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Cedric Gray NFL Draft Scouting ReportBob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Scouting Reports

Cedric Gray NFL Draft Scouting Report

Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina

Size:

Height: 6’1.5”

Weight: 234 pounds

Arm Length: 32 1/2"

Hand Size: 9”

Accomplishments:

First-Team All-ACC (2023, 2022) • Team Captain

“Cedric Gray is an explosive and rangy linebacker who can cover ground in an instant in the run and pass game.” 

Strengths:

  • Fantastic speed/range

  • Well-experienced (three-year starter)

  • QB spy versus athletic QBs

  • High-effort/motor 

Concerns:

  • Missed tackles (57 over three years)

  • Shedding blocks

  • Over-pursuing football in space

Film Analysis: 

The first thing that pops off the screen when watching Cedric Gray is his outstanding athleticism. He is explosive and rangy with sideline-to-sideline speed. He can work from the middle of the field to the boundary in a hurry. Gray displays the ability to track and meet the ball-carrier to the spot on outside running concepts. When told to blitz, he fires and gets downhill quickly. 

Gray flashes coverage skills that will be coveted in the NFL. He is athletic and agile enough to cover running backs out of the backfield. Gray is a good spot dropper in zone coverages. He gets to his landmarks and surveys for any possible threats. During his three years as a starter, he flashed with impact plays—five interceptions and eight pass breakups—which help his third-down value projections. 

Gray teeters closely between patience and delayed reading/diagnosing reads. Handling gap/power run concepts is a bit of a concern due to his power at the point of attack versus climbing OL. If OL can get their hands latched, Gray can struggle to shed and detach. Gray can be a tad overaggressive when pursuing football. He can overrun plays and not be in a position to make a tackle in space. He has to clean up missed tackles—he had 57 in three years and 19 in 2023 alone. He attacks with higher than higher-than-desired pad level and without proper leverage. 

Gray projects as an explosive playmaking WILL linebacker. He is best as a see-ball, get-ball ‘backer. His value as a blitzing and coverage backer can elevate his floor/ceiling. 

Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Duke (2023), Clemson (2023), South Carolina (2023), Virginia (2023) 

Cedric Gray NFL Draft Scouting Report

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