Overview
Position: Outside Linebacker/Defensive End
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 269
School: NC State Wolfpack
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.65 seconds
Bench press: 24 reps
Vertical jump: 36 inches (tied for fifth among defensive linemen)
Broad jump: 10 feet, 1 inch
Three-cone drill: 7.37 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.41 seconds
Bradley Chubb 2018 NFL Draft Profile
Bradley Chubb is a classic college football story of an overlooked player who worked and grinded his way into becoming one the sport’s best players. Chubb, the cousin of Georgia running back Nick Chubb, had only two offers coming out of high school. He was a three-star recruit who missed most of his junior season due to a knee injury. Chubb decided to pick NC State, a school closer to his home state of Georgia, over Michigan State, the only other school to offer him a scholarship.
He entered school as linebacker and special teams player. He moved to defensive end as a sophomore and started ever since. As a junior, he switched his jersey to number nine to honor the former Wolfpack legend and former number one overall draft pick, Mario Williams. Honor him he did. After the number swap, he put up back-to-back seasons of 10+ sacks and 21+ tackles for loss.
Chubb finished his Wolfpack career as a decorated player. In 2017 alone, he was named first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC. He won the Nagurski Trophy and was a finalist for the Bednarik Award. He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. His accolades, combined with his production, have him being rumored as one of the 2018 draft’s best prospects and someone who could even be taken number one overall, just like the former Wolfpack legend he honors with his number nine jersey.
Strengths
- boasts elite athletic ability;
- a multitude of pass rush moves;
- excellent hand fighter in the trenches;
- a physical, hard-hitting tackler;
- gets solid penetration when defending the run.
Weaknesses
- inconsistent pad level can lead to contact balance issues;
- plays a tad stiff-hipped at times;
- could get better leverage with improved knee bend;
- a bit hot-headed and can let his emotions get the best of him;
- underwhelming Combine performance.
NFL Comparison: Cam Jordan
Teams With Need at Position: Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
Projection: Potential top five pick
Bottom Line
Chubb is a potential future All-Pro edge rusher. His improvement from 2016 to 2017 in terms of his football I.Q. on the field and overall instincts, was incredible. In 2016, it looked like he was having a hard time engaging an offensive tackle and reading the play once engaged. This led to him being washed down and out of position on a good number of runs that were directed at him. The following, he looked like a totally different player. His ability against runs directed at him greatly improved. He also looked comfortable reading the play once engaged.
That was his one big negative after 2016 but now that he’s improved in that area, he doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses. He’s going to play immediately for whichever team drafts him. He’s a day one starter with a high ceiling. However, his hype as a Myles Garrett level player is inaccurate. Chubb did have a better final season than Garrett but that was mainly due to Garrett’s ankle injury. At full health, Garrett is an elite level prospect, something that Chubb will probably never be. Chubb might have a better career than Garrett when it’s all said and done, but he’s not the same level prospect coming out. With that said, he’s still a top player in this year’s draft. He does better when he lines up in a two-point stance and can use his athletic ability off the line of scrimmage instead of immediately engaging head on. He can play 4-3 defensive end, 3-4 outside linebacker and even 4-3 weak side linebacker, but he’d be best served as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 base scheme.
