PFF scouting report: Eddie Vanderdoes, DI, UCLA

Name: Eddie Vanderdoes

School: UCLA

Position fit: Defensive interior

Stats to know: Graded positively as a pass-rusher and as run-defender for three-straight seasons.

What he does best:

Uses his quick hands to defeat blocks and quick feet to get around blockers.
Productive run-defender with 16 run stops in 2016.
Has exceptional balance and can hand fight while strafing down the line of scrimmage.
Holds his ground well at the point of attack even against double teams.
Strength and technique to toss blockers aside and win early in the engagement.
Strong enough upper body to shed blockers even after he loses the initial engagement.
Plays with a low pad level, making it harder for linemen to block him.
Provides a disruptive interior pass-rush presence at times.
Did not tally a lot of pressures in 2016 but his wins were generally quick off the snap and he had a number of other “wins” as a pass-rusher.
Multiple effective pass-rushing moves — club, swim, bull rush, spin and spin counter.
Can line up at multiple positions along the defensive line.

Biggest concern:

While he improved in 2016, there are still questions if he can ever be a top-notch pass-rusher.
Suffered a torn left ACL in the 2015 season opener and missed the rest of the season.
Plays with brace on his surgically repaired left knee.
Missed most of the Week 2 game in 2016 with a right knee injury.
Production declined significantly as the season wore on.
Level of physical conditioning might be an issue.

Player comparison: Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens

Vanderdoes can line up at multiple spots on the defensive line and his size, build, production and playing style are similar to Jernigan.

Bottom line: Eddie Vanderdoes is a wild card in this draft class as his size and ability warrant an early draft selection but his injury history will push him down draft boards. How far will be highly dependent upon each team’s strategic approach to drafting players with pre-existing medical conditions. When healthy Vanderdoes is a highly disruptive player on the interior of the defense. Vanderdoes has the quick hands and feet to disrupt both running and passing plays. He finished the season with an 85.3 run-defense grade and an 82.0 pass-rush grade but teams will need to be convinced he can provide a consistent interior pass-rush if they are going to invest a high draft pick in him.