STRENGTHS
Rashaan is a quick twitch athlete with excellent power and quickness to defeat bigger players at the point of attack. He can play multiple positions in multiple styles of defenses in your front seven. He is one of the best defensive players at meeting those big offensive linemen, standing them up, and shedding them to make the tackle. Rashaan has unique quickness and change of direction skills along with excellent instincts to play faster than he will time. The kid is smart and is one of the quickest pass rushing players in the draft, flying off the line coming from a three point stance or standing up. He has powerful hands and with the combination of his unique quickness, size, instincts and high Football IQ these attributes allows Rashaan to make plays all over the defense and be used on the line of scrimmage and off the line of scrimmage. Rashaan is underrated at this point in this draft.

CONCERNS
Rashaan played with a groin injury this year and although I feel that is a positive because he still made plays others may not think the same way as I do. Right now he hasn’t worked out to show his true speed and quickness and I’m guessing when he is able to work out he still may not be at full speed. Also when Rashaan rushes the passer he can be easily re –routed because he lacks the lower body strength and power in his legs to take the most direct route to the quarterback in spite of his quickness.

BOTTOM LINE
To understand how quick Rashaan is I think you have to go back to his earlier games in his career. That groin injury could be a problem for him and it could drop him in this draft if it is a chronic problem. I think he needs time to heal and bring his lower body strength level up and get into better nutrient and once he over comes this issue Rashaan will be a playmaker defensive player and the type of player you can more around your defense so that he can make plays. He can cover if you want him too but he impacts attacking the line scrimmage as a line backer off the ball or as a pass rusher on the line best. Nevertheless he is a hell of a middle linebacker understanding angles with excellent instincts and with that unique quickness that allows him to play faster than he is. If Rashaan can work out and shows the speed and quickness he shows on film in his junior year of play, he most likely will be selected in the first round but if he is struggling to work out and put up some impressive numbers than he just might drop to a lower round. Nevertheless no matter what round he is selected in he still has first round talent.

Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018