Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
Sheldon Richardson
Defensive Tackle
Height: 6’2 7/8″
Weight: 295 lbs.
Strengths:
Richardson is simply a freak athlete, and is extremely light on his feet for a man of his stature. He also has closing speed and a relentless effort that is second to none at the defensive tackle position in this year’s draft class combined with his highly coveted non-stop motor that teams drool over. Despite playing on the inside of the defensive line, Richardson has excellent pass rushing skills with a great list of moves. He also has versatility as he can defensive end as well which is likely where his moves come from.
Weaknesses:
Richardson doesn’t really possess true anchor strength. So, not at this time can he seal the edge of an offensive line. Also being only 295 lbs., he could afford to bulk up to 310 lbs. especially if he can do it without losing his freakish athleticism. Despite originally being recruited for the Tigers, he went to a community college for two years. So, he is still raw and could still use some polishing at the next level.
Overall Analysis:
While the Tigers fell apart when they moved to the Southeastern Conference, Richardson still was a standout which speaks volumes as he might be one of the first defensive tackles in this year’s NFL draft class. Although he can play defensive end or defensive tackle, his ideal position at the next level would be as an under tackle in the 4-3. A team like the Carolina Panthers should be counting their lucky stars that a guy with this talent would fall to them at pick 14 overall.
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