HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 234

HAND: 9"

ARM: 32½"

WINGSPAN: 78⅜"

40-YARD DASH: 4.64

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 35.5"

BROAD: 10'0"

POSITIVES

— Good size and frame with a thick build and good movement skills overall.

— Against the run, he takes on blocks with low pad level and has impressive upper body strength to get extension against offensive linemen. Also, is solid at holding his ground as a run defender.

— Impressive speed to help his sideline-to-sideline range versus stretch runs.

— In zone coverage, he can read the quarterback's eyes to anticipate throws and has the movement skills to tighten throwing windows.

— Quick to close after the catch and is a decent open-field tackler who wraps up and understands how to use his body weight and leverage to bring ball carriers down.

NEGATIVES

— Instincts as a run defender are shaky, he'll often leave his gap early against zone runs and doesn't put himself in a good position to take on blocks.

— Has a habit of leaving his feet when tackling, leading to misses.

— In man coverage, he gets caught flat-footed against sharp-breaking routes and panics/freezes against option routes.

— Struggles to recognize passing concepts as he'll often run into picks when playing man against wheel routes and gets caught vacating his area by following short drag routes in zone coverage versus mesh concepts.

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 121 TOT, 11.0 TFL, 5 SK, 1 INT, 4 PD, 2 FF, 2 FR

NOTES

— Born Oct. 30, 2002

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

OVERALL

Cedric Gray has been a highly productive linebacker with 365 total tackles during his last three seasons at North Carolina. Part of that is because he's a hustle player who plays snap to whistle and will make touchdown-saving tackles down the field, but he also has plenty of strengths against the run and in coverage.

As a run defender, Gray takes on blocks with his hands and good leverage which, combined with his upper-body strength, can help him get extension and shed blocks. As a change of pace, he's also shown a solid shoulder-dip move to slip blocks from offensive linemen climbing to the second level.

The Tar Heel made tremendous strides in zone coverage this past season. His eye discipline to locate threats coming into his area was much better, and he showed growth in reading the quarterback's eyes. Combining that with impressive movement skills to tighten throwing windows and good ball production makes him an asset on passing downs.

However, Gray's instincts are an issue both in the run game and in coverage. He can get caught in the trash as a run defender, and he struggles to recognize route concepts, especially when playing man. That can improve over time with more experience, but it will hold him back from being a starter at the beginning of his career.

Schematically, Gray would be best in a zone-heavy system, and he can line up as an inside 'backer in odd or even fronts.

GRADE: 6.6 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 114

POSITION RANK: LB6

PRO COMPARISON: Jordan Hicks

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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