Defensive End/Rush Linebacker

North Carolina

6-4 265

Draft board overall prospect rank: #5

Draft board overall defensive end rank: #1

Overall rating: 96 (Elite)

40 time: 4.58

4/17/11: Cutting his 40 time to 4.58 was just the start. Quinn had an amazing workout after having to sit out all year. If he had played last year, he could have easily gone #1 this year. Scouts have concerns about his ability to drop into coverage, but he’s only 20 and he’s athletic enough to learn. 

3/16/11: Robert Quinn could have been the #1 overall pick in this draft if he wasn’t suspended for something stupid by the corrupt NCAA. He had 11 sacks as a 19 year old true sophomore in 2009 for North Carolina. Dez Bryant proved last year that you can miss an entire season (Bryant basically missed all of 2009) and still have a productive rookie year. Quinn’s stock will take a minor hit with the suspension and he will be the #2 defensive end to Da’Quan Bowers and could actually fall out of the top 10, but he has the upside to be the best end in this class.

He proved he was in shape at The Combine. He didn’t light the world on fire with his measurable like he was projected to but a 4.67 at 6-4 265 is still pretty impressive. I don’t think he’s got character problems with the suspension. He got suspended for taking “improper benefits.” There’s no such thing as “improper benefits” in the NFL. He’s got a good motor on the field and he’s a tough gritty kid who has survived a brain tumor that could have killed him.

Speaking of that brain tumor, that won’t be a long term issue. He’s a very good athlete with long arms, good quickness, and a very quick first step. He struggles a bit against the run for his size, but he’s got good chase speed and just needs some work with his technique. I don’t know if he’s an ideal fit for the 3-4, though teams will probably look at him as a 3-4 linebacker with his technique. I didn’t think Vernon Gholston was an ideal fit for a 3-4 coming out of Ohio State a few years ago and look at him now, though there were probably other issues in play there.

In a 4-3, he’s got room to add weight to his frame with his long arms. I think he could play into the 270s and still maintain his explosiveness, but he’d have a real problem dropping into coverage in the 270s. Not that he doesn’t already.

He’s not a fluid coverage player, another reason why I don’t think he fits in a 3-4 well. He has the athleticism to turn into a good 3-4 player, but it’s a big risk. Plus, you just shouldn’t use a top 10 pick on a player and convert him into a 3-4 linebacker if he hasn’t already had experience playing linebacker. The last team to do that was the Jets with Vernon Gholston. Larry English and Robert Ayers are also first round picks turned rush linebacker busts in recent years. Clay Matthews isn’t, but that’s because he played linebacker in college.

NFL Comparison: Will Smith