2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: UCLA’s Paul Perkins 2016 Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
UCLA’s Paul Perkins 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
Paul Perkins is a shifty runner who was very productive this past year at UCLA. He has a specific type of running style that won’t fit every NFL system, but in the right situation Perkins has a chance to make an immediate impact. However, his draft stock could suffer a little because of the need of a specific fit.
Perkins is the type of runner who shows good patience and likes to work east to west. He lets his blocks set up and then picks the appropriate hole. UCLA runs a wide-open spread attack which perfectly fit Perkins’ style as he was given the freedom choose from several openings.
His ability to make quick cuts and make people miss helps him pick up yards even if there’s very little running room. This clip shows Perkins’ elusiveness and ability to quickly change direction:
His shiftiness helps hide the fact that lacks elite explosiveness or that second gear needed to break off long runs.
Perkins’ lack of size is something that works against him. He isn’t someone who’ll pick up a ton of yards after contact or move the pile. This means that teams that prefer to run a power-attack would likely avoid selecting Perkins.
His lack of size also becomes a problem in pass protection. This clip shows Perkins struggling to handle the rushing linebacker and allowing pressure:
He will need to drastically improve in blocking skill if he wants to earn playing time at the next level.
Look for teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles to give Perkins a look in the mid to late rounds. His experience in a similar offense would help ease the transition.
Current Draft Position: Late 4th Round Pick