Rasheem Green is a raw DE that requires a high investment but the return could be gargantuan

Rasheem Green, DL
School: USC | Conference: PAC 12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 275 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd Round or 3rd Round
NFL Comparison: Emmanuel Ogbah

College Statistics

Player Overview

Rasheem Green was one of USC’s most productive and disruptive pass rushing forces this past year. Green was a 5-star prospect coming out of Gardena, California and was recruited nationally by just about every top program. He decided to stay close to home and attend USC where he got immediate playing time as a freshman. Green really started making a name for himself during his sophomore season (2016) when his production increased. This past year Green was USC’s sack leader. Green has a long and somewhat lean frame. Interestingly enough Green weighed more at the time of his recruitment (290) than he weighs now. Size-wise Green fits best as a prototypical 4-3 DE but I could see an argument for him becoming a DE in a base 3-4 as well if he gains weight again. Green is a raw player and a traits prospect. On film, you can see flashes of his potential and if he can add strength and get coaches up by adding a few more pass rushing moves he should fulfill that potential. Green can exploit interior gaps and rush off the edge, he’s surprisingly agile and works well in tight spaces. He needs to get stronger and improve his awareness but I can see why scouts are excited about him.

Strengths

• Great length size and athleticism for the position. His frame has plenty of room to add weight if he needs to.
• Good initial quickness and burst off the snap. On occasion, you can see him time his get off just right and chain an arm over move as an interior rusher that completely exploits the guard’s inside shoulder and collapses the pocket.
• When rushing off the edge he can usually get off blocks with counter moves. Arms long enough that he can reach over and rattle the QB.
• Continues to work even when initially stopped got a few sacks based on pure tenacity alone.
• Plays with his hands up and has an impressive number of passes defended as a DL.

Weaknesses

• Rushes with his head down and will lose sight of the ball. Overall awareness needs to improve.
• Doesn't offer much resistance as a run stopper and likely a pure rush end or situational player at the next level unless he can vastly improve there.
• Raw prospect who still needs to develop his body and figure out his strengths as well as add pass rush moves.
• Semi long-term investment project - the team that drafts him will have their share of coaching to do. I wouldn't expect him to start his rookie or even second year.

Let’s see his work:

More Rasheem Green videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

The Redskins need defensive line help now so I can see the potential aversion to drafting a player with a high pick and expecting him to not contribute that much initially. That being said if that AFC scout (and others like him) is right Green will be well worth the patience and investment. He needs at least a year in an NFL strength and conditioning program and needs to take in all he can from coaches and veteran players but if his development goes right he could be one of the top pass-rushing defensive ends in the league in a few years and possibly even more versatile as a run defender. Green certainly has most of the physical traits needed for the defensive end position in both schemes. I can see him in multiple alignments on the Redskins line. He could play DE in base packages but also move or stunt inside in even fronts. If Green fulfills his potential he in Jonathan Allen could be quite the pass-rushing duo for years.