The 2024 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Cedric Gray 2024 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Linebacker
School: North Carolina
Size: 6-foot-1 1/2 inches, 234 pounds
Class: Senior
2023 stats: 121 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 interception, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Gray has been one of the most productive linebackers in the country over the last few seasons. Now he is in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As a four-star recruit in the class of 2020, Gray signed with North Carolina to stay in-state. He didn’t play much in 2020, before having a larger role in 2021. He finished that season with 99 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. His play helped the Tar Heels win six games. In the 2022 season, Gray racked up 145 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and one sack. He led the Tar Heels to a 9-5 record. For the 2023 season, Gray tallied 121 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. His play continued to fuel North Carolina, as they won eight games.
Following the 2023 season, Gray declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a third to fifth-round pick.
Gray is an elite producer of tackles. He shows good pursuit of ball carriers and then flows to the football to make plays. Gray wraps up and tackles with good form, rarely allowing broken tackles. He is able to help stop the run by getting through traffic and making tackles.
While his run defense is good, he also is solid in coverage as well. Gray has the ability to cover tight ends and running backs in man-to-man coverage. He shows good awareness in zone coverage, with nice eye balance between the quarterback and receivers.
He is a solid athlete, which shows up in his range. Gray can make plays from sideline to sideline against the run. He has the movement abilities to match up with opponents in man coverage. Gray has solid acceleration, quickness and agility.
While he has a decent frame, Gray lacks play strength. He will need to add strength to his frame to help him look the part. The added strength can help him shed, get through traffic better and have more physical coverage.
Added play strength can help him shed, but so too can better technique. His hand placement and effort to shed rather than just to elude blockers can improve. With more work, he can learn to shed blocks, which could make him even more productive.
Gray was unable to produce as a blitzer much at the college level. He can still defend the run and cover well, but teams looking to get pressure on opponents with a linebacker blitz likely won’t see the results they’re looking for too often.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Draft Grade: Fourth Round Pick
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