2019 NFL Draft: Jaylon Ferguson is a one-trick pony but that’s okay

FRISCO, TX - DECEMBER 20: Jaylon Ferguson #45 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs sacks Ben Hicks #8 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the third quarter during the 2017 DXL Frisco Bowl on December 20, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
FRISCO, TX - DECEMBER 20: Jaylon Ferguson #45 of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs sacks Ben Hicks #8 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the third quarter during the 2017 DXL Frisco Bowl on December 20, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Jaylon Ferguson hasn’t had the best run leading up to the 2019 NFL draft, but does he still have value that teams will like?

Position: EDGE

School: Louisiana Tech

Year: Senior

Height: 6’5

Weight: 262 lbs

STRENGTHS:

  • Had 45 sacks in his college career. Production doesn’t always tell the story but when it’s this significant, it must be mentioned.
  • Size is definitely an advantage. Has both a bigger body and long arms that enable him to take on offensive tackles directly without being overwhelmed.
  • Good burst and acceleration to close on the football. When he builds up the necessary momentum he can surprise without how quick he can arrive.
  • Shows the necessary hand usage and strength to shed blockers when they initially are able to get him stopped, allowing him to still affect the play.

This is where Ferguson is going to ride or die in the NFL. His gift is rushing the passer. He gets up the field quickly here, bursting out of his stance. He uses both his long arms and upper body strength to leverage the tackle backward until he’s able to turn the corner and drives with good acceleration right into the quarterback.

  • When he maintains good leverage with his pads, he is able to shoot gaps into the backfield, maintaining the necessary balance to make the tackle.
  • Surprisingly developed in his pass rush arsenal. Not just a speed rush guy. Often shows the ability to convert speed to power with hard punches to knock blockers back. Excellent bull rush.
  • Wisely uses the effectiveness of his bull rush as a way to set tackles up for counter moves, often resulting in free shots at the quarterback.

WEAKNESSES:

  • Asking him to move laterally and quickly change directions is a mistake. His hips are considerably stiffer than desired.
  • Effort level is inconsistent. Some plays he’ll go 100% and others he’ll take his foot off the gas. This most often occurs on run plays.
  • His overall strength base is average. He often gets driven off the ball in the run game and doesn’t show much lower body strength to stand his ground.
  • Overall field awareness isn’t great. Can often lose track of the football whenever he’s overly focused on trying to beat his initial blocker.
  • Doesn’t always maintain his gap integrity on run plays, leaving the backdoor open for cutbacks. Lack of agility only makes this worse.
  • Despite having the length necessary, he too often doesn’t put it to full use, leading with his head and body on rushes and making it easier to block him.
  • Tested extremely poorly. Didn’t do drills at the combine and then had a disastrous showing at his pro day with awful numbers in the three-cone and 20-yard shuttle.

Pro Comparison: Yannick Ngakoue

The biggest knock on Ngakoue coming out of the draft was his stiffness. He just was not a premier athlete when it came to fluidity and lateral movement. Teams thought he was much too stiff. Yet his production in college was hard to argue. When he was allowed to go north-south as a pass rusher, he made things happen. Jacksonville eventually drafted him and he became their situational rusher. He has 29.5 sacks in three seasons.

Projection: 4th round

Teams are likely going to be caught up too much in Ferguson’s poor test numbers to remember what he is. He’s a pass rusher. That’s it. He won’t be a complete star in the NFL, but if you’re looking for somebody who knows how to make the quarterbacks uncomfortable this is somebody worth investing it. Odds are he’ll slip to early Day 3, end up in an up the field sort of scheme and become a quality QB hunter.