2019 NFL draft: Jachai Polite will be a 1st round steal for somebody

Jachai Polite may end up dividing some people on where he goes in the 2019 NFL draft. So what are the primary reasons for this?

Position: DE

School: Florida

Year: Junior

Height: 6’2

Weight: 242 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• Natural when he plays standing up. Teams looking for 3-4 outside linebackers will have him circled on their boards. Moves so easily in space.
• Zero hesitation in his movements. He’s so quick off the snap in how he reacts to plays and shows an instinct for what the blockers are going to do before they do it.
• Elite explosion. Just bursts out of his stance when allowed to pin his ears back and rush. Tackles often aren’t able to stay with him and he has the bend to get the edge even when they do.
• Uses his hands properly not only to keep blockers off his body but to also shed them when they manage too. Not the type to get stonewalled too often.

This is what makes Polite so feared. His explosion and speed up the field has the tackle beat within the first second after the snap. Luckily the offense has the back ready to help. Yet not even that can stop him. He bounces off the block, doesn’t lose momentum and shoots back to the inside before they can react and he finds a wide open lane to the quarterback for a sack.

• One of those rushers who understands the quarterback is less important than the football. Constantly swats at wrist or hand looking for a strip rather than the sack.
• Does a good job of stopping and getting his arms up when the quarterback runs the quick pass, leading to the occasional deflection.
• Varies his moves from snap to snap, keeping blockers guess. Will go outside on one play then stutter steps with a hand swipe inside on the next. Gets in the backfield a lot.

WEAKNESSES:

• Power is going to be a question mark for him. Big tackles and strong tight ends have shown an ability to knock him off his spot a number of times.
• Size will be a concern for certain teams. Just doesn’t have the mass or length to play defensive end in a 4-3, which may limit his draft value.
• Not always going 100%. Too many times he takes his foot off the gas and not finished a play the way he should. Leads one to think he’s a “business decision” type.
• Awareness can be called into question at times. Presence of mind can be lacking. Bites on fakes a little too often and needs to be better about staying in his gaps.
• There are rumblings that Polite is not the most level-headed prospect. He’s apparently immature and not entirely invested in self-improvement.

Pro Comparison: Dee Ford

Ford had size concerns coming out of Auburn but his exceptional quickness, burst, and bend meant he could be a double digit sack guy in the right system. He was a 3-4 outside linebacker plain and simple. That’s why the Kansas City Chiefs drafted him in the 1st round. It took some time for him to get over some health issues, but over the past three seasons, he has 25 sacks including a career-high 13 in 2018.

Projection: Top 25

The lesser scheme versatility and character concerns might drop him a bit in the 1st round, but make no mistake. Polite was born and bred to hunt NFL quarterbacks. He’s way too much of a natural at it both in terms of his athleticism and his skill. If he can learn to embrace a proper work ethic and add some power to his frame, he could be in line to top 100 or more sacks by the end of his career. It’s all about finding the right fit.