Jalen Mills NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Eagles Rookie

POSITIVES

A senior who started all four years at LSU, Jalen Mills has played cornerback and safety for the Tigers and has an NFL-ready body and resume.

Mills attacked the field from numerous roles. That allowed him to notch six interceptions, four sacks, eight tackles for loss and 11 passes defensed in a loaded secondary during his career. Mills best projects as a free safety in the NFL, but teams may see him as a Damarious Randall type who can also play cornerback.

Mills can make plays at the line of scrimmage and has the arms to jam and the strength to redirect receivers off the ball. He’s smart in press coverage and doesn’t get caught leaning in his stance or giving up inside/outside leverage.

The man who replaced Tyrann Mathieu at LSU, Mills has some traits in common with the Honey Badger. He can blitz from the slot, play near the line or walk off the ball and play as a safety in man or zone coverage.

NEGATIVES

An arrest in June 2014 on second-degree battery charges will be a huge question mark for teams. The charge was dropped when Mills completed a diversion program.

Mills started the year on the sideline with a broken left fibula and torn ankle ligaments. The injury suffered in August could have shut him down for the season, but he fought back and played the second half of the campaign.

An average frame—Mills has 31 ⅛” arms and 9 ⅛” hands—will evoke questions from scouts. Mills may be looked at as a third safety or third cornerback but never as a front-line starter without the desired size and production as a tackler. Being a jack-of-all-trades instead of a master of one could kick him down boards.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 191 lbs.

40 Time: 4.48s

3-Cone: 6.86s

Short Shuttle: 4.00s

PRO COMPARISON: Terrence Brooks, Baltimore Ravens
FINAL GRADE: 6.50/9.00 (Round 2-3—Future Starter)