Dontari Poe to Chiefs: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

When you read 33 tackles, eight tackles for loss and one sack in an entire season (in Conference USA, mind you), it doesn't exactly summon up pictures of a coveted draft prospect. Being 6'4" 346 pounds with a sub-five second 40-yard dash and 44 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press summons up a picture of a defensive lineman that the NFL has never seen before. Which picture will Memphis DT Dontari Poe live up or down to in the NFL?

Poe's tantalizing upside and many holes in his game are apparent in his scouting reports:

Rob Rang, CBS Sports:

"Flashes exciting burst off the snap to penetrate. Relies often on a simple bull rush but it is only marginally productive due to the fact that Poe routinely stands up at contact, losing leverage and negating his own strength. Does not possess an adequate secondary move if his initial burst is contained. Too often struggles to disengage with blockers smaller and weaker than him. Shows the burst to split gaps and make the play on his own. Also has the ability to create a pile in the middle, even showing the ability to split the occasional double-team. However, is just as often blown off the ball due to his high pad level. Flashes good lateral agility to side-step blockers and can surprise you with his speed and effort in lateral pursuit. May struggle as a nose guard in the NFL due to shorter than ideal arms (31 5/8), especially considering his height. Good strength and balance to sit down, lock-out and create a pile, however, leading to possibilities inside and out (in the 3-4). Can wow you with his ability to push the pocket and drag down ballcarriers with just one arm but doesn't play with power consistently enough for a man with his talents. Surprisingly light on his feet and shows the ability to break down reasonably well to make the tackle in tight quarters against much smaller, quicker ballcarriers."

Todd McShay, ESPN:

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“I see the workout numbers, and I found myself wanting and waiting and wishing and hoping is what I keep saying. Every single play I watched from Memphis, just hoping that he would make a big play. He will disrupt and he'll be involved in some plays, but for a guy that you're talking about potential top-10, top 12-pick, I just didn't see the production, and I just didn't see a guy who understands and has a great feel for the game. And that's not to say he won't develop, and he very well may, and one day he may be a junior Haloti Ngata. But Haloti Ngata coming out was a much better football player than Dontari Poe is right now, and that scares me.’’

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Dontari Poe as a pro is merely a projection based on his astounding combination of size, athleticism and strength. Clearly, the product that he is right now coming out of Memphis would only have a very sporadic effect on the pro game. He is unlikely to start right away and would probably benefit from a"redshirt" year to learn the game from pros and pro coaches so that he doesn't fall back on the bad habits and inconsistent play he displayed in college.

If it all comes together, Poe will be a perennial All-Pro and crucial piece of the defense. If Poe's development stalls out, he could be the latest on a long list of players that lit the combine on fire, but didn't create a spark in the NFL.

Analysis:

Poe is an unheralded player, having not produced much at Memphis, but his measurables made him too attractive for KC to pass up on. It make take him a few years to develop, but if he does, he'll anchor the Chiefs D-Line for years to come.