Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
Embed from Getty ImagesStrengths:
Nick Bosa jumps off the screen with his excellent skill set and his ability to cause havoc in the backfield. Bosa excels in the pass rush. He’s quick off the ball and has a great first step. He is fast off the edge with the ability to quickly get leverage by using his speed to get an angle to the quarterback. He is flexible and can bend well to get around the edge of quicker offensive tackles. Bosa has the agility to cut back to the inside with his athleticism to get underneath blockers.
Aside from his speed and athleticism, Bosa has excellent hands with good strength to fight off blocks. Bosa has the instincts to know where the ball is and the speed to close on the quarterback. Bosa as a run defender is slightly underrated due to all the attention his pass rushing abilities receive. He has the strength to hold his ground and the intelligence to seek the ball. He is good in pursuit and chases down backs extremely well. Bosa is quick at processing and reacting against driving blocks. He is effective at setting the edge and forcing the ball back into pursuit.
Weaknesses:
Bosa tends to lose his balance when tackling, often falling onto the ground. He’s not great in space in coverage, so if he goes to a 3-4 defense, he will need to improve that area.
Draft Projection:
Top 5 pick
Bosa is a generational pass-rushing talent. He is very similar to his older brother Joey Bosa, who was selected third overall in 2016 and has been a force for the Chargers ever since. He has all the tools and potential to be an All-Pro multiple times over. He’s the best player in this class and will be giving offenses headaches for years.