Nick Vigil NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Bengals Rookie

POSITIVES

The younger brother of Zach Vigil of the Miami Dolphins, Nick enters the 2016 NFL draft as a junior but with the size and production teams want at linebacker.

Vigil has the movement skills to avoid and work through traffic. He plays with excellent instincts and has quick first-step reads. He flows to the play and handles contact well. With quickness between the numbers, Vigil is able to make plays in the tackle box and outside it. He has the vision and awareness to read the ball and get in position without taking false steps.

An underrated blitzer, Vigil can bend and snap around the edge and will be valuable on delayed pressures and twists. In coverage, he wins with his instincts and has the quickness to hold up in man or zone coverage.

NEGATIVES

Vigil made an interesting decision to leave early for the NFL, as he never truly dominated at Utah State. On the field, he lacks the play power to stand up interior blockers. He’s an undersized player who needs to add bulk and lower-body strength.

Vigil is always moving but is rarely the first guy to the ball. He’s a chaser, not a leader, and has late reaction time in run situations. Poor awareness plagues the game film for Vigil, and he appears oblivious at times to his surroundings.

A fun player moving forward, Vigil struggles to carry tight ends or wide receivers down the field on deep routes. He lacks the hips to turn and run and would be best served staying in zone coverage underneath.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 239 lbs.

40 Time: 4.72s

3-Cone: 6.73s

Short Shuttle: 4.00s

PRO COMPARISON: Erin Henderson, New York Jets
FINAL GRADE: 5.70/9.00 (Round 4—Backup Caliber)