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Washington Redskins 2016 Draft Profiles: Bronson Kaufusi, EDGE

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2016 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Redskins.

By Gabe Ward
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Bronson Kaufusi, EDGE
School: BYU | Conference: Independent 
College Experience: Senior | Age: 24
Height / Weight: 6-7 / 281 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 3rd Round or 4th Round
NFL Comparison: Cameron Heyward

College Statistics

Player Overview

Bronson Kaufusi is a former basketball player at BYU he focused fully on football starting in 2014. His father Steve Kaufusi is the BYU defensive line coach. Bronson played both DE and OLB during his time at BYU. He can rush the passer both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. Kaufusi has good athleticism, a great motor, and exceptional length. Kaufusi doesn't play pretty but he has a track record of ascending production that can't be ignored. Bronson has a long lean frame but lacks the functional strength you see out of elite OLBs and DEs.

He's a straight line rusher and lacks the flexibility to bend the edge and collapse the pocket that we see out of our own Ryan Kerrigan for example. He won't wow you with a bull rush but he plays with both finesse and power and has a no quit attitude that has produced on the football field. Bronson has plenty of room to fill out his frame even further (I'm talking at least 15 lbs). A big knock besides of his lack of functional strength and ability to turn a corner is his age. Kaufusi will be 25 in July as he took two years off to do an LDS mission for BYU.

Strengths

  • Relentless pursuit he never quits on plays his extra effort has lead to a lot of his production.
  • Great length and physique can reach in and disrupt plays even while being blocked has the height and length to deflect passes as well.
  • More of an effective rusher with his hand in the dirt, has a nice spin and arm over move to disengage.

Weaknesses

  • Inactive hands you can't lack functional strength and become statuesque when pass rushing.
  • Was asked to drop into coverage but wasn't particularly effective.
  • Plays too high (he's quite tall so it's difficult for him) and is too easily taken out of plays because he loses the leverage battle.


Let's see his work:


Combine Results

How He Would Fit on the Redskins

Bronson Kaufusi has a ton of upside that said he isn't ready to play right away. Teams who think he's too much of a tweener or too "old" to develop will stay away. As it relates to the Redskins I definitely don't see Kaufusi as an outside linebacker. His best immediate fit is probably as a DE in a 4-3 scheme.

If a 3-4 team sees his upside they will have to invest the time and patience and hope Kaufusi can add mass to get up to 295+ to play DE in a 3-4 also that he can improve his strength as part of an NFL strength and conditioning program, and improve his rushing technique by improving his pad level and sloppy hand work. All of these things will take at least a year in my view. Kaufusi is an intriguing player but most of his production comes from his relentless motor rather than dominating initially while rushing. I'm not sure if the Redskins are one of those teams that has the luxery on waiting for such a player to develop especially when he has a late start to the game already.

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