Andrew Billings NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Bengals Rookie

POSITIVES

If you haven’t watched Andrew Billings run down a screen play on the boundary yet, you’re missing out.

A nose tackle in the Baylor defensive scheme, Billings is one of the most active defensive linemen in all of college football. Flashing a motor that never stops and elite lateral quickness, Billings is able to make plays down the line or in the backfield.

Billings is a verifiable "hoss" to handle in one-on-one situations, and when he slides into a 1-technique to rush the passer through a gap, his quickness and toughness are a nightmare for centers and guards.

With a sudden, powerful push off the snap, Billings is able to penetrate and move the offensive line. Even as he was consistently double-teamed or combo-blocked, Billings was productive at a consistent rate, leading Baylor in tackles for a loss and sacks from the nose tackle position.

A powerful lifter in high school, Billings man-handles blockers when he latches on with leverage. He drops his weight well to anchor and plays with the leverage of a wrestler when shutting down inside rushing lanes. A former offensive lineman, the 21-year-old Billings is still learning the position and has remarkable upside.

NEGATIVES

Short arms are a major concern for teams looking at Billings. He was able to win with power and by overwhelming college blockers with movement and strength, but that style doesn’t produce in the pros. With a top-heavy frame, Billings has to prove he can get the lower-body push to re-establish the line of scrimmage in the NFL.

A lack of elite change-of-direction skills may also be an issue as Billings moves to the next level. He has straight-line quickness—as seen when he’s running down plays on the edge—but does he have the hips to snap and attack laterally?

He’s still a raw player, and Billings will ask NFL teams to bet on his upside. There’s always risk in that, which is why he could be available well into the 20s on draft day. Billings beat up some bad Big 12 interior offensive linemen, and he’ll face much stiffer competition from day one in the NFL.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 311 lbs.

40 Time: 5.05s

3-Cone: 8.05s

Short Shuttle: 4.82s

PRO COMPARISON: Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh Steelers (retired)
FINAL GRADE: 7.00/9.00 (Round 1—Rookie Starter)