Clive Walford NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Oakland Raiders Rookie

STRENGTHS

A silky-smooth tight end with a basketball background, Clive Walford has huge upside. Walford dominated the Senior Bowl, showing athleticism, a feel for space and a big catch radius. Walford is a very good move-blocker who can seal off the edge with an angle block and does well getting off his initial assignment to get to the second level.

He effectively uses his 34-inch arms to lock out defenders and is a tough player at the point of attack. He’s a three-down tight end with the versatility to play in-line, in motion or flexed into the slot. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see an NFL team use Walford in the backfield at times if it doesn't carry a fullback.

WEAKNESSES

Walford’s senior season ended with a meniscus injury that required surgery after the regular season. He’s still very raw and almost unnatural catching the ball, and concentration lapses lead to drops (to his credit, this didn’t happen at the Senior Bowl). As a route-runner, he tends to be tall and rigid, but this is a coaching point and not a physical limitation. When corrected, his body lean will prevent defenders from reading his route.

2014 STATISTICS

Receptions: 44      
Receiving Yards: 676        
Touchdowns: 7

PRO COMPARISON: Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts

A receiver with positional versatility and very good blocking ability, Walford is this year’s Dwayne Allen.

FINAL GRADE: 6.00/9.00 (Future Starter)