Broncos Prospect Profile: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

Haason Reddick has made many transitions in his football life. After playing running back and safety in high school, Reddick played a mixture of linebacker and defensive line at Temple. After an injury laden high school career, Reddick was a walk on a Temple; now he’s a top NFL prospect.

“I wasn’t recruited at all. I suffered two injuries to the right knee in high school my junior and senior year which led me to not be recruited,” Reddick said at the combine. “I applied for Rutgers, and I applied for Temple. Rutgers didn’t accept me. Temple did. I went to Temple, walked onto the team there, made it my home.”

Finally, in what may be his greatest transition, Reddick has risen from a third to fourth-round prospect to a first-round pick in just the past few months. At 6-foot-2, 237 pounds, Reddick has arguably had the best pre-draft period of any NFL prospect in the country after coming off of an impressive senior season campaign, in which he compiled over 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. As an extremely versatile and athletic playmaker, Reddick has established himself as a top linebacker in the draft.

Strengths

Throughout his career Reddick has shown that he can do it all—from rushing the passer, to stopping the run to dropping into coverage. His versatility at the next level will allow him to be an every down linebacker at many different positions on the field.

“The versatility shows how athletic I am. It shows I can do multiple things,” he said. “It’s more of the mindset and approach I’m taking to it that’s going to help me the most. It’s not necessarily because I’m versatile it’s going to make me a good inside linebacker with the change, the way I’m going to attack the transition to being an inside linebacker, the things I’m going to do to make sure I am the best inside linebacker, at least the best rookie inside linebacker to come in next year, that’s what’s going to help me with the change.”

Along with outstanding athleticism—which was on full display at the NFL Combine—Reddick has great awareness and football instincts that always puts him close to the ball. Reddick is able to avoid potential blockers, which allows him to constantly make plays.

Weaknesses

Although Reddick has a great ability to avoid potential blockers, he has a difficult time shedding the blockers once they engage him. Additionally, he needs to work on finishing tackles—last year he had 16 missed tackles.

Depending on what scheme and position Reddick ends up playing in the NFL will determine if he needs to put on additional weight. If he plays outside linebacker, he will need to bulk up to have the strength to constantly go up against offensive lineman. However, even if he plays inside linebacker, he will still need to add playing strength, even if this doesn’t come in the form of added weight.

How he fits in Denver

At the next level, Reddick’s ideal fit would be as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a 4-3. However, his diverse skill set would allow him to play inside on a team with a 3-4 scheme, like the Broncos.

Reddick would be an immediate upgrade in pass coverage in the middle of the field—specifically against tight ends and running backs—and would provide a strong pass rush presence from the inside. Reddick’s versatility would allow him to stay on the field in nickel situations—which the Broncos use often—and allow him to slide outside to rush the passer.

Although the fit isn’t a match made in heaven, Reddick’s versatility and athleticism keeps him on Denver’s draft board.