Overview
Position: Edge defender
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 252 lbs
School: Boston College Eagles
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
Bench press: 24 reps
Vertical jump: 36 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.88 seconds (tied for first among edge defenders)
20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds (tied for first among edge defenders)
60-yard shuttle: 11.35 seconds (first among edge defenders)
Harold Landry 2018 Draft Profile
Harold Landry was a highly sought after three-star recruit out of North Carolina in 2013 after posting 96 tackles and 17 sacks as a high school senior. Landry was named Mid-South Defensive Player of the Year and received Semper Fi All-American honors for his efforts. He turned down offers from bigger college football programs such as Ohio State, Clemson, and Auburn (among others) and committed to Boston College instead.
Landry saw limited action as a freshman at BC but still appeared in all 13 games. In his sophomore year, Landry moved into the starting lineup and recorded 4.5 sacks along with 60 tackles. Landry broke out in 2016 as a junior, leading the NCAA and setting a school record with 16.5 sacks. He also made one interception, broke up four passes, and forced an NCAA-best seven fumbles.
Surprisingly, Landry opted not to capitalize off of his breakout junior year and enter the 2017 draft. He returned to Boston for his senior year but struggled to make the same impact before his season was cut short by an ankle injury. In eight games, Landry recorded 38 total tackles, five sacks, and 8.5 tackles for losses. Much of his production came in a loss to Virginia Tech, in which he made three sacks, along with three tackles for losses. Landry’s draft stock would likely have been even higher had he declared in 2017.
Strengths
- Excels at ducking under blocks as he turns the corner;
- Incredible ‘bend’ when angling around the edge;
- Has an excellent initial burst off the line of scrimmage;
- Surprisingly strong bull rush for his size;
- Does a good job of getting into throwing lanes if he fails to create pressure;
- Gets his hands up to deflect passes when falling short of the quarterback;
- Frequently attacks the quarterback’s throwing arm when closing.
Weaknesses
- Limited ability to break blocks, needs more creative handwork;
- Rushing style is predictable at times, ducks and bends on outside rushes and counters with a basic inside rip;
- Not a disruptive force at the point of attack;
- Needs to work on closing in on the passer, gets stuck when he can’t completely turn the corner;
- Wasn’t a three-down player in college, and it’s unlikely he’ll develop into one at the pro level;
- Doesn’t wrap up the ballcarrier tightly enough at times, missing tackles that he shouldn’t.
NFL comparison: Mario Addison
Teams with Need at position: Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Mid to late first round
Bottom Line
There’s little doubt that Landry possesses enormous potential. He has the raw speed and burst that most teams want from their primary pass rusher, and he showed how productive he could be in 2016. With that being said, teams may not risk a first round pick on Landry after a lackluster senior year. His size is also concerning, especially if he is drafted by a team with a 4-3 defensive scheme. Landry’s speed will create mismatches and help cover up his shortcomings, but elite NFL tackles won’t be fooled by his relatively predictable pass-rushing style. If Landry improves his hand-work and diversifies his approach, he could develop into one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers.
