How To Scout, Position-by-position: What Traits NFL Scouts Look For

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Big Blue ViewHow to scout, position-by-position: What traits NFL scouts look forNotificationsNotifications

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Updated Jan 21, 2020, 1:56 PM UTCHow to scout, position-by-position: What traits NFL scouts look forby Ed Valentine

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So, you think you can identify NFL talent? Well, former NFL scout and college recruiter Matt Williamson is giving us the keys to castle.

Williamson is going position-by-position and identifying the most important traits at each that scouts look for when trying to identify NFL-caliber players.

Follow our series and bookmark Matt’s breakdown of what to look for at each position. Then, use the breakdowns as reference guides when you are watching college players throughout the season and leading up to the draft.

• Jan 21, 2020

  Matt Williamson

  What do NFL scouts look for in cornerback prospects?

  Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

  In Part 8, the final piece of our position-by-position scouting series, we examine cornerbacks. Check out the first seven parts of this extensive series HERE.

  Covering today’s wide receivers is a tough chore. Rookies struggle at this position more than in most areas of the field and are picked on without relent until they prove capable. Offensive designs are so advanced today that cornerbacks are often put in a very difficult position. The league has been flooded with great young wide receivers (and there are many more coming) and much like the discrepancy between defensive linemen over offensive linemen in today’s NFL, the cornerback crop hasn’t quite kept up. This is a position that also often doesn’t have a great hit rate in the draft.

  Read Article >
• Jan 8, 2020

  Matt Williamson

  What do NFL scouts look for in safety prospects?

  Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

  In Part 7 of our scouting series, we examine safeties. Check out the first six parts of the series HERE.

  This position has evolved at a very rapid rate over the last several years. The distinction between free safety and strong safety is blurrier than ever and many teams prefer their safeties to be truly interchangeable with less defined roles. “In the box” safeties used to fall down draft boards. Now, they are often turned into dime linebackers or even every down players on the second level.

  Read Article >
• Dec 11, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do NFL scouts look for in linebacker prospects?

  Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

  In Part 6 of our scouting series, we examine the linebackers. Not 3-4 outside linebackers that mostly rush the passer, but players who back the defensive line. True second-level defenders.

  Scheme matters here, but less than ever. There used to be a major distinction between 3-4 inside linebackers and 4-3 second-level players. In fact, there was a big difference between outside and middle linebackers in a 4-3 and most 3-4 teams wanted two different styles of players on the inside. Now, defenses are seldom in their “Base” alignment. Instead, there is far more nickel and dime defense being played, often with four defensive linemen and one or two linebackers on the field-or some variation of this grouping. Linebackers are more space players now than ever.

  Read Article >
• Oct 30, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do scouts look for in defensive line prospects?

  Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

  In Part 6 of our scouting series, we examine the defensive linemen. These players now come in all shapes and sizes and line up all over the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball. We are lumping in nose tackles, 3 Techniques, 5 Techniques, the traditional 4-3 defensive ends as well as standup 3-4 outside linebacker types. The truth is, defining today’s defensive linemen isn’t nearly as important as it once was and rarely do teams stick to a specific front. Of course, rushing the passer carries far more weight than stuffing the run, but you cannot overlook the ability to impact the running game, either.

  What traits are we most looking for on those players that line up on the defensive front? Let’s examine the three most important, but we also can’t overlook how important things like power, arm length, flexibility, technique, leverage, quickness off the ball and diagnostic skills are for these men in the trenches. That being said, this is a position in which we might prefer brawn to brains. But having both, of course, is ideal … and rare.

  Read Article >
• Oct 10, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do NFL scouts look for in offensive line prospects?

  Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

  In Part 5 of our scouting series, we examine the offensive linemen. There is a major shortage at this position across the NFL and as a result, the offensive minds in the league have now designed their offenses around the fact that they are unlikely to win in the trenches play after play. Because of all the spread at the college level, few offensive linemen come to the league with a deep understanding and experience of NFL run game concepts. This is in stark contrast to years gone by.

  Taking it even further, many of the linemen at the college level have not even operated out of a three point stance. Even taking it a huge step further, the big men on defense that these unprepared blockers must deal with are far more athletically gifted than ever before. In the end, the athletic gap from the average offensive linemen to the average defensive linemen, let alone the top players up front on defense, is just massive in the defense’s favor right now. Getting even acceptable starting offensive linemen has great value (and cost) in today’s NFL and more than ever, there are fewer elite blockers from the front five.

  Read Article >
• Sep 27, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do scouts look for in NFL tight end prospects?

  Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

  In Part 4 of our scouting series, we examine the tight end position. While receiving prowess is far and away more important than blocking in today’s NFL for tight ends, there are some teams that require a quality inline blocker. So, without question, the job description changes for tight ends from team to team. While it is factual that the big heavy blocking types are not in demand, we are seeing glorified big wide receivers being labeled as tight ends now, even if they rarely align on the line of scrimmage next to an offensive tackle.

  Tight ends usually begin their career slowly in the NFL and their respective teams need to show patience. Generally speaking, tight ends hit their stride and reach their peak in about their fourth or fifth year in the league. That being said, the good ones seem to last forever. Think about guys like Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and just recently, Jason Witten coming out of the television booth. Even if they can’t run well anymore, knowing the tricks of the trade at this position gives good tight ends a long lifespan.

  Read Article >
• Sep 4, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do scouts look for in NFL wide receiver prospects?

  Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

  In Part 3 of our scouting series, we dive into the wide receiver position. It used to be that receivers often didn’t hit their stride until their third NFL season, but with three and four wide receivers on the field at once at the college and pro level now a very high percentage of the time, rookie wideouts are asked to contribute right away. Since the amazing 2014 class, many highly drafted players at this position have struggled in the NFL. Why could that be? Let’s examine more closely.

  Many make the mistake that if a wide receiver is big and fast that he immediately becomes a top NFL prospect. Having a terrific big muscular body for the position and running a great 40-yard dash time are wonderful attributes, but it doesn’t always translate to success in the league. We are seeing more and more taller receivers that run well in a straight line, but aren’t great at changing directions, fall lower and lower in the draft. Offenses are based on timing and need to get the ball out quick. NFL passing games want quick-hitting routes rather than long developing ones downfield. Being able to abuse coverage with slants and out routes over and over is more valuable than a receiver that can occasionally win deep downfield.

  Read Article >
• Aug 24, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do scouts look for in NFL running back prospects?

  Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

  In Part 2 of our scouting by position series, we dive into the running back position. This is a position that has changed dramatically in even just the last handful of years in terms of what is most important for running backs in today’s NFL.

  Running backs come in a variety of sizes. Very recently, 6-foot, 247-pound LeGarrette Blount and 5-foot-9, 201-pound Theo Riddick reported to the same running back meeting room every day together in Detroit. Not only are their styles of play polar opposites, but obviously so are their body types. The New England Patriots have traditionally featured two very different styles of running backs with great success.

  Read Article >
• Aug 20, 2019

  Matt Williamson

  What do scouts look for in NFL quarterback prospects?

  Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

  This is the first in a series of what NFL teams look for in each respective position. Of course we had to begin with quarterback.

  When a team invests an early draft pick in a quarterback, they absolutely must dedicate pretty much all of the rest of their roster building to that player. It takes a village to raise a quarterback.

  Read Article >

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