Royce Freeman NFL Draft 2018: Scouting Report for Denver Broncos' Pick
POSITIVES
—One of the most productive players in college football over the last four seasons, Freeman opted to return to Oregon for his senior season instead of entering the 2017 draft.
—Freeman has a jacked physique and looks the part walking off the bus with a 230-plus-pound frame that's thick throughout.
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—Thanks to a coaching change, Freeman has shown he can produce in multiple schemes. The 2017 offense asked him to bang between the tackles, and he did that job well, but in the past he played well in space.
—Freeman offers upside as a third-down back. He comes into the league with proven hands and the body to improve as a blocker.
—Teams running a true inside zone should love Freeman's 2017 tape and the potential of getting him back to the athlete he was before injuries in 2016.
NEGATIVES
—A knee injury suffered in 2016 seriously robbed Freeman of his previous explosiveness, turning him into more of a one-cut power runner.
—Freeman doesn't always run like a big man and will shy away from contact or try to bounce runs. He may still be working off the rust (mental and physical) from his knee injury. He seems to have lost some lateral agility.
—You won't see true speed or burst from Freeman. He isn't the type of back to run away from defenses if he hits daylight. He will be caught from behind on long runs.
—Freeman's production is comforting, but he's been used a lot over the last four seasons and may have already played his best ball.
—Teams will need to be thorough in evaluating Freeman's injury and the subpar traits he showed afterward. If they believe he'll bounce back in 2018, his value could be higher.
OVERALL
If Freeman can return to his pre-injury form, he'll be one of the steals of the 2018 draft class. He's a physical back with a diverse skill set that fits into many different offensive systems. Don't be surprised if Freeman has a better rookie season than players we've ranked ahead of him.
GRADE: 5.99 (Round 4)
PRO COMPARISON: Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears
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.jpg?w=480 "Titans Camp Football")
