Vosean Joseph NFL Draft 2019: Scouting Report for Buffalo Bills' Pick

STRENGTHS

—Eye-popping athlete who closes on the ball in a hurry and with an explosive, violent striking mentality.

—Has both downhill speed and agility; can open his hips and run in coverage or dip around blockers to rush the quarterback.

—Takes on blocks much better than expected for a lean-bodied outside linebacker. Comes in willing to pop his pads, but also uses his hands well to stack and shed.

—Has true sideline-to-sideline range.

—Lined up primarily at "Mike" linebacker for Florida, but is athletic enough to move around any of the linebacker spots. Is a three-down player who will excel in two-linebacker sets thanks to his range.

WEAKNESSES

—Doesn't have great size at 6'1" and 230 pounds, with 31⅜" arms.

—Mental lapses show up on film; will get caught taking false steps and trying to make up ground with speed and aggressive play style. Instincts and football IQ might not wow teams.

—Likes to take long angles to the ball; loops instead of going straight-line through the alley.

—Can lose track of his man in coverage; instincts and awareness with his back to the quarterback leave much to be desired.

—High-upside player but comes into the league with a low floor. Needs to be coached up.

OVERALL

Joseph is a great athlete with huge potential. He has some of the most fun tape to watch of any linebacker in the draft. With that said, his mental lapses and underdeveloped awareness could hold him back from living up to his high potential.

GRADE: 6.35 (ROUND 3—ROOKIE IMPACT)

PRO COMPARISON: Jordan Hicks