Houston Texans steal Jonathan Greenard in the third round of NFL Draft
The tangibles and what the experts are saying
The tangibles
Grennard is a 6-foot-3, 263-pound edge rusher with 34.88-inch arms and 9.25-inch hands. He’s fast enough for the position, especially with pass-rushing, being able to nab a 4.87 40-yard dash time. His wit, intelligence of the game, explosiveness, athleticism and versatility continued to be echoed as far as greatest attributes by the experts.
He had transferred from Louisville after Bobby Petrino was fired and turned in a strong performance in his graduate senior year at the University of Florida where he earned All-SEC first-team honors as well as from the AP. He also was a four-time Defensive Player of the Week during last season and even won the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance against Missouri.
He had a severe wrist injury back in 2018 that required surgery and he was extra-cautious of how he used his hands on the field last season. It apparently didn’t have too much of an effect as he still was able to pull away with all of those honors for his work in 2019. He’s also a dual-athlete having been an accomplished basketball player back at Hiram High, the namesake for his hometown.
So what’s there not to like about this guy? Let’s dig further.
What the experts are saying
"“Athletic, intelligent edge defender with enticing flashes as both a run defender and pass rusher. Greenard’s plus get-off and ability to bend and corner the edge are predictive traits for success as an NFL rusher but he’ll need a more reliable go-to counter as a pro. He’s tough and aware at the point of attack and plays with consistent leverage and motor. Edge defenders need forceful hands to set edges and open doors as a pass rusher and his hesitation to unleash his right hand after suffering a major wrist injury in 2018 is a concern. If his hesitation is more mental than physical, he should become an eventual starter in either an odd or even front.”"
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com:
"“Greenard is a bit of an undersized edge defender, and as a result, his best fit in the NFL would be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. In a 4-3 defense, he would have to move rotate with a run-stuffing defensive end. Playing in a 3-4 where he would have a five-technique to help occupy offensive tackles could be the best way for Greenard to be an every-down player. Greenard has good intangibles with a good work ethic, steady motor, and leadership ability. He could be an overachiever because of those attributes. Team sources say Greenard will probably go in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he has a shot at going late in the first round.”"
Joe Marino of The Draft Network:
"“Jonathan Greenard transferred from Louisville to Florida for the 2019 season and he was among the best transfers in college football. Greenard led Florida with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 12 starts despite working through a wrist injury. While Greenard leaves something to be desired in terms of dynamic athletic traits and flexibility, his functional strength, hand technique and length help make up for it. Greenard profiles as a base end in a 4-3 defense that has the versatility to rush the passer from the interior. Greenard has the upside to factor into an NFL defensive line rotation right away and claim the majority of the snaps by Year 2/3.”"