2020 NFL Draft: Penn State EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos scouting report

Penn State edge defender Yetur Gross-Matos is one of the best players at his position and should be a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Yetur Gross-Matos declared for the 2020 NFL Draft as an underclassman. The Penn State edge defender will likely be a first round pick.

In the edge conversation, there is, of course, a big gap between Ohio State’s Chase Young and the rest of the class and for now he’s behind Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, but I think he deserves to be the leading candidate to be the third edge defender off the board somewhere in the middle of the first round.

Production: Gross-Matos has produced pretty well over each of the past two seasons. In his sophomore 2018 season he recorded 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and eight sacks which resulted in him being named first-team all-Big Ten by the media. This season he has recorded 39 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and two forced fumbles which resulted in him being named first-team all-big by the media and the coaches.

Physical Tools: Gross-Matos has ideal edge defender tools with a big frame (6-5, 264 pounds), long arms, good strength, and good athleticism. Although he’s not a freak athlete, he still moves pretty well and can beat offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage with his quickness.

Pass Rush Technique: His best trait as a pass rusher is how well he uses his hands. Many times on film he beats offensive linemen by throwing their arms off of him to the outside so he can get inside to get around them. He can beat linemen as I alluded to earlier with his quickness off the snap. Also, at times he lines up on inside and takes on guards or even centers and can get some push with a bull rush.

Technique Against the Run: He is good defending the run. He wins leverage battles in the trenches with his exceptional hand usage and pure strength. He also is a big-time hustler, multiple times on film he runs all the way across the field to make tackles.

One thing he can improve upon is making sure he sets the edge to stop the ball carrier from bouncing outside, while there are times where he does there’s also times where he goes inside and starts rushing like it’s going to be a pass play and fails to set the edge.

Read and React: Not too good at reading screens, and usually just goes full throttle at the quarterback. Not a big deal, but would just like to see him develop more of a sense for his opponent is trying to do.

Alignment Capabilities: Can line up in multiple positions along the defensive line. 5-technique is his primary alignment, but he also can line up at 3-technique and even 0-technique, he’ll probably line up primarily at 5-technique in the NFL as well, but having the versatility to line up all over the defensive line is a good thing.

He’s also dropped into coverage on some snaps, which he probably won’t do a lot of in the NFL, but it’s good to know that he has experience doing it. Best case scenario he plays 4-3 defensive end in the NFL as well because that’s where his traits are best suited to be utilized.

Bottom Line: Between Gross-Matos natural physical traits, production, ability to use his hands in both pass rush and run defense, and versatility he projects as starting quality edge defender from day one with pro bowl upside.

His draft position could change based on how he and others at his position perform at the combine and pro days, but if can put up decent workout numbers he should be a 1st round pick.