When assessing an NFL prospect for the draft, all talent evaluators are enamored by one thing that isn’t a skill or a statistic; and that’s upside. With any young and promising talent, focusing on their upside is typically the measurement used to determine how their talents could potentially translate to the pro level.
In the 2018 NFL Draft, no prospect will be younger than Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds will be a little less than two weeks shy of his 20th birthday (5/8/98) when he hears Roger Goodell call his name. With that being said, he’ll potentially be the second youngest prospect ever drafted in the first round of the draft.
Amobi Okoye was the youngest ever at 19 years and 10 months when he was selected 10th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2007 NFL Draft. Okoye in his respective draft year was oozing with upside, but held tremendous rawness to his fundamentals. The same cannot be said for Tremaine Edmunds, he played through games at Virginia Tech looking like a pro-ready prospect while still in his teenage years.
In this article, I’ll be explaining why this promising Hokie prospect has a bright future ahead, and that’s there is “No Ceilings” to his potential.
MR. GO HARDER
Tremaine Edmunds is natural in so many phases in his game, and it begins with his rare athleticism. Billed at a colossal 6’5”, 250-pound frame, Edmunds is expected to be a Combine monster. He moves like a gazelle in the open field, using his long stride and flexible hips
Here’s a clip of Edmunds flipping his hips and dropping into coverage, he’s still able to come back downfield and make this play on the scrambling QB:
Really enjoy the field awareness here by Tremaine Edmunds. Drops into his hook/curl zone and covers, check. Then he recognizes the scramble, heads down hill, takes on a crack back from the referee, and STILL makes the tackle. Awesome all around effort. pic.twitter.com/GCTGcHEFd7
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
USAIN WAYNE
Edmunds’ rare athleticism doesn’t just stop with his mobility in space. His tackling angles are what originally sold me on him as an intriguing prospect. He has elite closing speed when tracking down ball carriers and also has plenty of ability to meet them face to face with his smooth angle flow from sideline to sideline. Edmunds deserves a casting opportunity in the live action “Lion King” film upcoming, he’d pass the role for a young Simba stunt double:
NFL Folks are going to drool over Tremaine Edmunds’ closing speed. He shouldn’t be able to move that smooth. pic.twitter.com/a2LjUzKlYP — Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) January 10, 2018
Covering sideline to sideline means you’re capable of making a play across the entire field, nobody in this class does it better than him:
If a linebacker can dominate sideline to sideline, he’s my type of guy. Tremaine Edmunds could be my type of guy. pic.twitter.com/GDH8nD1ttK
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
DR. CARTER
Edmunds is going to stand out and rise up boards strictly for his flash and smoothness on highlight films. But the details of his game are why he’s a bonafide first round talent in my book. The details are always in the fundamentals, I’ve recognized Edmunds do certain things that made me stop and say, “Wow, he could to be really special.” Edmunds’ instincts and play recognition are what’s going to separate him in comparison to every other linebacker prospect in this 2018 class; and more importantly, help him translate to the pro level with relative ease. If Edmunds passes on a football and live action career, he could always fall back on being a doctor; because his ability to diagnose an offense is Ph.D intelligence:
Reeking havoc, something Edmunds is going to be doing a lot of at the next level. Watch him plant out of his read step and head downhill. All one fluid motion. These are skills that take seasons to perfect. He’s doing them at 19 years old. pic.twitter.com/mYzfxvm1nA — Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) January 10, 2018
Tremaine Edmunds has been nothing short of outstanding this game, if there’s evaluators who have him as a first round talent I wouldn’t be mad at them. pic.twitter.com/dMpyCOqvhT
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
Tremaine Edmunds picking up the 2nd half right where he left off, he really excels at shooting the gaps. pic.twitter.com/5eIHWugFsW — Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
KING OF THE FEATURE
Lastly, but certainly not least important; Edmunds certainly has the ability to contribute across the board on defense. His versatility only benefits his stock, as it would be doable to insert him in the majority of defensive fronts/schemes and still maintain production. I expect Edmunds to excel most in a 4-3 defense: Reason being, in the 4-3 Edmunds could play:
MIKE (middle): Due to his elite gap shooting and play anticipation.
SAM (strong-side): For his even abilities to stuff the run and still manage to dip out and scan in coverage.
EDGE: Clearly for his athleticism, flexibility, and explosion. All traits needed to rush the quarterback.
Here are some examples of Edmunds showing that versatility while at Virginia Tech
MIKE:
Jordan Whitehead tries to sneak into the game as a ball carrier, but Tremaine Edmunds was having none of that. Hell of a 3rd down play. pic.twitter.com/BJ6y4NSQJ6
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
SAM:
Tremaine Edmunds showing his instinct and play recognition in the pass game as well. He’s been everywhere, I love it. pic.twitter.com/ztjq9cUM7f — Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
EDGE:
You’ll be seeing a lot of Tremaine Edmunds as well in this thread. Times the snap perfectly and bends under and around the TE with ease. pic.twitter.com/RF6vuNDO9P
— Cagen Cantrell (@CeeingTheDraft) December 12, 2017
WEEZY F BABY…
In conclusion, Edmunds could very well be a five-tool player at the linebacker position. His athleticism is going to push him into the doors of the NFL, expecting his name to be called out very quickly in April. However, his consistency and longevity as a pro is going to come from his instincts, and appearing to be one of the most intelligent players on the field on either side of the ball. He’s not the perfect prospect, he’s still raw and definitely could use fine tuning before being labeled as a great one. The young man is certainly on the fast track to success though, and checks all the boxes to at least roll the dice on him early in the draft.
As you’ve noticed, I’ve implemented many Lil’ Wayne references throughout this piece. When Lil’ Wayne began his career, he was just Dwayne Carter, a 15 year old from New Orleans with some upside as a freestyle, wordplay rapper. Wayne took that upside, molded it from the image of his mentors and became one of the most versatile, electric, decorated, and well-renowned rappers in the history of music. History will write itself for Tremaine Edmunds, but the history could potentially see a parallel.
Tremaine Edmunds has become one of my “Brand Guys” for 2018, and hopefully he becomes one of yours as well.
…AND THE F STANDS FOR FUTURE.