Cedric Gray, the North Carolina LB, sits at No. 128 on the consensus board across 24 public boards. The tier model reads him as a bust-risk — 8% elite, 10% starter.
Physicality
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: “Finding and securing his run fits can be an issue due to a lack of play strength and technique near the line of scrimmage.”
Production Context
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: “Filled up the stat sheet in a variety of impact categories over three years.”
Production Context
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks: “Gray is the high-IQ tackling machine every defensive coordinator covets.”
Technique
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: “Tough to block when he's shooting downhill into the gaps.”
Instincts
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks: “The North Carolina standout dominates the middle of the field as an instinctive playmaker with outstanding awareness and thump.”
Sources · 4 · quotes 2
The report above is our synthesis. These links preserve the research trail; quoted language below remains the source's own.
- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
- Bucky Brooks, NFL Network
- Lance Zierlein, nfl_com_zierlein
- Bucky Brooks, nflcom_bucky_brooks
“…Gray's production, length and play speed will work in his favor, but he is better suited playing as a weak-side 'backer where he can run and chase the action. Finding and securing his run fits can be an issue due to a lack of play strength and technique near the line of scrimmage. His instincts are just average, but Gray can be a disruptive defender when playing proactively and taking aggressive, downhill shots rathe…”
“…Gray is the high-IQ tackling machine every defensive coordinator covets. The North Carolina standout dominates the middle of the field as an instinctive playmaker with outstanding awareness and thump.…”
Sourced synthesis from 4 scouting sources, not original film. How these reports are written →