Darius Leonard NFL Draft 2018: Scouting Report for Indianapolis Colts' Pick

POSITIVES

—Four-year contributor who filled up the stat sheets in all phases.

—Above-average arm length for his height that aids in reach and stacking out blockers.

—Quick-trigger athlete who doesn't waste motion to hit top speed in a hurry.

—Above-average eye discipline to match concepts in motion and make plays on the ball.

—Lateral agility is impressive, allowing him to flow smoothly as plays develop.

NEGATIVES

—Undersized frame at 6'2", 229 pounds, and may not be able to add much more.

—Doesn't play with the nastiness and intensity of other top linebackers in this class.

—Athleticism can't be his only trick in the NFL, and he'll have to show more fundamental block-destruction technique.

—Consistent tackler but doesn't hit with the finishing force you'd like to see from a stud defender.

—Drops eyes into contact and will out-leverage himself too easily.

OVERALL

Darius Leonard's production is impressive regardless of the school where he played. He made a living by chasing the ball and relying on above-average athleticism to mask some technical deficiencies. Leonard's body may not be able to add much more weight, but if he can get into a system as a stacked 'backer with protective beef up front, he could be an excellent gap-shooting weak-side linebacker.

GRADE: 6.45 (Round 3)

PRO PLAYER COMPARISON: Jatavis Brown, San Diego Chargers