6 feet or taller and 9-inch hands
Intangibles: Accuracy at all three levels, velocity/throw power, mobility
Traits that are important but can be coached: Decision making, footwork in the pocket, pocket presence
Quarterback is the most valuable position in the game, and the vast majority of the time, if you are going to find your franchise quarterback, it will be through the draft. Size matters at QB, and while there are a few exceptions, it is nearly impossible to be a successful QB if you cannot see over the line of scrimmage or get a firm grip on the ball. While these traits are not measurable, it is rare for a quarterback to add more velocity to their throws, become more mobile/athletic, or greatly improve their accuracy throughout their career, so identifying these traits in college is important. The most coachable traits for quarterbacks are often their ability to read a defense and work through their reads in a pro-style offense. Turnovers, escaping the pocket too early, or poor footwork are not good signs, but do not overly concern me as long as the player ends up with the right coaching staff.
Running backs
Measurements: No requirements, but somewhere between 5’8-6’2 and between 190-230 is ideal
Intangibles: Vision, speed, burst/acceleration, aggressiveness
Traits that are important but can be coached: Pass blocking, route running, pre-snap identification
Running back has become one of the least valuable positions in football, not because of its importance, but because of the depth of talent and the extent to which they rely on others to succeed. Size is not a major limiting factor at running back, but it can often determine whether the player is a passing-down back, an early-down back, or can be used in a variety of roles. As a running back, the traits I need to see are good vision to identify run lanes, enough speed, but more importantly, acceleration through the gap or bounce to the outside, and aggressiveness to fight through contact downfield or between the tackles. Pass blocking is increasingly more valuable for NFL running backs, and while that can be taught, it is a boost to a player’s stock if they come into the NFL able to impact the passing game.
Wide receivers
Measurements: No requirements, but somewhere between 5’8-6’5 and between 170-215 is ideal
Intangibles: Speed, acceleration, AND deceleration, hands/drops, physicality
Traits that are important but can be coached: feel for zone defense, route running/route tree, release off the line, versatility
Scouting receivers can be tough, especially given the examples I listed above. Players can be vastly different athletes but succeed in a variety of roles. Size is not a major obstacle for receivers because they can play a variety of roles in an offense. As far as intangibles go, movement skills are king for reciever talent. Being fast and quick is nice, but the ability to stop on a dime is just as important to a reciever, and establishing the player’s ability to decelerate is exactly what has created some of the NFL’s best route runners. It is rare to see a player add the ability to accelerate or decelerate in the NFL, and other traits like drops and physicality seldom change. Route running technique, release, and zone coverage identification can be taught at the NFL level, but a player who brings those skills already has a massive step up.
Tight ends
Measurements: No requirements, but somewhere between 6’2-6’7 and between 230-270 is ideal
Intangibles: Strength, speed, hands/drops
Traits that are important but can be coached: Run blocking at the second level, route running, zone coverage feel, blocking technique, and hand placement
Tight ends, for me, are one of the hardest positions to evaluate, as their success depends heavily on their coach using them effectively. The traditional TE would be about 6’4″ and 250 pounds and would always line up outside the tackle, but in the modern NFL, that idea has completely shifted. Now teams want a variety, and many TEs are coming in around 240, specializing as pass catchers. For every TE, blocking is a key part of the game, and seeing their strength as a run blocker is important for them to find the field. Speed and agility are also valuable for reciever first TEs, but more importantly, reliability is important, and drops cannot be a pattern. Tight ends are often asked to be check-down options or reliable quick-pass players, and that reliability is key for their success in the NFL.
Offensive tackles
Measurements: 32.5 inch arms is the BARE MINIMUM, 6’4-6’9 and over 300 pounds
Intangibles: Strength, lateral movement ability, footwork, knee bend
Traits that are important but can be coached: Hand placement, depth of set, outside kick back leg placement
The single most thin position in the NFL is probably offensive tackle, and 90% of the NFL will likely be looking to upgrade at least one of their tackle spots this offseason. Size is VERY important at tackle, and 33-inch arms are the usual minimum unless a player (I folded on Will Campbell last year) is special. Tackles MUST have the intangibles in the NFL, or they will be bullied by stronger, quicker NFL DEs. Watching how a tackle moves and sinks their hips and bends their knees is, maybe, the most important thing to me. Technique can be learned by tackles, even if they are grabby and get a lot of holds or hands to the face, they can be coached to fix their technique on the outside. Size and movement skills are essential and should be the first thing anyone looks for.
Guards
Measurements: 6’2-6’6 and over 315 pounds
Intangibles: Power, strength/anchor, lateral movement ability, footwork, knee bend, mobility
Traits that are important but can be coached: Hand placement, depth of set, pass off rushers, double teaming, and disengagement
When I evaluate a guard prospect, I often view them as tackle prospects who did not meet the intangible thresholds. Similar to tackle, size matters at guard, but length is less important as there is not as much space for linemen to get outside of you. Being a stocky guard is a good thing, and seeing how a player can bend their knees and get low may be priority one. In the NFL, a guard can learn how to engage and disengage at each level, but you cannot teach the blend of power and agility needed. Guards have to be able to pull at times and also disengage blocks to reach the second level, so that athleticism is essential. Taller guards often struggle because they cannot get low enough to make impact blocks.
Center
Measurements: Between 6’0-6’4 and between 290-320
Intangibles: Mobility, knee bend, strength/anchor
3 traits that are important but can be coached: Hand recovery, blitz identification, double teams, handoff rushers
Center is maybe the least valuable position in the draft because of the depth of talent across the NFL, but having a good center can be huge, as they are the leader of your offensive line. I separate centers from guards, as they have a completely different profile and need to be a bit smaller and a bit quicker. Centers need to be able to bend and get low, as they are down a hand at first and will rely on their legs and chest to keep blockers in front of them. Seeing how a center gets down the field in the run game is very important and is a major part of my evaluation. You can often cover up a bad center on the interior of the offensive line, but a good one is a major luxury to have.
IDL
Measurements: 32-inch arms, 6’0-6’6, and ≥300
Intangibles: Power, strength, lateral movement ability, motor, RUN DEFENSE
Traits that are important but can be coached: Hand placement, versatility, lane discipline, pass rush moves
Defensive tackle is becoming one of the most valuable positions on the defensive line, and regardless of whether you run an odd or even front, being able to generate interior pressure is so valuable. When drafting defensive tackles, I love getting great athletes who your defensive coordinator can mold into your scheme and the player you need them to be. The first thing you need from a defensive tackle is run defense, and if another team can run the ball straight at your DT and gain 3-5 yards every play, they may as well not even be on the field. Run defense rarely improves, but it is something that elite athletes often start with on the interior. Sometimes, for defensive linemen, it simply becomes a question of who’s the better athlete, and if you have a good defensive coach, gambling on upside often will pay off.
EDGE
Measurements: 32-inch arms, 6’2-6’7 and 235-280
Intangibles: Burst, first step, bend, power, motor, strength
Traits that are important but can be coached: Hand placement, pass rush plan/move variety, edge setting
EDGE rushers come in two forms (in my eyes) as there is the even front DE and the odd front OLB. If you are drafting a DE, I would say the minimum weight for a prospect is about 250, whereas for an OLB, the max is probably 260. The number one priority for an OLB is the first step and bend off the edge. It is a mad rush to the quarterback, and finding players with speed, burst, and bend are what make for the best OLBs in the NFL. For a DE, I look for a well-rounded player, as even front defenses require lane discipline and edge setting. You want a player with length and consistency. Pass rush is a plus, but the player has to be able to hold their own on the outside and have the strength to hold their ground in the run game. Fineness can be coached, and while a player has to come in with some discipline and finesse, athletic ability and good coaching make for great EDGE rushers.
LB
Measurements: 6’0 minimum (with few exceptions), 220 minimum
Intangibles: Range, acceleration, reaction times, vision, tackle angles, motor, tackle ability
Traits that are important but can be coached: Discipline, ball aggression, coverage positioning, pre-snap adjustment
Linebacker may be the second hardest position for me to evaluate, as there is so much that goes into being a good linebacker, and it can be hard to know what will and won’t translate to the NFL. Similar to tight ends, there are certain athletic thresholds, but the value of a linebacker comes from their football IQ, vision, tackle ability, and range. A good linebacker lives in the film room and the weight room, and you want a guy who knows what play is coming before the snap. This can be hard to identify, and in college, many players can compensate with elite athletic ability. You can develop a players understanding of the game, but you cannot teach work ethic, and the best linebackers are the ones who work the hardest… that simple.
Corner
Measurements: 30-inch arms, between 5’8-6’3
Intangibles: Speed, confidence, hip sink, ball skills, play rec, contested catch strength, jamming strength, ability to flip hips,
3 traits that are important but can be coached: Zone discipline, tackling technique, hand placement, presnap positioning
The hardest position in football… Hands down is cornerback. There is so much that goes into being a good corner in the NFL, and finding the type of athlete that can do all the things NFL corners are asked to do is rare. I often like to gamble at the corner position with players who I know have the athleticism to make an impact, even if they are still raw. The combine is the most important for corners in my opinion, and I want to see how they move more than any other position. But after athletic ability, to me, the most important thing a corner can have is confidence. The position is hard, and in the NFL, corners will fail; they will get burned, but you have to be able to shake that off and play another down with the most talented pass catchers in the world. A scared cornerback is just dead in the water, and while some consistency is important, negative plays and turnovers win you games. I want my corners to be athletic, aggressive, physical and confident before all else
Nickel Corner
Measurements: Over 180 pounds
Intangibles: Speed, aggressiveness, play recognition, ball skills, tackle strength, ability to flip hips, blitzing skills
3 traits that are important but can be coached: Zone discipline, disguise coverages, hand usage, versatility
My favorite position to scout is nickel corner, and I would argue that they are the most underappreciated players on the football field. Having a good nickel is like having an extra corner, safety, and linebacker at once, and the ability to threaten man and zone coverage and to pass rush/run defend is a game-changer. It takes a very specific athletic skillset to be a nickel, so that is the first thing I look for, as the ability to sink your hips and explode on the ball is important, but also having the strength to tackle all kinds of ball carriers is equally important. Watch for tackling and play recognition, and when you pair that with an elite athlete and someone with a strong work ethic, you have a star nickel corner on your hands.
Safety
Measurements: Not many restrictions
Intangibles: Play recognition, hit power, tackle consistency, range, ball skills
3 traits that are important but can be coached: Zone discipline, versatility, man coverage technique, pre-snap positioning
Safety is a rapidly changing position in the NFL, and in the Super Bowl, safety play proved to be incredibly valuable. Every team needs two types of safety, free safeties and strong safeties. When looking for a free safety, look for range and ball skills, as the ability to cover sideline to sideline is very important. There is a plethora of talented free safeties in the NFL, but finding a strong (or hybrid) safety can be a struggle. Strong safeties still need range, but they also need to be bigger and stronger, able to stick in man coverage at the line of scrimmage and come down to tackle across the middle. But for both positions, play recognition can be a major game-changer, and safeties need to understand what they are seeing early in the play. For me, I like to gamble on athleticism with strong safeties, but I like to bet on instincts and range for free safeties.
