Dallas Cowboys 2012 Draft: Is USC Defensive End Nick Perry a Good Fit?

My latest scouting report is up at the Times, and it is on USC defensive end Nick Perry.  A preview is pasted below, and you can view the entire thing by clicking the link above.

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U.S.C. defensive end Nick Perry is a bit small at 6-3, 250 pounds.  Despite playing with his hand in the dirt in college, Perry will most likely find his way as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the N.F.L.  Still, his primary strength will probably always be rushing the passer.

I watched tape of Perry before checking his statistics or combine results, and what I saw coincided with how Perry measured.  He’s an explosive player who is outstanding when moving forward. He fires off the ball and can get upfield in a hurry, and this is represented in his 4.64 40-yard dash time and 38.5-inch vertical leap.  These numbers are sensational for a player his size.

Perry’s speed rush is one of the best in the class, as he uses his explosiveness to quickly gain leverage on slower tackles.  You can see this at the 38-second mark below, when Perry flies off the ball, dips his shoulder and turns the corner.  He’s very good at making his body “small” to limit a target for the blocker.

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I don’t see any team garnering particularly great value on Perry, particularly because he’s slated to go near the back part of the first round.  That’s too early for what very well could be a pass-rush specialist.  Perry could be an option in the second round, but with Anthony Spencer receiving the franchise tag, I think you’ll see the ‘Boys head in a different direction.

Previous Scouting Reports

Michael Brockers, DT/DE, LSU

Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida/North Alabama

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia