Rayshaun Benny Scouting Report

Rayshaun Benny has a good combination of lateral agility and quickness, along with quick, powerful striking ability that makes him an impactful player as both a run defender and pass rusher.

Draft Grade: Round 2 - Winning Starter

Strengths:

Athleticism: Benny has good lower-body strength and control, which contribute to his overall athleticism. He shows good upfield quickness and the ability to quickly plant and redirect toward the flow of the football. Benny also plays well when engaged, using strong core and rotational strength to shed defenders and regain a balanced posture to put himself in position to make a play.

Power in Hands/Physicality: Benny has natural power in his hands, which is a key part of his effectiveness in both the run game and as a pass rusher. In the run game, he quickly shoots his hands to knock back defenders, then controls and sheds them to get upfield and pursue the ball carrier. As a pass rusher, his quick, violent hands allow him to execute hand counters effectively.

Alignment Versatility: Benny’s athleticism and strength allow him to play multiple positions along the defensive line and make impactful plays in both the run game and as a pass rusher. In college, Benny has taken reps not only as an interior defensive lineman but also on the edge as an edge rusher.

Pass-Rush Upside: Although Benny has yet to put together an impressive season rushing the quarterback, he has the physical tools that project well to the NFL. He shows upside to become an impactful pass rusher in terms of pressures and sacks, and profiles as a potential three-down interior defensive lineman.

Concerns:

High Pad Level: Benny will occasionally pop straight up at the snap, exposing his chest to blockers. This allows offensive linemen to establish a clean grip, making it difficult for him to quickly shed blocks.

Limited Pass-Rush Repertoire: At this stage of his career, Benny shows a limited pass-rush arsenal. He needs to add more counter moves to his pass-rush plan to become a more impactful pass rusher.