Kony Ealy NFL Draft 2014: Highlights, Scouting Report for Carolina Panthers DE
February 4, 2014
Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri (HT: 6’4” WT: 273 lbs)
Second Round: 60th Pick
NFL Comparison: Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers
Combine Weigh-In | |||
Height | Weight | Arm | Hand |
6'4" | 273 | 34 1/4" | 9 1/2" |
NFL.com |
Combine Workout | |||||
40-yd dash | 10-yd split | Vert | Broad | 3-Cone | Bench |
4.92 | 1.66 | 31" | 9'6" | 6.83 | 22 |
NFL.com |
Positives
- Extremely versatile, effective as an edge defender or interior rusher and from various stances.
- Statistical production improved each season.
- Consistently plays with a high motor and high energy level.
- Highly instinctive in terms of play recognition and situational awareness.
- Is a constant hands user defending against the run and pass, skilled with his hands as well.
- Strength in his upper body to work effective rip, club and swim moves.
- Bats away the hands of pass-blockers when he gets a step or into gaps.
- Has flashed an efficient spin move and doesn’t lack for a variety of pass rush moves.
- Comes off the ball with sufficient burst to fire into contact or through gaps from the interior.
- Fine change of direction with quick feet to exploit offensive guards as an interior rusher.
- Has a track record of forcing fumbles when he gets to quarterbacks.
- Ability to get his hands on passes, incredible awareness of the quarterback in the pocket.
- Comfortable dropping into space on zone blitzes or as a quarterback spy.
- Is a backfield disruptor through splitting gaps, productive in terms of tackles for loss.
- Meets run-blockers with his hands and disengages well.
- Will push back edge-blockers to set the edge or force backs to get deeper to win around the corner.
- Effective and productive in pursuit of ball-carriers with a nose for the football.
Negatives
- Build looks a bit soft with bad weight to shed around the edges.
- Is not a dynamic athlete in terms of open-field speed, explosiveness or flexibility.
- Body type lends itself to playing with high pad level.
- Not an overpowering defensive lineman on contact despite a thick build.
- Rarely presses the pocket with a bull rush and doesn’t convert speed to power.
- Doesn’t press the corner with speed to rush the arc or overextend offensive tackles.
- Overly passive as a rusher on occasion, more assertive from the interior.
- Has issues keeping shoulders square to the line of scrimmage, making it easier for blockers to control his movements.
- Inconsistent getting off blocks when outsized, getting locked up at times.
- Can give ground defending the run; not incredibly stout.
- Negligible burst to close on ball-carriers when he does get off blocks.
Collegiate Statistics | ||||||
Year | Team | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | FF | PD |
2011 | Missouri | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | Missouri | 37 | 10 | 3.5 | 1 | 7 |
2013 | Missouri | 42 | 14.0 | 8.0 | 3 | 6 |
sports-reference.com |
Personal Notes
- ESPN's 49th-ranked DE as a recruiting prospect.
- Was a much leaner player out of high school at 6'5" and 230 pounds.
- Started for two seasons after redshirting in 2010 and seeing marginal playing time in 2011.
- Agriculture major at Missouri.
Ratings Chart

Overall
Ealy's versatility, technical refinement and endless energy will have him getting snaps in the NFL for a long time. His lack of physical upside in terms of athleticism and strength could keep him from ever becoming a dynamic pass-rushing talent.
Having the potential to be that type of rusher should be a prerequisite to being drafted in the top half of the first round.
Draft Projection: 2nd Round
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