De'Vondre Campbell NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Falcons Rookie

POSITIVES

A transfer from Hutchinson Community College, De'Vondre Campbell settled into a starting role at Minnesota and impressed with 92 tackles and four sacks in 2015.

A freak frame, Campbell is big, athletic, coordinated and moves through space like a safety or tight end. He has natural ability as a pass-rusher and led the Gophers in sacks during the last season. Campbell largely wins with length and speed on the edge, but he had success against Big Ten talent.

An effective and involved tackler, Campbell sticks with the play and pops off the film as a clean-up tackler. He’s aggressive and physical at the point of attack and has no problem hunting for the ball in the middle of the field.

Length, athleticism and toughness are things linebacker coaches will love when it comes time to watch Campbell’s film. If the scouts in the room don’t knock his instincts too much, he has a shot to be an early Day 3 selection.

NEGATIVES

Instincts and awareness are questionable when viewing Campbell’s film. He often slow-played the run and looked lost on misdirection too often for a senior linebacker. Campbell’s work on the whiteboard with NFL teams will be telling as to his football IQ.

Part of the instincts question comes from Campbell playing all over the field and running past the play. He’s erratic in space and looks uncontrolled as he roams the field. Inconsistent as a coverage linebacker, Campbell can be a liability in zone coverage as he lets himself wander.

An inefficient path-taker to the ball, Campbell loops to the ball before he takes a clean angle. With a lack of balance and pad height, his change of direction can be inconsistent.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 232 lbs.

40 Time: 4.58s

3-Cone: 7.07s

Short Shuttle: N/A

PRO COMPARISON: Tank Carder, Cleveland Browns
FINAL GRADE: 5.70/9.00 (Round 4—Backup Caliber)