STRENGTHS
KLavon has the size and length teams look for in an edge rusher. He has good athletic talent and does a solid job rushing the passer. KLavon has those long arms that can be considered weapons when rushing the passer or in coverage. He is a quick-twitch athlete who can change direction quickly and cover ground quickly because of his long legs. He comes off the line of scrimmage at a good pad level for a tall player, allowing him to gain an advantage on players bigger than he is. He has the athletic talent to play in your front seven at multiple positions in any style of defense on, or off the line of scrimmage. KLavon should help the team that selects him on passing downs on or off the line, rushing the passer or in coverage situations.
CONCERNS
I was very surprised to find out that KLavon was 6’4” 250lbs. On film, he plays much smaller and looks more like a free safety playing the wrong position up near the line and in the box. He’s a sloppy tackler and struggles to finish his pass rush against less talented offensive lineman. He gives excellent effort on every play but his lower and upper body strength is not where it should be at this point in his career. KLavon football IQ and instincts are not up to the level of his athletic talent also. He has slim hips and small shoulders and because of his sloppy tackling not being able to bulk up might concern teams because of injury issues at the next level. He did have knee surgery and might not be all the way back from that injury that caused him, a full year of playing time.
BOTTOM LINE 3.78
KLavon reminds me of Barkevious Mingo. I felt Barkevious was a specialty player and I feel that KLavon is very much like him and a specialty player also. KLavon has the athletic talent to be a starter on defense but will likely not start because of his inability to tackle securely, and lack of instincts. KLavon could be the type of athlete that can overcome his lack of bulk, like Hall of Fame and former Dolphins ER/LB Jason Taylor, but with what I see on film right now, if KLavon becomes that type of player it will take some time and a lot of hard work. That being said, there is nothing that will stop him except time and hard work and maybe KLavon will overcome his weaknesses. It has happened before but for me, in this draft, all I can see is a specialty player and I would let other teams do all the work and wait for his first contract to be up. But that’s just me.
