Back for the 2024 NFL Draft edition, The Trick Play team is once again offering to immerse you in the heart of the event through the scouting reports of Rayane and Valentin. Who will become the next gem of the pro world and who, on the contrary, risks a spectacular flop?
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Strengths :
Weaknesses :
CB Kris Abrams-Draine
— Valentin (@ScoutValentin) January 15, 2024
Has explosiveness, quick feet and lateral agility but lacks of recovering speed.
Has a good side-saddle technique.
Strong ball skills but lacks length.
He has a slight build and can struggle against stronger WRs and against the run.
Early day 3 talent ! pic.twitter.com/wjEgzdPlZl
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Kris Abrams-Draine has a very average build for the position; he is neither tall nor rangy, lacking in weight and power, even though he is quite aggressive. He has excellent explosiveness and good speed, but he lacks top-end speed on the third level (deep) and, therefore, recovery speed.
Technically, Kris shows some interesting traits; he has a good backpedal, even though it's not the smoothest, but it remains more than adequate. He prefers using the side-saddle technique over the neutral stance. His hips are fairly fluid, and he has good footwork, enabling him to have effective change-of-direction abilities.
In man coverage, the best of his game is shown in press situations. He demonstrates a good kick-slide (turning at a 45-degree angle), and his quickness allows him to mirror (follow the receiver's feet during the release) the receivers effectively. However, when facing receivers with a larger build, he has shown difficulties and failed to land a jab on the receiver. He can be physically dominated on the LOS by very physical receivers.
In off-man coverage, even though his side-saddle technique is well executed, he has significant issues with stopping due to extra steps, making him vulnerable on routes like comebacks or curls and leaving too much space for the receiver to operate.
In zone coverage, he was primarily used in Cover 3, and his click-and-close ability (the capacity to recognize plays and react quickly) is very good, enabling him to cut off passing lanes effectively. He has excellent communication skills and a strong overall IQ in this area.
Kris has very good ball skills, with excellent eye/foot/hand coordination, but he lacks arm length and therefore has a limited catch radius, which makes it difficult for him to play the ball at its highest catch point. He has excellent ball tracking ability and reads the quarterback's eyes well throughout all phases of the game.
Kris is undoubtedly a competitor and tough, but his run support is at best average. His lack of power is evident in this aspect of the game, as he struggles to shed blocks, and this physical shortfall often forces him to aim for ankle tackles, leading to missed tackles. His lack of arm length also becomes apparent in open-field tackling.
Kris Abrams-Draine remains an interesting prospect despite his light frame. He had strong production at Missouri, but when the going got tough, he conceded quite a few big plays and showed his limitations. He's a versatile player who could be used in the NFL as a Nickel or on the outside in Press coverage, but he will need to hit the weight room if he wants to secure more than just a rotational spot or special teams role.
I evaluate Kris Abrams-Draine as a 4th-round talent, but I wouldn't be surprised if he slips a bit lower in the draft.