An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of UNC Linebacker Cedric Gray for the NFL Draft.

Prospect: Cedric Gray

School: UNC

Age: 21

Cedric Gray Measurables:

• Height: 6’1.5” (NFL Combine)
• Weight: 234 (NFL Combine)

• 40: 4.64 (NFL Combine)- T-9/15
• 10 Yard Split: 1.59 (NFL Combine)- T-2/15
• Vertical Jump: 35.5” (NFL Combine)- T-4/17
• Broad Jump: 10’ (NFL Combine)- 5/17
• Bench: 17 reps (NFL Combine)- 4/7
• Side Notes:
  • 1.5” shorter at Combine than listed on ESPN
  • Very stiff in his first 40 attempt
  • 40 time ended up being slower than we would’ve thought
  • Gray had great reps in positional drills… had what we thought was the cleanest rep in the change of direction drill 

Tape Watched: 2022: Clemson; 2023: South Carolina, Miami

Prospect Grade: 67%

Projected Draft Day: Late Round 2- Early Round 3

Player Comparison: Shades of Fred Warner

Cedric Gray Player Summary:

The  Positives

• Patient making his reads
  • Good at sniffing out screens
• Good gap filling/shooting
• Good and very high effort blitzer
• High IQ
• Came back for his Senior Year
  • Night and Day difference between Jr and Sr year film
• Good spatial awareness and coverage skills
• Always on his toes, wants to play down hill

The Negatives

• Block shedding- Inconsistent
  • Good use of stack and shed against Miami
• Pass drops could use some polishing
• Can get a little bit too handsy in coverage(mostly saw in man)
• Tackles high
  • Tackling mechanics could use some polishing

Cedric Gray needs to become the poster child for going back to school for your senior year. Gray was a wildly underwhelming prospect when we watched his Jr tape in the summer. Talk about growth and development, Gray for us is now a fringe first rounder. It just looks like he has a better feel for the game now. His IQ, play demeanor, patience, etc are all night and day different. This kid made himself money in April simply by playing one more year of CFB. 

Updated on 3/2:

• Combine numbers and rank added to measurable portion of profile
• Projection changed from “Day 2, Fringe Day 1” to “Late Round 2- Early Round 3”

Updated 4/11/24:

• Grade switched from “64%” to “67%”

Updated 4/18/24:

• Comp switched from “Frankie Luvu” to “Shades of Fred Warner”