Saquon Barkley Scouting Report: The Draft's Best Player?

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SCOUTING REPORT

5'11" 225 lbs
Penn State
Junior

SIZE: 10.0
- Has close to ideal height, weight for position

QUICKNESS/SPEED: 10.0
- Great stop/start quickness
- Gets up to top speed quickly
- Has enough home run speed but not a true burner

BREAK/AVOID TACKLE: 9.5
- Cutting ability/agility leads to open field missed tackles
- Short area suddenness to make defenders miss
- Can be brought down by arm tackles more than you'd like
- Runs hard but could be a little more physical
- Will run through lower body tackle attempts when up to speed

VISION/PATIENCE: 8.5
- Shows very good peripheral vision
- Seems to have feel for tacklers coming from behind/side
- Tendency to rush and kick his runs outside
- Could stand to slow down a tad in approach to LOS
- Offensive line was terrible which impacted his patience
- Will sometimes not trust what he initially sees

CUTTING ABILITY: 10.0
- Able to cut on a dime at full speed
- Can make subtle and large cuts with ease
- Can make small cuts in the hole to create a crease
- Consistently makes big cuts to get into open space outside

BALL SECURITY: 9.5
- No real issues putting ball on ground, zero fumbles in 2017
- Two fumbles in both 2015 and 2016
- Does a good job of protecting football, strength to hold on to it

RECEIVING SKILLS: 10.0
- Decent route tree for RB position
- Very crisp and sudden in & out of breaks
- Very reliable catcher of the football
- Will sometimes let ball get a little close to his body
- Absolutely lethal after the catch

PASS PROTECTION: 6.0
- Not asked to do it a lot at Penn State
- Tends to react as opposed to attacking blocks
- Tendency to throw shoulder instead of using hands/leverage

DURABILITY: 9.0
- Hasn't missed any games due to any serious injuries
- Missed time in a couple of games with lower leg injuries
- Tendency to hurdle could lead to an injury
- Aware enough to get out of bounds and avoid some big hits

INTANGIBLES: 10.0
- Great Uncle Iran 3x world champion boxer
- 455 lb bench, 650 lb squat, 405 lb clean
- Top flight kick returner
- Known for great work ethic and leadership

NFL COMPARISON: David Johnson
FINAL GRADE: 92.5

GRADING SCALE
90.0 - 100 1ST ROUND
86.5 - 89.99 2ND ROUND
83.0 - 86.49 3RD ROUND
79.5 - 82.99 4TH ROUND
76.0 - 79.49 5TH ROUND
72.5 - 75.99 6TH ROUND
70.0 - 72.49 7TH ROUND

[gioknows]

Only the Browns would pass on Barkley SMH. He would make Kizer so much better at quarterback. All you have to do is take a look at what Elliot and Fournette did for Dallas and Jacksonville respectively. Those teams were 3-13 and 4-12 the year *BEFORE* they drafted their stud RB's and both made the playoffs the first year with them. Barkley is even better. So obvious he should be the top pick.

[VisceralCarbon]

Hes going to surprise you I think he's going to be in the 4.3s

[BallIsLifeYouKnow]

As someone who had Alshon Jeffrey on fantasy and watched him closely this season I agree with you 100% on him. Saquon's flaws are real but I think he is still easily the top RB.

[derricksylvester]

Pass blocking is teachable, burst and balance not so much.

[tjayd]

I’m probably the minority in thinking this but I think Cleveland should take Saquan 1st overall

[GameBoi]

Great video Jeff. I’m the opposite for Cleveland though. Indy, and NYG aren’t gonna take a QB that is much better than what Cleveland can get (in my opinion) so take Saquon number 1 and deal with the QB situation at number 4.

[survivor]

I really want him in the Colts backfield. The Colts offense would be so much better with a dynamic workhorse like Barkley taking pressure off of Luck and the oline. Gore still puts up nice numbers but I mean mother nature is undefeated.

[TheSoundwave]

Low-key, he might have hinted that Quenton Nelson is the best prospect in this draft.

[sunwardust]

I'm gonna guess sclegdaddy's top prospect is Roquon Smith

[SkippyHatesMe]

Trent Richardson was the draft's best player too...

[CatanoSMMA]

Its a shame Bryce Love won’t be in this incredible RB draft class...

[dannymeer]

I like that you brought up the pass blocking and vision concerns. They are very valid. I just want to say that if you look at a guy like Saquon, his character is just as highly touted as his skills and athleticism. He WILL listen to coaches when it comes to getting the 5 yard play as opposed to trying to break it. Also he will gladly learn how to pass protect. Lastly, being a penn state fan. I could not get over how bad the play calling was. Often times they would rely solely on Saquon and defenses could key in. That plus a bad o line, plus a mediocre qb leaves Saquon with a tough time to really show what he’s got. I believe in the NFL, on most teams the play calling versatility will let Saquon shine and be the best back in the league. That’s just my thoughts.

[alexandershirley]

If you don't think Saquon Barkley isn't the number one back or a top 3 pick you don't know football Saquon Barkley will be a stud he is clearly the top back my top player in this draft

[alfredocota]

Saquan 1st overall, 4th overall best QB on the board, might be the one the Browns wanted all along!

[alexandershirley]

Saquon Barkley is the best running back prospect the past 5 years and clearly the best RB in this draft these scouts and Twitter trolls that think otherwise should never talk football again

[jairogers]

Rashaad Penny
Mike Boone
Josh Adams

Are better RBs than he is. Saquon ois softer than applesauce.

233lb rb afraid of contact and goes down easy.

He averaged more yards per carry this year tjan he did last year.

[TheCMTruth]

Saquon Barkley is still my no.1 prospect in the draft. He is not perfect, He has flaws, but still is in my opinion, the most complete running back in last 5 years. I think He's better than Zeke, Gurley, Fournette when they were coming out.

[ninoski]

As much as I want the Giants to draft this guy because he's clearly the best RB prospect since Peterson, but when you have the 2nd pick in a deep QB draft you cant pass up the future of your team especially when you have a low salary cap issue and have to pay Odell and Collins.

[bigmant-rex]

Did dad do a big board anywhere? His website maybe?

[iancone]

He's gonna have to learn to put his head down and run between the tackles sometimes. It's great and all if you're electric in the open field, but you have to have both to be great in the NFL. Shady and Jamaal Charles could run up the gut. CJ Spiller and Reggie Bush couldn't.