Randy Gregory: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on DE's NFL Draft Stock

There are few prospects in the 2015 draft class who are as intriguing as Randy Gregory. Possessing an imposing blend of size and athleticism, the former Nebraska defensive end has all of the physical tools to be a disruptive pass-rusher. It's no surprise, then, that he's a hot commodity leading up to the draft. 

Continue for updates. 

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Gregory Flashes Upside at Combine

Sunday, Feb. 22

Gregory participated in the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday and flashed some of his athletic upside. Here are his measurements and results from the drills, per his NFL.com combine profile:

Height	Weight	Arm Length	Hand Size
40-Yard Dash	Bench Press	Vertical Jump	Broad Jump
Three-Cone Drill	20-Yard Shuttle	60-Yard Shuttle
6'5"	235 pounds	34"	10"
4.64 seconds	24 reps	36.5"	125.0"
N/A	N/A	N/A

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Gregory Garners Aldon Smith Comparisons

Friday, Feb. 20

Gregory has garnered comparisons to San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who recorded 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons, and has long been projected as a top-five pick. 

"I think I'm worthy of the No. 1 pick," he recently wrote for USA Today. "I would hope anybody in the draft would want to be the No. 1 pick. I know how I am as a player. I know my potential. I know what I can do."

Many, such as Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar, would tend to agree: 

However, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported that Gregory showed up to the NFL combine way lighter than expected:

Josh Norris of NBC Sports noted that that's meaningful news and provided Gregory's full measurements:

Bleacher Report's Michael Schottey reported that the weight might not be a big deal:

While he showed up light, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed part of why team's continue to be high on the edge rusher:

Gregory is a versatile athlete who lined up at several different spots while playing for Nebraska. He could reasonably fit as a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker, but many pundits believe he is best suited for the latter. 

Miller commented to that as well, saying "I think if you're looking at Gregory as a 43 end you're doing it wrong. He's a 34 outside linebacker and has impressed with coverage skills in training."

That would bring the Tennessee Titans (No. 2), Washington Redskins (No. 5), New York Jets (No. 6) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 8) into play.

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah and Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke all have Gregory going to the Titans, who finished 2014 a solid 14th in sack percentage but don't have a real game-changer on the edge. 

Burke gave his thoughts: 

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If you have read any of our more recent mocks, a lot of the top-10 picks will look familiar. A pass-rusher remains one of Tennessee's glaring needs headed into the offseason, and Gregory's athleticism and versatility would provide just that. Gregory has drawn some mixed reviews himself, with Mel Kiper Jr. noting Gregory could "slide a bit."

Maybe, but the 22-year-old Cornhusker is just scratching the surface on his potential. Once he refines his game, he could be close to unstoppable.

"

ESPN's Mel Kiper projects the Titans to instead take USC monster Leonard Williams, allowing Washington to select Gregory at No. 5: 

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Gregory—a freak athlete who brings scheme versatility, the ability to disrupt in the passing game and hold up a lot better than many realize against the run—would be a fit for any team drafting in the top five, because you just can't beat the upside as a disruptive force on defense. I also like Shane Ray here if he drops, and this is a spot where teams looking at Marcus Mariota could move, but if they stay put and don't have interest in Mariota, Gregory makes a lot of sense.

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Washington finished the season 19th in sack percentage, but Brian Orakpo is a potential free agent and Ryan Kerrigan could use some help on the opposite side. In that particular scenario, Gregory would join a handful of Nebraska products on Washington's roster. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller went another direction, suggesting that the Jets, Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 3) are all good potential fits: 

Atlanta and Jacksonville are particularly interesting.

The Falcons were putrid at getting to the quarterback last year (31st in sack percentage) and may lose both Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora, who were No. 1 and 2 on the team in sacks, to free agency. They are desperate for some kind of spark on the edge, and landing Gregory at No. 8 would be a steal. 

Jacksonville runs a 4-3 and its biggest need isn't at defensive end, but the idea of taking Gregory, who seems like a perfect fit in Gus Bradley's "Leo" position, may be too enticing to pass up. 

Of course, Gregory's potential is only half of what makes him such a compelling prospect. With a fairly lean frame (240 pounds), he could struggle against the run, making him a potentially risky acquisition. 

One scout, via nj.com's Mark Eckel, summed up his downside with a not-so-kind comparison: 

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He's a hell of an athlete. He just doesn't make plays. He's similar to Dion Jordan from a couple of years ago.'

He does flash. You'll see him make a play and go 'wow' and then he won't do anything else the rest of the game. To me he's still a work in progress.'

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All things considered, Gregory skill set is that of a boom-or-bust prospect, and his wide-reaching draft stock seems to represent that. 

Still, no prospect is perfect, and Gregory's upside is as a dominant game-changer in the passing game. Don't expect him to be waiting long on draft day.